ALONE said the latest results from the Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) show that 10% of older people living alone are now experiencing consistent poverty, while almost one-third (30%) are at risk of poverty. The organisation highlighted that this group was the only household category to see an increase in both the risk of poverty and levels of enforced deprivation between 2024 and 2025.
The charity said the findings reflect what it is seeing on the ground through its services. In 2025, ALONE supported almost 46,500 older people across Ireland, with approximately one-third of those reporting financial difficulties. Over the past year, the organisation has seen a growing number of older people seeking financial assistance as they struggle with ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan said many older people are already extremely careful with their spending but are still finding it difficult to make ends meet.
“Many of the older people we support are extremely careful with their spending, but they are still finding it harder to make ends meet,” he said. “We regularly hear from people cutting back on heating or food, or putting off essential household costs. When you live alone, every bill falls on one person, and many older people simply don’t have the financial cushion to absorb rising costs.”
The SILC data covers a period when government cost-of-living supports were still in place. According to ALONE, those measures played a significant role in reducing the risk of poverty among older people. However, the charity warned that the most recent Budget did not include similar supports or significant increases to key allowances.
Several targeted payments have not kept pace with rising living costs. The Living Alone Allowance has not been increased since 2022, while the Telephone Support Allowance has remained unchanged since 2018.
ALONE said the government must recognise that older people are not a uniform group and should develop better systems to identify and respond to those most at risk of financial hardship.
The organisation is calling on the government to prioritise supports for vulnerable older people, including benchmarking the State Pension and increasing targeted payments such as the Living Alone Allowance, Telephone Support Allowance and Fuel Allowance.
Mr Moynihan said the figures underline the urgent need for action.
“No one should have to face poverty in later life, particularly after a lifetime of contribution. Yet every year we see more and more older people pushed closer to crisis,” he said.
