Nearly half of Quebec seniors live in poverty

Nearly half of Quebecers over the age of 60 do not have access to a viable income that would allow them to live in dignity, according to a new study published Monday.

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The study by the Quebec Association for the Defense of the Rights of Retired and Pre-Retired Persons (AQDR) in partnership with the Quebec Observatory of Inequalities (OQI) lifts the veil on the “invisible” poverty affecting seniors.

Nearly half of Quebec seniors live below the viable income threshold, an indicator of the Institute for Socioeconomic Research and Information (IRIS), unlike people aged 25 to 59 who are 29.6% to have a low income.

While many non-refundable credits are used by seniors, this does not necessarily benefit low-income people, which in some cases may reinforce certain inequities, especially in an inflationary context.

This is why the study proposes as a solution recourse to the enhancement of refundable tax credits, which would have the advantage of allowing a very large number of seniors to achieve a truly viable income.

“We were shocked to see the extent to which certain recognized indicators, such as the low income threshold, camouflage the fact that half of seniors do not live with a viable and dignified income,” explained Pierre Lynch, president of the AQDR. .

The AQDR thus reiterated its demand for an annual increase of $4,000 in support for seniors and eligibility for tax credits from the age of 65 with a modulation according to income, i.e. a total of $8,000 for two levels of government.

“The dignity of seniors is not only regarding fighting once morest abuse, ageism and isolation, but it is also regarding ensuring that they have access to a decent income to live with dignity,” added Mr. Lynch.