Revealed, the shocking level of poverty among those over 60

A NEIGHBOURHOOD in Greater Manchester has some of the highest levels of poverty among older people in England, new analysis has revealed.

The government has published official rankings look at individual neighbourhoods, with average populations of around 1,500 people, and are based on the number of people aged over 60 who are ‘income deprived.’

They include those on income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, pension credit, certain types of universal credit, and some other benefits.

Glodwick in Oldham emerges as the second most affected by poverty among old people out of any of the 32,844 neighbourhoods in England.

An estimated 150 people aged 60 - all of the older people in the neighbourhood - are living in poverty.

Manchester, with 50 per cent, is in the top five places for poverty among older people in the country. The figures show that Oldham as a whole has significant levels of poverty among older people.

Neighbourhoods that fall into the top 10 pc of the country for poverty can be defined as being particularly affected.

Some 22 pc of neighbourhoods in Oldham fall into this category.

Elsewhere, the figure stands at 21 pc in Salford, 19 pc in both Rochdale and Bolton, 7 pc in Trafford, Bury and Wigan, and 6 pc in Tameside and Stockport.

The area with the next-highest levels of poverty among older people in Greater Manchester is a neighbourhood in Bolton, with one area near Heywood Park ranking in 4th place nationally, affecting an estimated 185 older people.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: “We are deeply concerned that so many older people are now living below the poverty line.

“For the poorest and most vulnerable life can be very tough as people struggle to afford even the basics such as food, energy and clothing.”