Poverty in later life 'remains an issue'

Elsie is 78 and lives on a small State Pension that is topped up by Pension Credit, but because her Housing Benefit does not cover all her rent, she must live on nearly £20 a week less than the state has set a minimum – about £120 a week after rent. She looks carefully at prices in the shops and has no qualms buying second-hand clothes and furniture. Elsie does have enough money saved to buy a new oven, but does not feel she can justify spending hundreds of pounds on something she can do without.

Elsie's story highlights the realities of life for the 1.8 million older people that live in poverty. Recent polling commissioned by Age UK to coincide with the publication of our new report, "Living on a Low Income in Later life', shows that a significant minority of older people are finding life very difficult.

We found that that over half (55%) of people aged 60 and over are finding it harder to manage their regular outgoings compared to this time last year. A quarter (23%) of people aged 60 and over said they bought less food than they wanted to because it was expensive, and one in seven (14%) admitted going to bed when they were not tired in order to save heating costs.

Our report is based on interviews and discussion groups with older people on low incomes and paints a picture of lives that revolve around budgeting, to make every penny count and keeping meticulous records of spending. It illustrates that poverty in later life remains an issue and while most people on low incomes do manage, this can be hard work.

Those interviewed by our researchers talked about 'making do'. For example, by using a hob and a microwave rather than facing the cost of replacing a broken oven, going from shop to shop for the best bargains and many were heavily dependent on free bus travel to make ends meet. Energy costs were also a significant concern and the current economic climate, particularly rising prices and the removal of services that were currently available and enhanced their quality of life.

Older people tended to show a great deal of resilience in managing their money but this was emotionally draining and many were just eking out an existence.

For older people living in poverty there is a fear of the future, they are 'coping' today but will this last?

You can read Age UK's new report "Living on a Low Income in Later Life" at http://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/campaign/living-on-a-low-income-in-later-life/