Data on pensioner incomes were published last week, and it made for interesting reading. Pensioner incomes have remained stable over recent years, with average income after housing costs hitting £455 per week.

However, looking a bit deeper there’s some interesting trends to pick out. Female pensioners continue to have lower pension incomes than men; single pensioner households get by on less than half of their coupled-up counterparts, and younger pensioner households have higher incomes than older ones. There’s also interesting data on the different sources that make up pensioner income.Unsurprisingly, the state pension makes up the lion’s share of incomes, accounting for 58% of the income of single pensioner households and 40% of that of couples. Occupational pensions also play a vital role, making up 24% of single pensioner income and 29% of that of couples. Over time we should see that rise as more people are auto-enrolled for longer and so build up bigger pension pots, but there is more that can be done.

Earnings income

Income from earnings is also a key factor. It accounts for 7% of income for single pensioners and 17% of couples. It’s a major factor in younger pensioner households having higher incomes than their older counterparts. Income accounts for 21% of the gross income of pensioner households under the age of 75. This compares to just 5% of those over 75.It’s a great sign that pensioners who are willing to remain in work can do so, but we also need to consider what happens if they can’t.

Healthy life expectancy

In my column a few weeks ago I talked about the issue of healthy life expectancy – how long we can expect to live in decent health. Current data show it currently hovers at around age 60, which illustrates there will be many people unable to keep working for as long as they need to, and they could face financial hardship in retirement as a result.This is especially the case as state pension age is on the rise. If you find you are unable to keep working from age 60 you have several years before the state pension kicks in, so you need to do what you can to make sure you have a decent income coming from elsewhere.

Workplace pensions

Making the most of your workplace pension can make an enormous difference. Boosting your contributions every time you get a pay increase or promotion can really improve your position. If you are in a scheme where your employer is willing to increase their contribution if you increase yours – otherwise known as the employer match – that can be really useful.