Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

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Chapter 2 – An overview of social exclusion
iv) Income and the labour market
A quarter of female single pensioners live in poverty, representing one of the poorest groups of older people
(One in Four, Age Concern and the Fawcett Society, 2003). This is because fewer women have made
sufficient contributions to entitle them to a full basic state pension and they are less likely to benefit from
occupational pension schemes. Twice as many women as men rely on means-tested benefits in retirement
(One in Four, Age Concern and the Fawcett Society, 2003).
Large numbers of pensioners are failing to claim their income-related benefits. The process of making a
claim is long and complicated and, for some, carries a stigma. Research shows that older people from BME
communities face a number of barriers to claiming benefits, including language problems, concerns about
the impact of claiming on residency status and difficulties arising from not having a national insurance
number (Delivering Benefits & Services for Black and Minority Ethnic Older People, Barnard & Pettigrew,
London, DWP, 2003).
People leaving work before the state pension age risk being poorer in retirement than if they had continued
working, with those on low incomes particularly vulnerable (Money, Choice & Control: the financial
circumstances of early retirement, Arthur, York, JRF, 2003). People in their 50s and early 60s who may have
had little or no choice about leaving their job often find it difficult and increasingly dispiriting seeking other paid
employment (Money, Choice & Control: the financial circumstances of early retirement, Arthur, 2003). Health
difficulties, age discrimination and a lack of skills and financial resources mean that older people are more
likely to become detached from the labour market and dependent on benefits until state retirement age.
However, the ageing population in the East of England means the labour force potential amongst the
over-50s in the region is growing. A study suggested that over 225,000 people over the age of 50 in
the region would welcome remunerated employment (The Implications of an Ageing Population for the
Sustainable Development of the East of England, Population Ageing Associates, 2003). Without the
barriers to employment described above, older people could be making a significant contribution to
the regional economy, supplementing the workforce required to support an ageing population that
will continue to increase in tandem with developments and investments in health and social care.
v) Communities and social networks
The networks, relationships and values that shape people’s lives and the communities they live in can have a
significant impact on quality of life for individuals, and also for whole communities in terms of economic and
social outcomes. For some older people, for example those less able to leave their home, a lack of social
contact and engagement within the community may lead to feelings of isolation and mistrust. It may also
cause an increased fear of crime, particularly for women. Women aged 60 or over are three times as likely to
feel very unsafe out at night as men. Women from lower income households are one and a half times as likely
to feel unsafe as women from higher income households (Monitoring Poverty & Social Exclusion, Palmer et al,
York, New Policy Institute and JRF, 2003).
2.3 – SO6: To support the development of sustainable communities
i) Housing
Housing is integral to achieving broader social, economic and environmental objectives such as improved
educational attainment and health status.