Cuts to State Pension Indefensible

Any cuts to welfare and social supports would have a devastating impact on older people. Currently the weekly rate for contributory pension is €230.30 and the weekly rate for non contributory is €219 and €229 for those aged over 80. These are by no means princely sums. When you consider that the “at risk of poverty rate” for older people is 16.6%, certain vulnerable groups of older people simply cannot afford to give more.

SILC findings show that without the social supports provided by Government to older people, over 86% of older people would be at risk of poverty. This situation is even worse for older people living alone, where 96% would be at risk of poverty without the social supports from Government. Clearly then, any cuts to welfare and social supports would significantly increase the risk of poverty and have a devastating impact on older people.

Older people have contributed to our society as young and middle-aged adults and they continue to do so as older adults. They have already experienced the severe economic conditions of the 1950’s and 1980’s and paid the penal taxes of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Now in the latter years of their life, they are being subjected to more financial difficulty and hardships.

Blog Author: Patricia Conboy, Older and Bolder’s Project Director

Use the comments box below to share how you feel about the threats to older people’s welfare and social supports?