PENSIONERS in Scotland are being forced to skip meals and cut back on heating as one in five struggle on an income of less than £15,000 a year. 

The Older People’s Economic Wellbeing Index, commissioned by the Independent Age charity, found that 29 per cent of people in Scotland over the age of 66 had missed meals over the last year and half cut back on heating or utilities because of financial difficulties.

The figure climbs to 32 per cent for those with a health condition, 24 per cent of whom were unaware that supports such as Pension Age Disability Payments existed.