Retired couples face £5k gap on state pension shortfall day

Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest the average retired couple's expenditure amounts to £21,770 a year, while the full state pension for a retired couple brings in £16,939, effectively covering just more than three-quarters of annual spending - or enough until 6 October. This means from this day onward, households will need to meet their spending from their own sources, which leaves some £5,177 for retired couples to cough up from private pensions, savings and investments. Pension provider Just warned many pension savers accessing pension benefits early following t...