The current cost of living is pushing more people into poverty, with almost 68% of low income...
Older people
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27/06/2012
‘£8 billion’ bill for older people’s housing benefit
The government will have to spend an extra £8.13 billion on housing benefit for pensioners each year by 2060, according to a think-tank report. The rising number of older people, and changes in the housing market, are the main factors.
The report looks at how trends in longevity and tenure will affect the future cost of housing benefit for older people in the very long term.
Category: Reports -
25/06/2012
Older People in the PSE Research
This conceptual note considers the measures specifically for older people that could be used in the PSE: UK survey. It covers: the question of whether to include specific items and activities aimed at measuring deprivation in older people; the extent of social networks and social and financial support; specific health problems associated with older people that cause difficulties with activities in daily life; and the extent and provision of unpaid informal care.
Category: Conceptual notes -
07/06/2012
Economic Participation in the PSE survey
The aim of this paper is to provide the rationale for the aspects of work that need to be covered, and to identify suitable questions for the main PSE survey to gather the required data. Where possible, it will look to build on questions and instruments that have been used in previous surveys, and to use standardised definitions where these exist. When looking at paid work, data from two large surveys on employment quality are analysed to assess the suitability of various indicators.
Category: Methods development -
07/06/2012
Access to Public and Private Services in the PSE Survey
This paper presents indicators relating to public and private services, focusing particularly on services relating to health, services for specific groups such as elderly, disabled and young people and public transport. Although many such services are ostensibly ‘universal’, both the quality and the quantity of services are typically lower in poor areas, and families in poverty may face additional barriers when accessing services. This paper argues that there is a need for some innovation in the public and private service questions on the PSE survey due to the changing nature of public service provision.
Category: Methods development -
07/06/2012
Improving Poverty and Social Exclusion Measures for Older People
This paper provides a review of various measures pertaining to older people used in the 1999 Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) survey and offers suggestions for improvement. Six measurement areas were identified: deprivation; social capital; limitations in activities of daily living; receipt of informal care; receipt of health and social services; and provision of unpaid care.
Category: Methods development -
09/05/2012
Growing problem of ‘digital exclusion’
A new report has highlighted the growing problem of ‘digital exclusion’. It provides new evidence that government efforts to move services online are particularly disadvantaging low-income groups, including older people and those with disabilities.
The report is based on a survey of low-income taxpayers across age profiles.
Category: Reports -
17/03/2012
Will raising the tax threshold reduce UK poverty?
The Coalition government risks repeating the mistakes of the previous Labour government by focusing too much on tax and benefit incentives as the only solution to poverty, argues a budget briefing from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, What will Budget 2012 Mean for UK Poverty? The briefing also argues that while, taken in isolation, the impact of the Coalition government’s aim to raise the tax threshold to £10,000 could help those on low incomes, it must be seen in the context of overall tax and benefit changes.
The briefing notes that for families with children the raising of the income tax threshold by £1,000 in April 2011 more than outweighed the gains created by freezing child benefit, reducing tax credits and reducing child care reimbursement.
The briefing draws on evidence from the organisation’s previous research to show how potential policy decisions in the Budget would affect poor places and people in the UK.
Category: Reports
