OVER 1300 LOCAL PENSIONER HOUSEHOLDS MISSING OUT ON PENSION CREDIT - KEY

4.55.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st Apr 2005

Eleanor talks to pensioners at Sandbach market

Eleanor Key, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate is concerned at recent figures which have revealed that hundreds of local pensioners are missing out on pension credit payments. According to the Government's own figures only 70% of people entitled to this money are currently claiming it. In Congleton that would mean that 1323 pensioner households are failing to receive money due to them.

Ms Key said:

"The Labour Government should be ashamed that so many of this country's poorest pensioners are still living so far beneath the poverty line. Things have gone from bad to worse with the new Pension Credit.

Schemes such as the Pension Credit are complex and confusing. Rather than forcing pensioners to apply for means-tested benefits the Government should be making sure that every pensioner gets a good basic pension.

"These figures show that our worst fears are being realised - large numbers of vulnerable pensioners are set to miss out on the help they desperately need.

"Under the current system it is often people who have taken time out of paid employment to look after family members who are the worst off. A Citizen's Pension would mean that every pensioner would receive an adequate basic pension and people would not be penalised for saving for their retirement."

"The only guaranteed way to ensure that pensioners have dignity and security in old age is through a decent state pension, payable as of right. That is why Liberal Democrats would guarantee £100 a month more on the pension at 75, over £130 a month for couples over 75, lifting a million pensioners out of means-testing at a stroke."