Pensioners’ £1.60 a week rise attacked

Millions of women whose state pension is based on their husband’s
national insurance contributions received a rise of less than
£1.60 this week.

Under changes that came into force this week, single pensioners
received an increase of £2.45 a week. But for six million
women
the entitlement rose from £47.65 to just £49.16.

Campaigning group the National Pensioners Convention was incensed.
Vice-president Dot Gibson said: “It is clear that women are not
doing well out of the present pension system. We urgently need a
basic state pension that is set at the level of the pension credit
of £109.45.”

Meanwhile, Age Concern Cymru says 40 per cent of older people in
Wales are missing out on benefits worth £426 a year on average
because they do not know about them or fear stigma.