Pensioner Poverty

On behalf of Help the Aged, MORI Social Research Institute conducted research among 18-54 year old full-time and part-time working adults. A quantitative survey was conducted across the UK to assess public opinion about pensioner lifestyles, and awareness of pension-related issues.

One in five (20%) working adults (aged 18-54) in the UK expect the Basic State Pension to be a main source of income in retirement and this is more likely to be the case for women (24%, compared to 16% of men). However, one in five (22%) say they do not know how much the Government's Basic State Pension is for a single person, per week.

Respondents were asked, without prompting, what proportion of pensioners they think are living below the poverty line in the UK today. Over a quarter (27%) of UK working adults (aged 18-54) say they think this is over 50%, and two in five (40%) estimate this as being over 40%. More than three in five (62%) think the proportion of pensioners living below the poverty line in the UK has increased in the last ten years.

Respondents were shown a list of possible sources of income with which to identify what they thought their main source of income would be when they retired. 18-40 year old UK working residents are most likely to expect a personal or occupational pension, plus savings and investments to be their main source of income when they retire (30%), whereas 41-54 year olds are most likely to cite the Basic State Pension combined with personal or occupational pension (34%) (see note 1).

Half (53%) of working adults across the UK (aged 18-54) consider savings and investments to be essential for an older person or pensioner to have an adequate standard of living.

Notes

1. The four point difference is not statistically significant.

Topline Results

• The MORI Social Research Institute interviewed a representative sample of 1,067 working adults aged 18-54 across the UK
• Interviews in GB were carried out face-to-face, in home, using CAPI, as part of the MORI Omnibus. Additional 'booster' surveys took place in Scotland and Wales
• Fieldwork in Northern Ireland was carried out face-to-face, in home, using paper questionnaires
• Fieldwork was conducted between 22 September and 2 October 2005
• Results are based on all 18-54 year old full time or part time workers (1,067), unless otherwise stated
• Results are weighted to the known population profile of the UK
• An asterisk (*) denotes a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
• Where figures do not add up to 100, this is due to multiple coding or computer rounding
• Research was carried out for Help the Aged

Q1 Thinking about your personal lifestyle, which, if any, of the following items would you consider essential for an adequate standard of living? Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)

Q2 Thinking about the lifestyle of older people aged over 54 and pensioners, which, if any, of the following items would you consider essential for them to have an adequate standard of living? Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)

Q3 Thinking about pensions, how much do you think the Government's Basic State Pension is for a single person, per week? Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)

Q4 In percentage terms, what proportion of pensioners, if any, do you think are living below the poverty line in the UK today? (By that I mean those who do not have adequate financial means to be able to afford to feed and clothe themselves.) Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)

Q5 As far as you know, do you think that the proportion of pensioners living below the poverty line in the UK has increased, in the last ten years, decreased or stayed the same? Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)

Q6 Thinking about your own retirement in future, which, if any, of the following do you expect to be your main source of income in retirement? Base: All 18-54 year old full-time and part-time workers (1,067)