Title: More
than 1 in 5 British pensioners at risk of poverty
Subject: Older British at risk of poverty
Web Address: http://www.independent.co.uk/money/pensions/more-than-1-in-5-british-pensioners-at-risk-of-poverty-7827985.html
Date: June 8
Author: Sarah Cassidy
Subject: Older British at risk of poverty
Web Address: http://www.independent.co.uk/money/pensions/more-than-1-in-5-british-pensioners-at-risk-of-poverty-7827985.html
Date: June 8
Author: Sarah Cassidy
Summary:
British
pensioners are among Europe's poorest, with more than two million older people
at risk of poverty. More than one in five of older British people were classed
as being at risk of poverty in 2010. Charities said the figures should be a
"wake-up call" and for a radical shake-up of the pension system. The
at-risk rate has declined as average disposable incomes fell after the credit
crunch of 2008. Britain had the 10th highest at-risk-of-poverty rate among the
27 EU states in 2010. The highest rates were 21.3 per cent in Latvia, the
lowest rates were 9 per cent in the Czech Republic.
Reaction:
As a Dutch person this
seems a little odd, Dutch pensioners have one of the lowest at-risk-of-poverty
rate in the EU. I am used to rich pensioners who go on holidays all year round.
But this seems like quite a serious problem. Most people work their entire life
and they should not have to be poor once they finally get to retire. Especially
now the risk rate has declined, that means that people who used to be in the
poor-category now are not, even if their income did not change. However, the
easy solution is changing the pension system.
It is always hard when it comes to pensions and changes in economy. In this case, the question is whether the government can change the system thoroughly enough to hoist so many out of the at-risk category. Another question that should be asked is how this is measured and how they came at the at-risk category.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what to say here. My grandmother had enough money to live in luxury and give gifts all year round. My little brother's grandparents are a bunch of rich people, of course they do live in one of the cheaper parts of the Netherlands but still. How are old people not rich? This goes against logic.
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