Decrease in average income for over 65s

Figures from the latest CSO research reflect the importance of Older & Bolder’s MAKE HOME WORK calls for better home and community care and also confirm the State Pension as a vital resource which most older people rely on.

In 2010 the proportion of older people with a chronic illness rose to 55.7%. This increase underlines the importance of Older & Bolder’s call for better home and community care to allow older people to manage chronic conditions locally. The MAKE HOME WORK campaign calls for diagnosis and management of conditions such as dementia, stroke falls, incontinence and immobility to be made available in the community. 

2010 figures also show a decrease in the average income for older people, a reduction in income from employment and a greater reliance on the State Pension. In this context the Irish State Pension and related supports are proving to be a vital safety net. The latest figures confirm that an increasing proportion of older people rely on social transfers like the State Pension as a source of income.

It is clear that any cut to the State Pension or related supports (household benefits package and free travel) in the coming Budget would have a significant and detrimental impact on older people’s lives.

Source: The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), Thematic Report on the Elderly was released on 9th August at 11am by the CSO.

• In 2010 almost 56% of older people said they suffered from a chronic illness.
• From 2009 to 2010 the average income for older people (aged 65 or over) decreased by 6%. Results show that the decrease in income from 2009 to 2010 was mainly attributable to a decrease in earnings; earnings fell as a proportion of gross income from 18.3% in 2009 to 12.7% in 2010.  Reliance on social transfers like the State Pension as a source of income increased in 2010 when compared with 2004 or 2009.  For the poorest older people (lowest income quintile), 89% of their income came from social transfers.
• In 2010, as in 2009, elderly people living alone had the lowest average weekly income (€352.18) when compared with those living in a household with another person aged 65 or over (€446.94).
• Those living in rural areas had a lower average income and were more dependent on social transfers as a source of income than those living in urban areas.