ALONE Calls for Immediate Action after new CSO Data Shows Grim Poverty Numbers Among Older People Living Alone
10% of older people living alone are now in consistent poverty, and 30% are at risk
ALONE, the national organisation that supports older people to age well at home, has expressed concern at latest predictable findings from the Central Statistics Office’s Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) which shows a growing risk of poverty among older people living alone. The data shows they were the only household group to experience an increase in both their risk of poverty and their level of enforced deprivation between 2024 and 2025.
The figures also highlighted rising poverty among older people overall. In 2025, ALONE supported almost 46,500 older people across its services, with one-third reporting financial difficulties. Over the course of the year, the organisation saw a growing number of people seeking financial assistance to cope with ongoing cost-of-living pressures, underlining the need for stronger and more accessible supports.
Commenting on the findings, ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan said the data reflects the experiences of many older people contacting the organisation. “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 and shows that these measures had the greatest impact in reducing the risk of poverty among older people. However, the most recent Budget did not include similar supports or meaningful increases for those affected. Key allowances have not kept pace with the increased cost of living. The Living Alone Allowance has not increased since 2022, while the Telephone Support Allowance has remained unchanged since 2018. Not all older people are the same, and the State must develop the capacity to identify and respond to the distinct needs and challenges facing the growing number of older people at risk of poverty. Without immediate and meaningful Government action the situation will continue to worsen in the months and years ahead.
ALONE is calling on Government to prioritise supports for older people in need including benchmarking the State Pension and increasing targeted payments, such as the Living Alone Allowance, the Telephone Support Allowance, and the Fuel Allowance.
These findings underline the urgent need to prevent older people, especially those living alone, from falling further into financial hardship,” Mr Moynihan said. “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. We expect that with the withdrawal of supports in the last Budget, coupled with ongoing world events, this issue is only going to be exacerbated’
Older people who need support can contact ALONE’s National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024, available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
