Half of women over 65 ‘living in poverty’

NEARLY half of Irish women over the age of 65 are living in poverty, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) claimed yesterday.

The group said the inequalities being experienced particularly by older women have reached “crisis point” because of an unfair social welfare system.

It said many women who stayed at home to raise their children are now dependant on their husbands for State pension payments.