In response to figures published by Department of Work & Pensions on households below average income and pensioner income, Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said:
“The levels of poverty among many older people are worryingly persistent. For single pensioners reliant on state support, we are typically talking about households living on around £200 a week, which is far removed from the picture of a universally wealthy pensioner population. And for those pensioners at the bottom with the lowest income, a quarter have no savings to fall back on meaning their State Pension remains vitally important. With around 1.9 million pensioners living in relative poverty in the UK, the Government must take steps to ensure that older people with low incomes are not forgotten.”