Age Action welcomes the Combat Poverty Agency’s highlighting the twin threats of the rise in the cost of living and in the cost of fuel to those living on social welfare payments. Age Action however questions the suggestion made by Kevin O’Kelly of the Combat Poverty Agency yesterday that enough has been done to guard against older people slipping into consistent poverty.

However it is worth remembering that 2.2% of those over 65 in danger of consistent poverty represent 10,294 individuals (2006 Census). And that this figure could easily rise if the government fails to fulfil its promise of increasing the State Pensions to €300 in the life of the present Dáil.

For instance research published this year by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice showed that for a lone female pensioner aged over-70 the shortfall between what would be needed and what she received varied between €32.26 and €89.10. Despite this clear threat to older people living alone successive governments have failed to increase the Living Alone Allowance since 1996 and it is still at a derisory rate of €7.70. Also 14% of older people still remain at risk of poverty if not consistent poverty.

Age Action is also calling for an increase in the Fuel Allowance from €18 to €30, a move that would benefit all those on a social welfare payment regardless of age. This is in light of the increases in fuel (ESB 17.5% and Gas 20%) cost sanctioned earlier this year.