The scandal of pensioner poverty
A significant achievement of the last Labour government was a reduction in pensioner poverty.
In 1996/97, 42% of single female pensioners were in poverty while the high point for single male pensioner poverty was 34% in 1997/98. By 2009 these had fallen to 18% and 14% respectively.
Since 2010, single pensioner poverty has seen once again a systematic rise to 24% for females and 20% for males, and the rise looks set to continue.
Along with rising child poverty, it is a scandal of a decade of austerity.
According to analysis by the Rowntree Trust, a significant cause of rising pensioner poverty is housing costs. For those in social housing, the poverty rate peaked at 54% in 1996/97, fell to 20% in 2012/13, and has risen back to 31% in 2016/17. For those renting from private landlords, the peak was 46% in 1997/98, and the low point was 27% in 2007/08, before rising back up to 36% in 2016/17.
With so many people set to retire with inadequate pensions, we are likely to see a continuing…
In 1996/97, 42% of single female pensioners were in poverty while the high point for single male pensioner poverty was 34% in 1997/98. By 2009 these had fallen to 18% and 14% respectively.
Since 2010, single pensioner poverty has seen once again a systematic rise to 24% for females and 20% for males, and the rise looks set to continue.
Along with rising child poverty, it is a scandal of a decade of austerity.
According to analysis by the Rowntree Trust, a significant cause of rising pensioner poverty is housing costs. For those in social housing, the poverty rate peaked at 54% in 1996/97, fell to 20% in 2012/13, and has risen back to 31% in 2016/17. For those renting from private landlords, the peak was 46% in 1997/98, and the low point was 27% in 2007/08, before rising back up to 36% in 2016/17.
With so many people set to retire with inadequate pensions, we are likely to see a continuing…
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