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11-Jun-08 14:15 [Pensions]
Pensioner poverty on the rise Pensioner poverty is rising in the UK, according to figures newly released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Households Below Average Income information shows that the number of pensioners in relative poverty after housing costs rose by 200,000 to 2.1 million in 2006-07.
Recent rises in poverty figures have been labelled as "disappointing" by the DWP because it claims that over the last decade figures show substantial falls in the numbers of those living in relative and absolute poverty.
However, speaking on BBC Radio 4's PM programme, space the head of public affairs at Help the Aged Mervyn Kohler stated that he is dismayed by the increase in the number of elderly people living in poverty.
He added: "This is a disgrace. I think it shows the dependence the government has on means tested benefits as a way of getting help to older people and it shows how people are not claiming those means tested benefits."
Mr Kohler concluded by stating that he felt this was one of the reasons why there has been a growth of pensioners in poverty.
The government is aiming to eradicate child poverty by 2020 in order to ensure children have a decent start in life.
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