Pensioner poverty worse in Scotland

The poverty rate among pensioners in Scotland is higher than the UK average, a new report has revealed.

A total of 14.2 million people in Britain are living in poverty, including 4.5m children, according to a wide ranging report into the issue from the Social Metrics Commission (SMC). In Scotland, poverty was generally lower than other regions of Britain, except for pensioners, where the rate is higher than other nations except Wales - and above the UK average.

The SMC also said “inescapable” costs, like childcare and disability, should be considered alongside income.

The report reveals that people with a disability are much more likely to be living in poverty than previously thought, with around half of the 14.2 million people in poverty living in families with a disabled person.

]However, while across Britain, far fewer pensioners live in poverty now following a significant reduction of poverty amongst pension age couples over the last 15 years, retirees in Scotland are more likely to struggle financially. The study said: “The only exception for Scotland is in pensioner poverty, which is higher in Scotland than the UK average.”