Help for Pensioners

Last week saw over a thousand pensioners descend upon Parliament as part of a campaign organised by the National Pensioners Convention to mark the centenary of the basic state pension.  In its 100 years this was the first time that working age and retired people had come together to Westminster for such an event. 

 But they had not simply come for a nice day out.  Rather they had come to lobby the Government to improve the basic state pension and do more to help the country’s pensioners.  I was pleased to welcome a large contingent from North Staffordshire and it was a good forum for the pensioners to express their needs to MPs.  Their over-riding theme was that they want their pensions to be linked to the rise in average earnings as opposed to the rise in average prices.  The link to earnings was scrapped by the Conservative Government in the 1980’s and pensioners have been worse off ever since.  Fortunately, in last years Pensions Act the Government heeded these calls and legislated to restore the link to pensions before the end of the next parliament.   This means that the basic state pension will then rise in line with whichever indicator is higher- earnings or prices.   This is a huge step forward and will be welcome news to all pensioners.   

 Issues of fuel poverty were also at the forefront of peoples minds.  There was anger at what they perceived to be the greed of energy companies and many called for a windfall tax to be imposed upon their profits.  Whilst I wholeheartedly supported a windfall tax and wrote to the Chancellor to express my views I thought it was also worthwhile to set out what measures the Government has taken to support pensioners.  This winter any household with a person 60 or over will receive a £250 winter fuel payment.  For those over 80 this will rise to £400 and for those on pension credit this rises by a further £25.  To provide more assistance for pensioners struggling to pay their fuel bills the Government now offers loft and cavity wall insulation free of charge to all pensioners which can reduce fuel bills by £250 per year.  Also, social tariffs have been set up by the energy companies which offer reduced energy costs for those in need.   Other benefits now enjoyed by pensioners include free bus passes, free TV licences and free eye tests. 

 But despite these achievements there is still much to do.  The primary focus of the Government since 1997 has been targeting those most in need.  This has led to the very poorest pensioners being around £2100 per year better off than they were in 1997.  But the downside of this approach is that pensioners who are not quite so poor have not seen their living standards improve as rapidly.  It is now important that the Government brings forward new measures to support all pensioners.  The proposed restoration of the link to earnings is a good start but I will be urging the new pensions Minister Rosie Winterton MP to look into further measures which can give our pensioners the retirement they deserve.  Last weeks lobby was a great way for the pensioners to push these claims and I thank all those that attended.