One in five Scots pensioners facing financial struggle
● Those who are single – or rent their home – more likely to be affected
More than 200,000 Scots aged over 65 – one in five – are finding life a struggle financially, a charity has revealed.
The research, from Age Scotland, revealed that people in advanced older age, who are single or who who rent their homes rather than own them are at increased risk of living in poverty.
Research by Age UK, Age Scotland’s sister charity, found that around a quarter of people aged over 65 living in Britain faced financial problems.
Scottish older people were slightly less likely to say they were “just getting by” compared to those across the UK. However, older pensioners and those in lower socioeconomic groups were more likely to be struggling – 27 per cent of respondents aged 75 and over said they were finding it difficult or just getting by. Meanwhile, the report found that those who are single, widowed, divorced or separated are more likely to be struggling compared to those who are married.
Keith Robson, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “It’s easy to get complacent and assume most older people are comfortably off, but this survey shows that this is far from the case. These figures make harrowing reading. It’s simply unacceptable that one in five Scottish pensioners is spending their retirement worrying about how to make ends meet.
“Living within a fixed budget is challenging at any age, but it can be especially tough for older people. Around half of Scottish pensioners can’t afford to adequately heat their homes, while many would struggle to replace a broken television or washing machine. Many don’t like to admit they are worried about money and aren’t aware of the help that’s available.”
Last year, official figures showed that the number of pensioners living below the poverty line rose to 158,000, or 16 per cent, across Scotland.