News round up: Poverty worries make elderly ill, says report

Poverty worries make elderly ill, says report

One in four older people in the UK are so worried about the future that it is making them ill, according to a report which finds that poverty and loneliness are endemic among pensioners.

Read more on this story in The Guardian

Councils culpable as benefits fraudsters steal £140 million from taxpayers

A record £140 million of taxpayers’ money is paid each year to people fiddling the benefits system but councils are failing to tackle the problem, the local government watchdog says today.

The Audit Commission has uncovered a 25 per cent increase in fraudulent benefit claims this year with thousands of people falsely claiming to be homeless, unemployed or disabled.

Read more on this story in The Times

‘The war couldn’t split us up so why should social services?’ say devoted couple who fear they could be separated after 60 years

They fell in love during the Second World War and have been together ever since.

So Thomas and Iris Bashford should have been looking forward to marking 60 years of commitment and devotion with their diamond wedding anniversary.

But social services officials have given them the devastating news that they could be living apart by the time their anniversary comes around later this year.

Read more on this story in The Daily Mail