Pensioners launch new care campaign

Britain's biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has launched a new campaign entitled Care Free, to coincide with the government's six month's consultation on the future of care and support services. The Care Free campaign will:

• Reject the use of means-testing and call for care to be properly funded by central government to provide free services to all without the use of rationing criteria
• Recognise that the use of personal budgets are not universally suitable or the best way of providing the right type of care for all users
• Demand the postcode lottery in provision of care is ended and replaced with national standards of access and quality of services
• Call for recognition and support, both in financial and practical terms, for the families and carers of users
• Champion the need for properly trained, supervised and paid staff to assess, enable and care for users
• Promote appropriate care to Britain’s diverse pensioner population

Joe Harris, NPC general secretary said: "The voices of pensioners and their carers must be heard loud and clear during this six month consultation period. It seems that everyone acknowledges the growing crisis in social care, but no-one seems prepared to do anything to tackle it. Local authorities have tightened access to services because they have been starved of funds from central government. As a result, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable pensioners have been denied the care they so desperately need. Even those who need help getting out of bed in the morning are being left to fend for themselves. In effect, they either have to rely on friends or family, pay privately or go without."

"Care in this country is still treated like a Cinderella service, which has been under funded and overlooked for years. But those who need the care know that the postcode lottery on access to services, the differing charges around the country, the varying standards of care and the continued use of means-testing are simply intolerable. The government has introduced an artificial dividing line between personal and nursing care when all care should be provided free - and no-one should be expected to sell their home simply to pay for care that in hospital they would get free of charge."

1 in 3 of future pensioners face poverty in retirement

Britain's biggest older people's organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC), has claimed that today's Scottish Widows’ survey showing that 1 in 3 people cannot afford to save for their retirement, is further evidence that the government’s pensions’ policy is beginning to unravel.
Joe Harris, NPC general secretary said: "Most financial experts agree that you need a pension pot of about £100,000 to provide an income in retirement of around £6000 a year, but millions of today’s workers – even those in occupational pension schemes – will not get anywhere near that amount. The government’s entire pensions’ policy has relied on means-tested benefits and good company pensions to take people out of poverty in retirement – but this approach is now beginning to unravel. A third of pensioners will still be means-tested in 2050 and good company pension schemes are becoming a thing of the past.”

“The latest figures show that 1 in 4 pensioners already live below the poverty line of £151 a week – 62% of pensioner couples get by on £10,000 or less each year and it looks as if future generations will be even worse off than their parents and grandparents. Rising fuel, food and council tax bills are pushing people further into financial hardship, yet the government’s answer to this looming pensions’ crisis is to tell people to work longer, by raising the age of retirement to 68.”

“A strengthened national insurance based state pension set above the poverty level and linked to earnings offers the most effective way of giving everyone – both now and in the future – real financial security and dignity in retirement.”

The Battle for the OLd Age Pensin

Before the introduction of the first ever Old Age Pension in 1908, old people who were no longer able to work, depended upon charity to survive. For working people on low factory wages it was impossible to save or put anything aside for their old age. Industrialisation had uprooted the rural population and traditional domestic working and family stability suffered, leaving thousands of old people without any support.

Their last resort was the workhouse.
Modelled upon the prison system, discipline was rigid and breaking the rules could lead to increased working hours, reduced diets or solitary confinement.By 1891, England had a population of just over 29m, of which 1.3m were paupers. Amongst those, the over 60s accounted for 31%.

The workhouse had become the state’s way of ‘caring’ for the elderly.On 13 December 1898, Rev Francis Herbert Stead, a Christian Socialist from Tyneside convened a meeting in the Browning Hall, Southwark at which Charles Booth, the Victorian social reformer and anti-poverty campaigner was the main speaker.
This was to be an historic occasion which initiated a nationwide campaign. In the following year, further conferences in support of old age state pensions were convened in Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Following these initial public meetings, involving thousands of trade unionists, the National Committee of Organised Labour for Promoting Old Age Pensions for All was formed in January 1899. On 9 May 1899, the National Pensions Committee called a national campaign for universal non-contributory old age pensions at 65. Over the next decade the campaign managed to secure hundreds of thousands of signatures for its petitions, and persuaded the Parliament to hold various inquiries into the viability of introducing a pension.Finally, on 1 August 1908 the Old Age Pensions Act became law.

The pension pioneers had secured a non-contributory pension of five shillings (25p) a week for men and women at 70, which was subject to a means-test. Although this was not a complete victory, they recognised the tremendous social advance that had been made by getting the government to acknowledge that the state had a role to provide for those reaching old age. The pioneers also saw this achievement as a first instalment towards a better pension in the future - something which today’s ongoing campaign also seeks to achieve.A 100 years of state pension and still not enough!
Since 1908, the state pension has been through numerous changes, most notably becoming a contributory, pay-as-you-go scheme of National Insurance in 1946. But over the years it has not reflected the growth in our national wealth, and as a percentage of average earnings it has continued to decrease.

As a result, the majority of today’s older generation now struggle to make ends meet, as the gap between pensioners’ cost of living and the basic state pension continues to grow. Over 2m older people are entitled to means-tested support of £124 a week, and even more live below the official poverty level.The most striking similarity with 100 years ago, is the presence of means-testing.

More pensioners are means-tested now than at any other time and even in its modern guise, it remains unpopular, demeaning and ineffective at getting help to those who need it most.Like a century ago, the poorest of today’s pensioners are also women; the vast majority of whom receive less than a full state pension.
Many were badly advised about paying the ‘small stamp’ or were unable to pay their national insurance contributions because of caring for their families, and being in low paid or part-time employment. However, the struggle for a decent pension should not be something simply of concern to existing pensioners.
It should also interest the pensioners of the future. With decent occupational pensions under increasing attack and in decline, many of today’s workers will face an uncertain retirement unless the state pension is substantially improved and made fully inclusive.Yet, the government argues that to do so is unaffordable.
The National Insurance Fund currently has a surplus of £38.4bn, which is forecast to grow to £72bn by 2012. The money exists to pay a decent state pension - what is lacking, just like in the late 1890s, is the political will to do so.The answer therefore, as it was for the pension pioneers in 1898, is to organise and campaign to build public pressure for change that will ultimately achieve dignity and financial security for all in retirement.

This is an edited version taken from “The Battle for the Old Age Pension” – an attractive 16 page souvenir centenary publication.

Click here to download the Order Form in PDF format

Click here for Timeline - History of Pensions at Seniors Network

Ireland rejects the Treaty of Lisbon

The Senior Citizens Party called upon the European Commission and the European Council of Ministers to abandon the Treaty of Lisbon in accordance with European Law, since it must be ratified by all 27 member states and Ireland has already rejected it.

The reason it was rejected was not because the Irish are anti-Europe, but because they saw through the attempted confidence trick of revamping the original user-friendly, easy to understand European Constitution into 400 pages of legalese, which no one other than an experienced lawyer could understand, and giving it a new name in the hope that it would just be rubber-stamped.

The arrogance of those who say the Irish rejection does not matter because eighteen other member states have ratified it is almost unbelievable, given that not a single one of those states bothered to consult their people.

"The European Union is just like other governments," said Grahame Leon-Smith, Party Leader. "If they fail to listen to the people, they will be rejected. We want a genuinely democratic Europe which achieves cooperation by consent, not domination by dictatorship."

Food and fuel bills force workers to delay retirement

Rising food, gas, electricity and petrol bills are forcing pensioners to put off their retirement or consider going back to work, according to a new survey.

Research conducted by YouGov will this week reveal that 64pc of Britons of retirement age are deliberating carrying on working, with around a third of people putting off retirement for financial reasons.

The findings of the poll are based on interviews with 2,000 people of retirement age or close to retirement and will be unveiled at a conference run by insurance group Zurich on Wednesday.
Michael Portillo, the former shadow chancellor, who has delivered speeches and written about the state of UK pensions, said the increased costs of living were "undoubtedly going to put pressure" on pensioners.

"Electricity, gas and bills that many people in work do not have to think about loom very large for the retired person," he said.

"The combined impact of the rising cost of living, rising inflation, fears of recession and the constant media coverage of the credit crisis has created insecurity for a huge number of people approaching retirement and concerned about their financial future.
"Given that so many people are aware that they will face financial difficulties in retirement, more and more people are staying on at work, or returning to work to help ease the financial pressures they face ahead."

The survey will show that 42% of people recognise that they are not saving enough for retirement while a similar number of people are still expecting to take two to three holidays abroad per year.

Around 27%c of workers believe that they will have saved enough to afford their target lifestyle in retirement and around a fifth do not know whether they will have saved enough or not.
Tony Solomon, business development director at Zurich Assurance Life, said that besides the financial pressures, there were other reasons people were looking to stay at work, such as feeling the urge still to make a contribution to society, and to stay active.

However, he added: "It seems that for the lucky few already enjoying their retirement, they may be the last generation of silver surfers to enjoy the financial freedom of a carefree retirement living off the children's inheritance."

End the 25p pension insult -NOW!

25p for over 80s is an insult!
When it was first introduced 37 years ago it bought a bag of coal. . . today it won’t even buy a second class stamp!

Protest by sending it back to the Chancellor

The state pension has been increased by just £3.40 a week. The additional 25p payment - first introduced in 1971 - is now seen as insulting and derisory.

Thirty seven years ago, the extra weekly payment for those aged 80 and over was set at 25p in line with the value of a bag of coal.

At the time, it was considered a valuable addition to the weekly state pension of £5.
Today, if it had risen relative to the state pension-it would be worth around £4.50 a week. But over the years, its continued neglect has made it a symbol of discontent amongst Britain's elderly.
Even pensions minister Mike O'Brien acknowledged in a parliamentary debate last year that the 25p payment was "an insult", after his mother had complained about it.


Joe Harris, NPC general secretary said: "There are around 2.6m people aged 80 and over, and every week they receive this pathetic payment which rubs their noses in the fact that their state pension of £90.70 a week, is so pitifully low.


“Today, the age addition can't even buy a 27p second class stamp. I think sending 25p back to the Chancellor will show how angry pensioners really are.“This year represents the centenary of the state pension - yet one in five older people, particularly those older pensioners, are living below the official poverty line.


“The government has said it will restore the pension link to earnings in 2012, but by that time 3m of today's pensioners will have already died. We need a decent state pension now, set at around £135 a week, which allows all older people to live in dignity in retirement."

Download the NPC PDF with form

Sale-and-rent-back - a disaster in waiting

There are growing concerns and dangers associated with sale and rent back schemes for individuals, who are in financial difficulty and wish to remain in their homes. Now one home reversion plan arranger has raised concerns that many of these unregulated companies are preying on some of the most vulnerable members of society, retired people with inadequate pension provision, but who still own their own home.

Sale-and-rent-back property schemes have been branded 'a disaster waiting to happen' by one of Britain's leading charities.

Citizens Advice has called for official regulation of firms that buy the homes of people at risk of repossession at knock down prices before renting them back. It said some companies are paying less than 60% of homes' values with no guarantee that the previous owners will be able to remain in their property beyond a standard six to 12-month rental period.

Peter Tutton, of Citizens Advice said: 'We've got people who are vulnerable trying to stay in their home being enticed into an industry that has no controls on it at all at the moment and that is a disaster waiting to happen.
'Unless something is done to bring this industry into some kind of regulation to get some sort of framework of quality and assurances for people entering into these agreements, the kind of security tenure they're going to get, what they are paying and what protection they get against things going wrong, we could see a lot more people really finding they are losing out lots of money and still losing their homes.'
Unlike equity release firms, sale and rent back schemes are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The number of companies offering sale and rent back schemes has mushroomed over the past 18 months, with many advertising heavily in local and national press and online.
While some firms are large organisations offering certain guarantees, many are small operations looking for increasingly rare bargain buy-to-let purchases.

Most sale-and-rent-back operators offer no rental guarantees beyond a standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy and former homeowners could find themselves evicted within six or 12 months.
The equity release industry has sounded warnings about sale-and-rent-back amid fears that cash-strapped pensioners could fall victim to unscrupulous schemes.

If you are considering this type of scheme to boost you retirement income, or just to repay your loans or mortgage, in the first instance you should contact an independent financial adviser (IFA) with specialist knowledge in this area. They will be able to ascertain your current situation, taking into account your tax status and any state benefits which may be available to you and make appropriate recommendations from the whole of the market as to which is the best scheme to suit your particular needs. You can obtain a list of local IFAs from the FSA website at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/

Pensioners on the March in Blackpool

THOUSANDS of pensioners were arriving in Blackpool today with a plea for Gordon Brown.

They want the government to increase the state pension and take it to above the poverty line, and restore its link to earnings.
They want action before 2012.The pensioners, many from Greater Manchester, are spending three days in Blackpool for their annual `pensioners parliament', part of the growing grey-power movement.Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien is attending the National Pensioners' Convention where there will be calls for the basic state pension to be lifted above the official poverty level which is £134 a week.
The delegates are also expected to call for free long-term care, the replacing of council tax and measure to tackle fuel poverty.
Pensioner Bill Moores, from Worsley, Salford, was due to march. Mr Moores, 66, who used to work for Chloride Batteries, said the aim of their three-day event was to convince MPs to back their campaign to increase the pension and link it to average earnings.

As they march to local bands the pensioners will be representing as many as 11 million older voters whom they say could be the key to winning the next election.Mr Moores said: "It's the only conference every year where retired people can discuss their problems and their needs and present their proposals to MPs and to Gordon Brown.

We would like to convince backbench MPs to put forward private legislation to end poverty in old age."Mr Moores said that constant pressure from the convention had persuaded the government to extend free travel on the buses to the whole of England. He said: "That was the result of constant pressure but there is still more work to do because free bus travel does not apply at the moment in Scotland or Wales."

The convention's general secretary Joe Harris said the public was unimpressed with what the government had done over 10 years about pensions, council tax and care. He said: "After a century the state pension remains at just £90.70 a week and at least 2.2m pensioners are still living in poverty."

The opening session of the gathering today will feature theatrical readings in period costume and composer Michael Nyman has written a special piece of music for the occasion entitled The battle for the Old Age Pension. It will be performed live by the Wingate band at the Winter Garden. Mr Nyman said:

"We want to help pensioners with rising costs which is why it's important that the battle for a decent old age pension continues."

See news video of Blackpool 2008

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1586371503/bctid1586421897

Grey power marks 100 years of state pension with demand to end poverty in old age

* Delegates believe grey vote may hold key to election victory
* Composer Michael Nyman lends support to campaign with new piece

Two thousand leading members of Britain’s growing grey power movement will mark 100 years of the state pension at the opening of their annual Pensioners’ Parliament on Tuesday June 3, by calling on the government to raise the state pension above the poverty line and restore its link with earnings before 2012.

The demand comes at the start of the 3-day annual event in Blackpool, organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC). Delegates from across the UK will also argue that meeting the needs of Britain’s 11m older voters will be key to winning the next election.
A recent survey by the Hansard Society confirmed previous findings that the propensity to vote directly relates to age. 78% of 65-74-year-olds said they would definitely vote, compared to only 23% of those aged 18-24.

Some of the major concerns which delegates will discuss include:
· Raising the basic state pension above the poverty level of £134 a week and restoring the link with earnings now
· Requiring good quality, free long-term and social care to prevent people from having to sell their homes in order to pay for services
· Replacing the council tax with a fairer system based on the ability to pay
· Tackling the growing threat of fuel poverty amongst Britain’s elderly to prevent the deaths of over 20,000 pensioners every year from the cold

Joe Harris NPC General Secretary said: “The current political climate shows that the general public are unimpressed with what the government has done over the last ten years in relation to pensions, council tax and care. After a century, the state pension remains just £90.70 a week and at least 2.2m pensioners are still living in poverty. The link between pensions and earnings has been delayed until 2012, by which time 3m of today’s older generation will be dead.”

“Social care in Britain is in crisis. The government refuses to spend the money needed to provide free care in the home and continues to argue that patients must pay for help with washing, eating a meal or going to the toilet.”

“Council tax has risen by more than 100% in the last decade, and fuel bills continue to escalate to such a point where millions of older people are now having to make the unenviable choice between eating or heating.”
”All political parties need to realise that pensioners may well hold they key to who wins the next general election – especially as they are more likely to turn out and vote than any other section of the electorate. The Pensioners' Parliament will warn the politicians that if they want the votes of Britain's 11m older people, they are going to have to do something positive.”

The opening session of the Parliament will also feature theatrical readings in period costume and speeches from Frances O’Grady (TUC), Danny Alexander MP and Kate Hoey MP. Delegates will also hear a specially composed piece of music by Michael Nyman entitled “The Battle for the Old Age Pension”.

Michael Nyman said: “The state pension is a fantastic piece of social policy, yet it is in urgent need of support. I’m backing the NPC’s campaign to raise the state pension above the poverty level to help pensioners with rising costs of living. That’s why it’s important that the battle for a decent old age pension continues.”

Pensions Minister, Mike O’Brien will also attend the event for a reception on Wednesday evening.

A more detailed programme is available at http://www.npcuk.org/.
· National and regional representatives from across the UK will be available for interview on request.
· The event starts at 1pm on the North Promenade, Blackpool with a marching band and over 1000 marchers with banners.
· The opening session will start at 2pm in the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

· Michael Nyman's new piece "The Battle for the Old Age Pension" will be performed live by the Wingates Band on June 3 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool as part of the Pensioners’ Parliament. I
t will also be performed at the "Nyman Live at Cadogan Hall" festival on June 6,7,8. For more information http://www.cadoganhall.com/.
· Contributions will also be made throughout the event by a number of guest speakers from the Royal College of Nursing, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Carers UK, Communication Workers Union, Local Government Association and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Pension facts & figures - then & now

1908
· Non-contributory pension
· Payable to men and women at 70
· 5 shillings a week: represented between 20-25% of average earnings
· Means-tested and based on character
2008
· Contributory pension
· Payable to men and women at 65 in 2024 and rising to 68 by 2044
· £90.70 a week: represents around 15% of average earnings
· Pension not means-tested, but means-testing still exists for those who need additional income
· One in five of today's 11m pensioners live below the official poverty line, the vast majority of them women. In 1891, 1.3m people were classed as paupers – of which 31% were over 60-years-old
· The National Insurance Fund currently has a surplus of £46bn, which is forecast to grow to £114bn by 2012. This money is primarily intended to pay for state pensions, but today’s pensioners are being denied a higher pension because the government is using the money to fund other expenditure