Some of the older people in the community are skipping meals and eating less because their pension is not enough to cover the cost of living, according to survey results.
Age Concern Nelson Tasman had 171 people respond to a questionnaire about the cost of living for people over the age of 65 and many were finding it hard to make ends meet on the superannuation pension.
Manager Caroline Budge says the results were not a surprise because the cost of food and rent in particular have risen significantly in the past couple of years. For single adults on a fixed income, she says something has to give.
“There are people out there who are finding it really hard to make ends meet and to eat as well as they’d like. A few skipped meals – they just don’t have enough to go around.”
The majority were spending between $50 and $150 a week on food, with a small percentage spending less than $50 a week because that was all they could afford. A few said there were times when they were hungry but did not eat.
Work and Income figures show superannuation for a single person living alone is $496 per week.
Many who answered the questionnaire said they were buying cheaper foods than in the past and no longer bought items such as meat and dairy which they considered luxuries.
“Your pension only covers so much and if your rent is big, which it is, then something has to be cut in your expenses and food is obviously quite an obvious one.”
Many of the respondents grew their own fruit and vegetables, while a few had used a foodbank and others said they would consider using a foodbank if they knew how to access one.
Even for those pensioners owning their own home, the increasing cost of rates, insurance and maintenance is challenging for those on a pension, she says.
While some people had savings that they were dipping into to pay for essentials, she says not all pensioners have savings and rely solely on their pension.
Research carried out by the Retirement Commission has found that across New Zealand, 40 per cent of people aged 65 and over have very little income besides their New Zealand superannuation.
