News

Older people living on benefits struggle to pay for basic necessities and cut back on food when times are hard, a new report reveals.

Hard Times, a study of 50 over-70s living on benefits, shows that they view food as a flexible commodity, buying less in order to pay bills or buy presents for their grandchildren. Many spend less than £4 a day on food with one respondent spending just £2.56.

The report, by the Centre for Policy on Ageing for Nestl‚ Family Monitor, reveals that some older people who have incomes just above subsistence level are trapped in poverty because they fail to qualify for some benefits.

Over one-third of the respondents received a small occupational pension but, as they did not qualify for full benefits such as council tax and housing benefit, they were left with less disposable income than those qualifying for the minimum income guarantee.

The study shows that low income limits social activity and interaction, as does poor health and fear of crime.

The report suggests raising the state retirement pension to help those in the poverty trap and also overcome the problem of people who are deterred from claiming benefit as it would be a given right.

- Hard Times is available from Central Books on 020 8986 5488 priced £15 plus postage.