Non-Income Poverty Among the Elderly

Abstract

This article uses data from a representative survey of retirees to estimate non-income poverty among the elderly. We examine six possible areas of deprivation (nutrition, financial well-being, property, housing, and social integration), as well as deprivation in general. Despite low levels of official poverty, senior citizens are often forced to limit their diets, experience difficulties in paying for medication and medical services, and suffer from inadequate everyday assistance and from lack of financial support. The risk of experiencing non-income poverty increases with the respondent’s age, while the presence of a partner, of working household members, or of a high education level substantially reduce it.