Autumn Statement 2012: state pension rises by £2.70 per week Dot Gibson, general secretary of the National Pensioners" Convention said the Chancellor should not "gloat" about giving older people a guaranteed 2.5 per cent increase in the state pension. "What he didn't make clear was that this is just £2.70 a week extra and only £1.60 a week more for millions of older women who don't get a full pension," she said. Even with this increase, one in five older people continue to live in poverty, three million pensioner households are in fuel poverty and millions more are struggling just to make ends meet. She criticised the "frankly immoral" decision to cut taxes for the richest while "ignoring" pensioners. He also said nothing about scrapping the freeze on the age related personal tax allowances which he's planning for next April, reversing his earlier cut to the winter fuel allowance or making a decision on the future of social care funding - all of which are really important to older people. However, the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, said Mr Osborne was being too kind to pensioners by giving them an above-inflation increase in the state pension. Professor Philip Booth, editorial director at the IEA, said: "Once again, the government must answer questions as to why older people are being treated differently from younger people in the attempts to cut government spending. The attempts to reduce the benefits bill are welcome but, at the same time, the government will be increasing pensions by more than both inflation and wage increases. This will lead to extra spending commitments year after year and potentially less room for tax cuts. He called for an end to universal benefits such as the winter fuel allowance for the elderly. Ministers have promised a white paper setting out the details and have admitted that millions of wealthier pensioners would lose out as a result of the proposed £140 per week flat rate. Mr Osborne gave no hints on when the details will be confirmed.