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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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The overlooked over-75s
— poverty among the 'Silent Generation' who lived through the Second World War | | Author(s) | Sue Arthur, Ciaran Osborne, Matt Barnes |
| Corporate Author | Independent Age; Department of Sociology, City University |
| Publisher | Independent Age, London, 2016 |
| Pages | 32 pp |
| Source | Download: http://www.independentage.org/media/1224217/pensio... |
| Keywords | Poor elderly ; Social security benefits ; Pensions ; Social policy. |
| Annotation | The financial circumstances of the group of older people who lived through the Second World War - sometimes called the 'Silent Generation' is examined. This report uses incomes data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 2013-14 collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to look at the differences between groups of older people, and identifies those who are at risk of being forgotten on low incomes. Qualitative interviews were also conducted - presented as case studies - illustrating the experience of living on a low income in old age. The report looks at and defines poverty and material deprivation, and the role of state financial support. The analysis shows that, on average, those aged 75 and over live on lower incomes than younger adults. Many are living in poverty, and are unlikely to see significant increases in their income during their lifetime. Independent Age calls for a renewed government emphasis on Pension Credit to boost low take-up of this benefit, and to make sure its value is not eroded over time. The Government should also ensure that other benefits such as Winter Fuel Payment and the free bus pass are maintained for those most at risk of living in poverty, particularly single older people, older women and older renters. When Attendance Allowance is "reformed", the Government must guarantee that local councils will use it for its intended purpose, and that take-up does not decline. This report thus challenges recent stereotypes of "wealthy pensioners", and highlights the risk that the incomes of the over 75s will get overlooked in debates around intergenerational fairness and a policy focus on the new State Pension. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-160517001 E |
| Classmark | F:W6: JH: JJ: TM2 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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