Reward hard working pensioners

Meg Hillier calls upon the Government to do more for pensioners who save.

Speaking to pensioners at a meeting of Hackney’s Council for Older people on Tuesday 1 March, Meg, Labour’s candidate at the next General Election highlighted the support that Hackney pensioners have received from the Government since 1997.

“Our first priority was to provide a boost to the incomes of the poorest pensioners and make sure that people who have worked hard share in the country’s rising prosperity,” she said.

“We introduced the Pension Credit to reward saving. Nearly 6,000 pensioner households in Hackney South and Shoreditch are now benefiting from Pension Credit, with a local average award of £65.32 a week.”

In addition, she said, Labour has introduced free TV licences for over 75s; increases in the winter fuel payment; free eye tests and reduced the Tories’ VAT on fuel from eight per cent to five per cent. The poorest pensioners are now significantly better off.

Meg added: “We now need to address the group of pensioners who’ve managed to save something for their retirement but who – until now – have found that it is knocked straight off their benefit entitlement, leaving them no better off than those who have not saved at all. I am delighted that the Government is tackling this issue – which many pensioners raise with me when I meet them on the doorstep.”

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For more information, contact Ian Rathbone 07890 654 068

Notes to editors:

In Hackney South and Shoreditch:

8,780 pensioners receive the basic state pension worth £79.60 for single people or £127.25 for couples (figures from 2004).

5,574 pensioner households are now benefiting from Pension Credit, with a local average award of £65.32 a week.

11,390 pensioners benefit from the Winter Fuel Allowance, worth at least £200, plus an additional £100 for those over 80.

Meg Hillier was primary carer for her 88 year old mother in law until her death on Christmas Eve 2004. She has seen first hand the issues facing pensioners and the financial benefits for pensioners under this Government. She is passionate about ensuring that pensioners gain from Britain’s growing prosperity – and particularly in Hackney where many pensioners are in the poorest income bracket.