Poverty and Material well-being of LGBT elders

Transcription

1 Poverty and Material well-being of LGBT elders SC Noah Uhrig Institute for Social & Economic Research University of Essex University of Surrey, April 2014

2 Outline The Myth of the Affluent Homosexual The role of good data in debunking this myth Understanding Society, the UK household longitudinal study Material well-being Employment & Earnings Pension build-up Savings, investment, wealth (vis., home ownership) Household structure Health & Disability Overall Material Well-being Bottom lines Concluding remarks

3 Myth of the Affluent Homosexual The Myth of Privilege: Lesbians and gay men make up an affluent, well-educated, professional elite, occupying positions of power and influence in the workplace and society at large. The DINK (double income no kids) myth: Gay people have no family responsibilities to hamper their job advancement or accumulation of wealth The myth of protective invisibility: Unlike other minority groups, gay people can avoid the effects of social stigma by hiding their homosexuality The myth of the conspicuous consumer: Gay people are hedonistic and consumptionoriented, an ideal niche market for upscale products M. V. Lee Badgett (2001) Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, vis., Pp. 1-6

4 Origins of these Myths M. V. Lee Badgett (2001) Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, vis., Pp. 1-6

5 Origins of these Myths Scholars who do not carefully interpret their findings Kinsey s samples, atypical of gay people Convenience sampling by marketing agencies Policy and third sector organisations also use biased convenience samples M. V. Lee Badgett (2001) Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, vis., Pp. 1-6

6 Biased samples All Trans* People People affiliated with Trans* Organisations or Agencies The Transgender Law Center (2009) The State of Transgender California Report: Results from the 2008 California Transgender Economic Health Survey. San Francisco: The Transgender Law Center

7 All Trans* People People affiliated with Trans* Organisations or Agencies Sampling strategy means that people affiliated with Trans* orgs or agencies will be similar to one another What about Trans* people not affiliated? How similar or different are they to those who are affiliated? The Transgender Law Center (2009) The State of Transgender California Report: Results from the 2008 California Transgender Economic Health Survey. San Francisco: The Transgender Law Center

8 Probability Samples Everyone in the UK Trans* People

9 Probability Samples Everyone in the UK Trans* People

10 Everyone in the UK Trans* People Drawing a sample at random from the population, some of the sample will be trans* therefore overcoming the problem of clustering With a large enough sample, can draw generalisations about all trans* people as well as relevant comparisons between affiliates and non-affiliates, trans* to nontrans* Sampling tools available to overcome under-representativeness in generalised samples of this type

11 Origins of these Myths Who matters and how are they identified? Sexual Identity, Behaviour, Attraction Gender identity, Presentation, Roles Stigma inhibits identification for research purposes Lumping groups together masks important differences in lived experience Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. M. V. Lee Badgett (2001) Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, vis., Pp. 1-6

12 Truth about material disadvantage in America 2000 US Census data, poverty 5.4% of heterosexual couples 6.9% of lesbian couples 4.0% of gay male couples 6% of heterosexual couples with children 12% of either lesbian or gay male couples with children 2000 US Census data, Child poverty 9.4% in heterosexual couples 19.7% in lesbian couples 20.9% percent in gay male couples 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, poverty 19% of heterosexual women 24% of bisexual or lesbian women 12% of heterosexual men 7% of bisexual or gay men 2008 California Transgender Economic Health Survey 50% of Californian trans* people live in poverty Albelda, R., M.V.L. Badgett, A. Schneebaum, & G. Gates "Poverty in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community." UCLA - Williams Institute, Los Angeles, CA. Prokos, A. H., & Keene, J. R. (2010). Poverty Among Cohabiting Gay and Lesbian, and Married and Cohabiting Heterosexual Families. Journal of Family Issues, 31(7), Transgender Law Center. (2009). The State of Transgender California Report: Results from the 2008 California Transgender Economic Health Survey. San Francisco, CA: The Transgender Law Center.

13 Nationally representative probability sample of households drawn in ,169 households 77,309 individuals 50,994 adults Longitudinal panel data Following the lives of families and households over time Standardised data collected via an annual personal interview Adults aged 16+ Attrition after 3 years 27,783 households 49,739 adults Content Core data, vis., on health, employment, demographics, income, financial affairs Rotating data collection, e.g., social participation, transport, environmentalism, politics, psychological traits, attitudes, etc., The 3 rd interview obtained self-reported sexual identity of all adults in the household

14 Sexual identity Which of the following options best describes how you think of yourself? Heterosexual or straight Gay or lesbian Haseldon, L. & T. Joloza (2009) Measuring sexual identity: A guide for researchers. Newport: Office for National Statistics

15 Sexuality in UKHLS 6.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% % 1.0% % Gay or Lesbian Prefer not to Say

16 What is material well-being? No unique definition exists but the concept is most often thought as representing the stock of wealth used to generate well-being Well-being is living a good life which leads to satisfaction Well-being and deprivation can be considered representing different sides of the same coin Analytical definition: Resourcing human needs JRF working definition of poverty When a person s resources (mainly their material resources) are not sufficient to meet their minimum needs (including social participation)

17 Needs Poverty reflects inability to meet minimum needs deemed reasonable by societal standards There is no universally-agreed set or definition of human needs, though debate revolves around Subsistence: Food, hygiene Protection: Shelter, clothing, personal safety Participation: Sociation Leisure: Rest, recuperation Enforced lack of necessities Some people have access to material resources and choose not to use them Needs may not require material resources to be had, e.g., affection

18 Resources Whatever people can use to meet their needs Determined by power relations within families, households and society in general Multidimensional psychological, social, cultural, etc., but in terms of material well-being it s material resources that matter Material possessions and finances In-kind goods, commodities and services Formal and informal sources Direct financial resources and assets are the main determinant of poverty on the one hand, and effective material well-being on the other.

19 Direct Financial Resources and Assets Income e.g., Earnings, Benefits, Pensions, Gifts/Transfers Financial assets e.g., Savings, Home ownership, other Property Material goods e.g., Car, Computer, Washing machine Formal in-kind goods and services Most health services Passported benefits, e.g., bus passes Informal from friends or family Financial borrowing money In-kind help with home repairs or gardening, borrowing items, social care

20 types of resources: Embodied Capital Emotional/Psychic capital e.g., resilience, grit, risk preferences, personality Human capital e.g., skills, ability, education, experiences Social capital e.g., groups, organisations, friendships, familial relationships Physical and Mental Health Poor health increases need Good health is a asset

21 Sexuality and poverty amongst the over 50s? Employment & Earnings Pension build-up Savings, investment, wealth (vis., home ownership) Household structure Health & Disability Overall Material Well-being

22 Ageing, Sexuality and Material Well-being Lifetime Earnings Key issue is the build-up of earnings over the life-time Build up of savings, equity, other wealth Qualifying years for state pension Qualify and enrol in occupational pension Influence of sexuality Career and employment decision making Academic outcomes Criminal convictions, vis., older gay men Discrimination in hiring and promotion Earnings differentials Harassment on the job Termination, Quits and Blackballing Badgett, M. V. L. (2001). Money, myths, and change : the economic lives of lesbians and gay men. Chicago, IL / London: University of Chicago Press. Akerlof, G. A., & Kranton, R. E. (2010). Identity economics: How our identities shape our work, wages, and well-being. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

23 Education Relative odds with no qualification as reference Men Women DEGREE, EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay A-LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay O-LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay OTHER QUALIFICATION Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay DEGREE, EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian A-LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian O-LEVEL OR EQUIVALENT Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian OTHER QUALIFICATION Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian Notes 8,073 Men, 9,833 Women aged 50+, age is controlled in models, significant effects with a black border

24 Labour Force Participation Relative odds with out of the labour force as reference SELF-EMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay EMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay UNEMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay RETIRED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay Men Notes 8,050 Men, 9,798 Women aged 50+, education, age, children, mental and physical health are controlled, significant effects with a black border Women SELF-EMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian EMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian UNEMPLOYED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian RETIRED Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian

25 Earnings Distribution of hourly wage by sexuality Men 1% 5% 10% 25% 50% 75% 90% 95% 99% Women 1% 5% 10% 25% 50% 75% 90% 95% 99% Heterosexual/Straight Gay Heterosexual/Straight Lesbian Notes 2,503 Men, Women aged 50+

26 Earnings Distribution of hourly wage by sexuality MEN Heterosexual / Straight Gay Prefer not to say 1% % % % % WOMEN 75% % % % Heterosexual Prefer / Straight Lesbian not to say 1% % % % % % % % % Notes 2,503 Men, Women aged 50+

27 Predicted Wages - Men Shown are effects on log hourly wage Heterosexual/Straight Gay Not Say Degree A-level or equivalent O-level of Equivalent qualification No Qualification Large emloyers & higher management Higher professionals Lower management & professionals Intermediate Lower supervisory & technical workers Semi-routine occupations Routine occupations Age Age2 Children age 0-2 in HH Children aged 3-4 in HH Children aged 5-11 in HH Physical Health (SF12) Mental Health (SF12) Constant Notes 2,857 Men aged 50+, significant effects with a black border

28 Predicted Wages - Women Shown are effects on log hourly wage Heterosexual/Straight Lesbian Not Say Degree A-level or equivalent O-level of Equivalent qualification No Qualification Large emloyers & higher management Higher professionals Lower management & professionals Intermediate Lower supervisory & technical workers Semi-routine occupations Routine occupations Age Age2 Children age 0-2 in HH Children aged 3-4 in HH Children aged 5-11 in HH Physical Health (SF12) Mental Health (SF12) Constant Notes 3475 Women aged 50+, significant effects with a black border

29 Predicted hourly wages MEN Age 50 Age 55 Age 60 Age 64 Heterosexual / Straight Gay Not Say WOMEN Age 50 Age 55 Age 59 Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian Not Say Hourly wage is calculated from the model and reflects the expected wage of a worker with a degree, in a lower management or professional class occupation, without children and of average health

30 Ageing, Sexuality and Material Well-being Pension Income Most people intend to rely on the state pension for income in retirement Many people have an occupational pension Qualify Enrol Employer contributions Education, earnings and occupation group Private pension holding is extremely rare Key Question for Understanding Society data Does financial preparedness for retirement differ across sexuality groups? Bryan, Mark, James Lloyd, Birgitta Rabe, and Mark Taylor "Who Saves for Retirement." The Strategic Society Centre, London.

31 Retirement Income Expectations Evidence from the UKHLS Expects income from Occupational pension Private pension Income from savings or investments Spouse/Partner pension Paid work Worry about amount of income in retirement? Key findings: GBO men are significantly more likely to expect income from a private pension, and are significantly less likely to worry about their amount of income in retirement as compared to heterosexual men GBO men have the same expectations as heterosexual men in other areas LBO women have the same expectations as heterosexual women Notes 2539 Men & Women aged 40, 45, 50, 55, and who do not consider themselves retired.

32 How to fund retirement? Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian/Gay,, Men Women State retirement (Old Age) pension, including State Second Pension (SERPS) 94.2% State retirement (Old Age) pension, including State Second Pension (SERPS) 94.6% Savings or investments 44.2% Savings or investments 40.0% Earnings from part-time work 32.5% Earnings from part-time work 26.7% Occupational or personal pension from scheme not yet started 32.2% Releasing equity in your home by moving to a less expensive one 24.2% Releasing equity in your home by moving to a less expensive one 19.5% Occupational or personal pension from scheme not yet started 22.8% Inheritance in the future 18.0% Inheritance in the future 22.5% Renting out a property (other than your main home) 10.9% financial support from your partner or family 20.0% financial support from your partner or family 9.2% Renting out a property (other than your main home) 8.1% Sale of other property (other than your main home) 5.9% Sale of other property (other than your main home) 4.5% Something else 5.7% Something else 3.9% None of these 1.0% None of these 0.6% State retirement (Old Age) pension, including State Second Pension (SERPS) 87.9% State retirement (Old Age) pension, including State Second Pension (SERPS) 88.9% Occupational or personal pension from scheme not yet 27.4% started Savings or investments 37.9% Savings or investments 26.6% Earnings from part-time work 36.0% Earnings from part-time work 21.1% Occupational or personal pension from scheme not yet started 16.6% Releasing equity in your home by moving to a less 18.5% expensive one Inheritance in the future 15.6% Inheritance in the future 13.7% financial support from your partner or family 10.0% financial support from your partner or family 12.1% Renting out a property (other than your main home) 7.3% Renting out a property (other than your main home) 10.6% Releasing equity in your home by moving to a less expensive one 4.3% None of these 5.3% Sale of other property (other than your main home) 3.7% Sale of other property (other than your main home) 1.7% None of these 1.3% Something else 0.0% Something else 0.0%

33 Ageing, Sexuality and Material Well-being Housing, and Housing Wealth Property means security and shelter North American evidence LGB homelessness indirectly related to sexuality Transgender Law Center 2009 O Connor & Molloy 2001 Ahmed et al 2008 Jepsen & Jepsen 2009 Ownership of property is an asset deployable in older age as needed Leppel 2007 Jepsen & Jepsen 2009

34 Home ownership Relative odds with local authority housing as reference Men Women OWN (OUTRIGHT OR MORTGAGE) Heterosexual/Straight Gay RENT Heterosexual/Straight Gay OWN (OUTRIGHT OR MORTGAGE) Heterosexual/Straight Lesbian RENT Heterosexual/Straight Lesbian The model also suggests that "" men are nearly twice as likely to live in local authority housing as heterosexual men, ceteris paribus Notes 8099 Men, 9835 Women aged 50+, model controls for age, urbanity, and residency in greater London

35 Home Value 1,000, , , , , , , , , , Men 1% 5% 10% 25% 50% 75% 90% 95% 99% Heterosexual / Straight Gay 1,000, , , , , , , , , , Women 1% 5% 10% 25% 50% 75% 90% 95% 99% Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian Notes 5979 Men, 6989 Women aged 50+ who live in owner occupied accommodation

36 Ageing, Sexuality and Material Well-being Household Composition Children require space and resources to provide for their needs, while not necessarily providing much to household resources Contra indicator: Children could provide both financial and in-kind resources in old age, vis., their contribution to material well-being of a household is delayed Spouse/Partner contributions to material resources of household During working lives In retirement and after death, spousal benefits, etc., Living alone means a lack of contribution, both while spouse is alive and as a legacy after their death Tilly, C & R. Albelda "Family structure and family earnings: The determinants of earnings differences among family types." Industrial Relations, 33:

37 Household composition Relative odds with other household structures as reference Men Women ALONE ALONE Heterosexual/Straight Heterosexual/Straight Gay Lesbian COUPLE COUPLE Heterosexual/Straight Heterosexual/Straight Gay Lesbian Notes 8120 Men, 9866 Women aged 50+

38 Proportion living with dependent children (aged < 16) Men Women 20.0% 20.0% 18.0% 18.0% 16.0% 16.0% 14.0% 14.0% 12.0% 12.0% 10.0% 10.0% 8.0% 8.0% 6.0% 6.0% 4.0% 4.0% 2.0% 2.0% 0.0% Heterosexual / Straight Gay Prefer not to say 0.0% Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian Prefer not to say Notes 7957 Men, 9698 Women aged 50+

39 Proportion with Any Children or Grandchildren Men Women 90.0% 100.0% 80.0% 90.0% 70.0% 80.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 10.0% 0.0% Heterosexual / Straight Gay Prefer not to say 0.0% Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian Prefer not to say Notes 7957 Men, 9698 Women aged 50+

40 Ageing, Sexuality and Material Well-being Health and Social Care American LGB elders are significantly less likely to access medical care as compared to non-lgb elders Age Concern, in 2001, acknowledged that elder LGB 'invisibility' meant older LGB faced particular risks of exclusion in all levels of health policy Elder transgender health (American data) 19% report being refused medical treatment 62% report a disability Little is known about hormone use in aging Gardner, A., B. de Vries, & D. Mockus "Aging out in the desert: Disclosure, acceptance, and service use among midlife and older Lesbians and Gay men." Journal of Homosexuality. Heaphy, B. & A. Yip "Policy implications of ageing sexualities." Social Policy and Society 5:443. Auldridge, A., A. Tamar-Mattis, S. Kennedy, E. Ames, and H. Tobin "Improving the Lives of Transgender Older Adults." Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders/National Center for Transgender Equality, New York/Washington.

41 The SF-12 measure of health 12 questions focused on how health impacts daily living, e.g., Does your health now limit you in the following activities? If so, how much? Climbing several flights of stairs. During the past 4 weeks, how much did pain interfere with your normal work (including both work outside the home and housework)? During the past 4 weeks, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities (like visiting friends or relatives)? Standardised set of responses are scored Scores are calibrated to age-specific population norms to range from 0 to 100, centred on 50 Subscales for Mental and Physical health Widely used in epidemiology as a composite measure of health Ware, JE, M Kolinski, and SD Keller "How to score the SF-12 physical and mental health summaries: a user s manual." Boston: The Health Institute, New England Medical Centre

42 Effects of sexuality on composite mental and physical health MEN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Gay WOMEN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian WOMEN'S MENTAL HEALTH Heterosexual/Straight (reference) Lesbian Notes 7882 Men, 9620 Women aged 50+, age and education are controlled, significant with a black border

43 Disability Subjective claim to long-standing impairment, illness or disability MEN'S DISABILITY Heterosexual/Straight Gay WOMEN'S DISABILITY Heterosexual/Straight Lesbian Notes 7900 Men, 9654 Women aged 50+, age and education are controlled, significant effects with a black border

44 Indicators of material well-being Poverty rate Equivalised household income less than either 50% or 60% of median household income Evidence of trouble meeting household expenses Behind with paying household bills, rent/mortgage, council tax Receipt of certain state benefits E.g., income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit Subjective experience of financial difficulties Absence of consumer durables Vis., adherence to societal living standards, including Internet access

45 Indicators of Material Well-being Heterosexual / Straight Gay / Lesbian Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 6.9% 2.7% 2.4% 11.1% 10.9% Poverty Rate 60% 12.8% 8.0% 5.9% 20.6% 19.4% Behind with rent or mortgage 8.7% 6.8% 9.5% 17.4% 9.0% Behind with paying council tax 3.8% 3.5% 4.5% 7.1% 3.9% Behind with some household bills 2.2% 1.6% 2.2% 5.3% 3.3% Behind with all household bills 0.4% 0.8% 0.0% 1.0% 0.6% Income Support 2.8% 6.6% 4.4% 8.7% 4.7% Job Seeker's Allowance 1.0% 2.5% 0.0% 1.5% 1.2% Housing Benefit 8.8% 13.9% 6.5% 15.5% 13.8% Disability Benefit 14.0% 18.0% 10.9% 20.3% 14.1% Council Tax Benefit 12.9% 17.2% 10.9% 18.4% 18.9% Any of the above 22.1% 26.2% 17.4% 30.9% 29.4% Any State Benefit 56.7% 27.1% 50.0% 56.0% 65.7% Living comfortably or doing alright 67.8% 66.4% 64.1% 60.4% 56.2% Just about getting by financially 24.2% 25.4% 28.3% 29.5% 33.5% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 8.0% 8.2% 7.6% 10.1% 10.4% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 96.4% 96.5% 97.4% 90.1% 94.8% Notes Men & Women aged 50+, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bolditalics

46 Indicators of Material Well-being Men Heterosexual / Straight Gay Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 6.7% 1.5% 2.0% 5.3% 13.4% Poverty Rate 60% 11.8% 9.1% 5.9% 14.7% 20.2% Behind with rent or mortgage 8.5% 7.1% 7.7% 22.5% 5.3% Behind with paying council tax 3.9% 2.9% 4.0% 11.3% 4.5% Behind with some household bills 2.2% 1.4% 1.9% 8.5% 3.5% Behind with all household bills 0.5% 1.4% 0.0% 1.2% 0.7% Income Support 2.5% 7.1% 5.7% 4.8% 5.9% Job Seeker's Allowance 1.4% 2.9% 0.0% 3.6% 2.8% Housing Benefit 7.8% 18.6% 7.6% 13.3% 13.8% Disability Benefit 13.2% 17.1% 11.3% 22.9% 12.5% Council Tax Benefit 11.1% 22.9% 13.2% 15.7% 18.3% Any of the above 20.3% 30.0% 20.8% 32.5% 27.7% Any State Benefit 50.8% 30.0% 45.3% 49.4% 60.9% Living comfortably or doing alright 67.8% 60.0% 64.2% 62.7% 54.2% Just about getting by financially 24.3% 31.4% 32.1% 26.5% 36.1% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 7.9% 8.6% 3.8% 10.8% 9.7% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 96.5% 96.9% 97.9% 90.2% 93.2% Notes Men aged 50+, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bolditalics

47 Indicators of Material Well-being Women Heterosexual / Straight Lesbian All Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 7.1% 4.3% 2.9% 15.2% 9.0% Poverty Rate 60% 13.6% 6.4% 5.9% 24.8% 18.8% Behind with rent or mortgage 8.8% 6.3% 12.5% 13.8% 12.2% Behind with paying council tax 3.8% 4.2% 5.1% 4.3% 3.4% Behind with some household bills 2.2% 1.9% 2.6% 3.2% 3.2% Behind with all household bills 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 0.5% Income Support 3.1% 5.8% 2.6% 11.3% 3.7% Job Seeker's Allowance 0.7% 1.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Housing Benefit 9.6% 7.7% 5.1% 16.9% 13.8% Disability Benefit 14.6% 19.2% 10.3% 18.6% 15.3% Council Tax Benefit 14.3% 9.6% 7.7% 20.2% 19.3% Any of the above 23.6% 21.2% 12.8% 29.8% 30.7% Any State Benefit 61.6% 23.1% 56.4% 60.5% 69.3% Living comfortably or doing alright 67.8% 75.0% 64.1% 58.9% 57.7% Just about getting by financially 24.1% 17.3% 23.1% 31.5% 31.5% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 8.1% 7.7% 12.8% 9.7% 10.9% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 96.4% 95.9% 96.7% 90.0% 96.1% Notes Women aged 50+, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bolditalics

48 Indicators of Material Well-Being Pensioners Heterosexual / Straight Gay / Lesbian Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 6.5% 3.6% 0.0% 11.9% 7.3% Poverty Rate 60% 13.4% 3.6% 2.9% 18.8% 17.9% Behind with rent or mortgage 6.3% 10.5% 10.0% 11.4% 5.7% Behind with paying council tax 2.3% 0.0% 5.4% 3.8% 1.8% Behind with some household bills 1.2% 0.0% 0.0% 2.7% 2.8% Behind with all household bills 0.4% 3.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% Income Support 1.7% 0.0% 2.7% 4.5% 3.1% Job Seeker's Allowance 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Housing Benefit 9.4% 12.9% 8.1% 11.6% 13.2% Disability Benefit 15.1% 9.7% 8.1% 20.5% 15.1% Council Tax Benefit 15.3% 12.9% 13.5% 15.2% 21.3% Any of the above 25.5% 22.6% 21.6% 30.4% 32.2% Any State Benefit 93.4% 90.3% 89.2% 93.8% 95.3% Living comfortably or doing alright 74.0% 77.4% 75.7% 70.5% 61.7% Just about getting by financially 21.5% 19.4% 16.2% 25.9% 31.7% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 4.5% 3.2% 8.1% 3.6% 6.6% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 95.4% 100.0% 93.1% 85.0% 94.2% Notes Men & Women of pensionable age, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bold-italics

49 Indicators of Material Well-being Young (aged 16-29) Heterosexual / Straight Gay / Lesbian Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 9.4% 16.4% 11.6% 16.0% 13.3% Poverty Rate 60% 16.9% 22.7% 23.9% 27.0% 21.7% Behind with rent or mortgage 13.8% 12.7% 17.0% 21.4% 17.2% Behind with paying council tax 10.5% 10.7% 16.9% 17.3% 14.3% Behind with some household bills 7.8% 7.7% 12.7% 13.0% 11.0% Behind with all household bills 0.9% 0.0% 3.5% 3.5% 1.6% Income Support 4.3% 2.3% 6.9% 8.6% 6.0% Job Seeker's Allowance 5.5% 3.8% 8.1% 10.3% 7.2% Housing Benefit 8.0% 4.6% 8.7% 12.9% 7.6% Disability Benefit 3.0% 3.1% 5.2% 8.6% 6.4% Council Tax Benefit 7.6% 5.3% 5.2% 12.9% 7.6% Any of the above 15.0% 13.0% 19.1% 29.3% 21.9% Any State Benefit 15.4% 14.5% 16.2% 18.1% 14.3% Living comfortably or doing alright 62.1% 60.3% 52.6% 50.9% 58.2% Just about getting by financially 26.3% 22.9% 25.4% 29.3% 25.5% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 11.6% 16.8% 22.0% 19.8% 16.3% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 96.5% 96.8% 92.0% 96.8% 94.7% Notes Men and Women aged 16-29, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bold-italics

50 Indicators of Material Well-being Mid-age (aged 30-49) Heterosexual / Straight Gay / Lesbian All Not Say Poverty Rate 50% 5.5% 6.8% 6.6% 11.5% 13.2% Poverty Rate 60% 10.6% 11.7% 13.2% 19.9% 25.0% Behind with rent or mortgage 11.6% 7.5% 12.6% 23.5% 16.8% Behind with paying council tax 8.9% 2.8% 11.2% 15.8% 15.4% Behind with some household bills 6.1% 5.0% 12.1% 13.1% 9.6% Behind with all household bills 0.7% 0.5% 2.1% 0.0% 1.7% Income Support 3.8% 5.4% 6.4% 15.2% 9.8% Job Seeker's Allowance 2.7% 4.0% 0.7% 4.1% 5.5% Housing Benefit 9.2% 10.8% 16.3% 28.3% 20.2% Disability Benefit 7.0% 11.7% 10.6% 11.7% 9.8% Council Tax Benefit 9.6% 9.9% 16.3% 29.7% 21.2% Any of the above 15.8% 18.4% 21.3% 39.3% 29.3% Any State Benefit 19.0% 17.9% 29.8% 28.3% 24.3% Living comfortably or doing alright 56.2% 62.8% 40.4% 42.1% 39.1% Just about getting by financially 29.7% 24.2% 36.2% 31.0% 36.4% Finding it quite or very difficult financially 14.1% 13.0% 23.4% 26.9% 24.5% Consumer durables missing (max 13) Access to the internet 98.1% 99.5% 95.5% 97.6% 95.3% Notes Men and Women aged 30-49, significant differences to the heterosexual / straight population are indicated with bold-italics

51 Material Set-Up of 50+ for older age Gay men vs Heterosexual/Straight men Self-employed, but otherwise comparable employment rates Earnings disadvantage Unlikely to have retirement savings (?) Reliant on state pension Somewhat less likely to own their home Home values tend to be somewhat lower, except at extreme upper end of the distribution Overwhelmingly more likely to live alone, very unlikely to have children or other familial support Much poorer physical and mental health Somewhat more likely to be disabled Less likely to be poor Less likely to be behind in household bills Subjectively somewhat less ebullient about finances but not overly so Reliant on Benefits, vis., Income support, Housing benefit, Council tax benefit Bottom line Material well-being largely depends on state benefits

52 Material Set-Up of 50+ for older age Lesbians vs Heterosexual/Straight women Highly educated Tend to be self-employed Earnings premium, vis., comparable to heterosexual men Savings for retirement Intend to continue working in retirement Likely to own their home, median value is comparable Less likely to live alone in old age, comparatively more likely to have dependent children post age 50 No real differences in physical or mental health Significantly more likely to claim a longterm limiting (i.e., disabling) condition Lower poverty rates Less likely to be behind with household expenses Subjectively more likely to say they live comfortably No difference in benefit receipt, although slightly more likely to have disability benefit More consumer durables on average Bottom line Seem to be well set-up for older age/retirement

53 Material Set-Up of 50+ for older age men vs Heterosexual/Straight men Comparable educational attainment Higher likelihood of being selfemployed Significantly less likely to be unemployed Somewhat of an earnings penalty, though not significant. Unlikely to have retirement savings (?) Somewhat more likely to rent a home, no different in home ownership Home values tend to be much higher, so more housing wealth at their disposal Somewhat likely to live alone, but quite likely to have children No real physical health differences Comparable likelihood of disability Significantly poorer mental health Lower poverty rates Less likely to be behind in household expenses No difference in state benefits, apart from slight likelihood of Income Support Subjectively, tend to say they are getting by Bottom line No clear material disadvantage as compared to heterosexual men

54 Material Set-Up of 50+ for older age women vs Heterosexual/Straight women Comparable education Comparable employment patterns Earnings comparability to heterosexual women, though some clearly high earning bisexual women are in the sample Likely to have savings for retirement Intend to continue working in retirement More likely to live in owner occupied housing and less likely to rent Slightly higher home values, so comparatively more housing wealth Household composition is comparable to heterosexuals, vis., including the having children Physical health and disability claims are comparable Significantly poorer mental health Lower poverty rates Somewhat likely to be behind in mortgage, but otherwise no difference with meeting household expenses Little differences in state benefit receipts Subjective financial experiences are comparable Bottom line No clear material disadvantage going into old age/retirement

55 Material Set-Up of 50+ for older age and On all measures tend to be more materially disadvantaged relative to heterosexuals Spurious findings? Older Non-white Poorer social backgrounds

56 Intersectionality? Invisibility?

57 Thank you SC Noah Uhrig Institute for Social & Economic Research University of Essex