CT: Half million seniors in Czechia on verge of poverty

An estimated half million senior citizens in Czechia are living on the verge of poverty, Czech Television reported on Sunday. There are over two million people of pension age in the country, with most living on old-age pensions alone and concerned about high inflation which is causing the living standards of many to fall markedly, the station said.

Year-on-year inflation in Czechia has been around 17 percent in recent months and there are fears prices could rise even higher.

The director of seniors’ organisation Život 90, Jaroslav Lorman, told Czech Television that things were particularly tough for old people living alone in rented accommodation, with rents and power prices rising. Increasing food prices are also hitting the elderly, he said.