The
emergency budget has drawn mixed reactions except on pensioner poverty!
No-one expected a
budget to 'cure' pensioner poverty, no-one was surprised when it didn't.
The measures are clearly negative for older people - at least until the
state pension is re-united with the earnings related link - scrapped so
many years ago (1980's) that pensioners are up to four thousand pounds
a year worse off today than would otherwise have been the case. Even this
is delayed until next year and even then there are manipulated circumstances
that will depress any possible increase (see below).
Mirror.co.uk headlined: "Pensioners, poor and families battered"
and Telegraph.co.uk on June 22nd published the following article by Emma
Simon:
Budget
2010: 'Pensioners are the biggest losers'
Pensioners
came out as one of its biggest losers in George Osborne's emergency Budget.
In a
Budget in which there were almost no winners, pensioners, perhaps surprisingly,
came out as one of its biggest losers.
True, the coalition Government has at last restored the link between the
basic state pension and earnings - a link that was broken back in the
1980s and whose repair is long overdue. But this was a manifesto pledge
of all the main political parties, and didn't really come as any great
surprise.
Sadly, any benefit pensioners receive from this is likely to be eroded
by other measures, and it is those on the lowest incomes that will feel
the pinch the most.
Like every other group in society, pensioners will find that their money
won't stretch as far, thanks to the rise in VAT to 20pc. But unlike other
age groups, pensioners who are also basic rate taxpayers won't benefit
from the 1,000 pound increase to the personal allowance.
The increase of the personal allowance from 6,475 to 7,475 pounds next
year will - to some extent - mitigate against this VAT rise. But pensioners
already benefit from a higher personal allowance starting at 9,490 pounds.
Currently there are no plans to raise this threshold at all, so pensioners
won't see any reduction in their tax bill to cushion them from the VAT
rise.
Inflation is set to continue rising this year, according to figures released
in the budget. This is particularly damaging for those on fixed incomes,
like pensioners.
But those pensioners
hoping for a bigger jump in their state pension next April, may be disappointed.
The link to earnings will have been restored, but it seems cruel timing
that this comes as public pay is frozen, which will depress earnings inflation.
Mr Osborne may have trumpeted his "triple lock" - which guarantees
the state pension will rise by minimum of 2.5pc, or by earnings or price
inflation, whichever is higher.
But what he failed to mention in his speech was that after next April's
rise the key figure used to measure price will be the Consumer Price Index
(CPI) rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI). CPI tends to be much lower
than RPI because it excludes household costs such as council tax and mortgage
payments.
His speech seemed to indicate the exact opposite. He said: "So from
next year, with the exception of the state pension and pension credit,
we will switch to a system where we uprate benefits, tax credits and public
service pensions in line with consumer prices rather than retail prices."
A closer examination of the small print in the Budget book reveals that
this exception is only a stay of execution for one year. And while there
was a flurry of announcement (sic) concerning the benefits paid to families,
particularly those with young children - there was very little said about
benefits paid to older people.
...
But with VAT rising, capital gains tax increasing, hundreds of thousands
more people being dragged into the higher-rate tax net, and low interest
rates continuing to hit prudent savers - the poorest pensioners might
have expected more of a helping hand, particularly from the Liberal Democrat
half of the coalition.
After
the Budget 2010, AFTAID are sorry to say the UK's older people will need
our essential assistance even more!
An
invitation to be our representative cyclist on the Ride2Raise sponsored
event.
Preparations are
well under way for the 600 mile cycle from Box Hill, Surrey to Edinburgh
on 4-9 September 2010. The organisers, Raise Magazine, who selected
AFTAID as a beneficiary of the event have also asked us if we would like
to field a participant! Calling all cycling enthusiasts!
Our trustees and volunteers have put their marathon cycling days behind
them so we need your help... CAN YOU OR A FRIEND PARTICIPATE ON OUR BEHALF?
If
you or anyone you know would be able to undertake the challenge
with a well supported team of amatuer cyclists, please contact us
directly through our registration form (click
now).
If
you would like to see more details go to our EVENTS
page or the dedicated Ride2Raise
website.
COULD YOU ORGANISE A SUMMER FUNDRAISER? Summer
is ideal for organising or taking part in outdoor fundraising activities
or events.
As the weather promises a more welcoming atmosphere, people love to have
somewhere to go where fun can be had and a good cause supported.
There are lots of great ideas encompassing a wide variety of outdoor activities
or social events that will capture the attention of friends, family, even
communities.
Whatever you choose to do please make sure all the participants are safe
at all times.
Take a look at our special fundraising area of the website. Full
story...
More
info: How you can help
Proudly
presenting our first awareness video Please
look at our latest and newest fundraising and awareness tool - AFTAID
The Video - and please share it with your friends and families.
We hope
you will agree that our powerful message comes across. As we are looking
to show this as widely as possible, including very young people, we have
not been able to show some of the more distressing situations we help
with. However, it is also important to bring attention to older people
who represent the many who so often suffer in silence.
If you
know of a place this video can be shown, shops or other public places
or at clubs and pubs, please send us details as soon as you can EMAIL
NOW. We
will arrange for a FREE copy in the appropriate format to be dispatched.
Finally, we are all very grateful to
Raising Awareness who have produced this video on our behalf, their
energy and sense of humour, as well as their expertise has been greatly
appreciated.
For those
who need a different kind of help...
AFTAID strives to do all we can for those in very difficult circumstances
but there are some aspects in your quality of life issues that we cannot
help with. Thankfully we can bring those who would like a little occasional
company or who do not have television but would enjoy one, a little good
news.
Go to our new USEFUL LINKS page, where you will
find quick access to several other charitable organisations who may be
able to help you or your friends and neighbours.
"...overwhelming
and I just cannot thank you enough for your kindness and generosity."
Miss P. (82) - West Wittering "...very
kind of you...
thrilled
to be able to eat proper meals again."
Mr R. (68) - Edinburgh
What
is making Freda so happy? "It
has been a Godsend!" exclaimed Freda Edgar, 72, when asked
about her new Riser/Recliner chair. She lives with her husband in
Prestatyn and like many of our older citizens Mrs Edgar suffers
from generalised arthritis.
Her doctor recommended the purchase of a special Riser/ Recliner
chair which would ensure Mrs Edgar had proper support whilst sitting
and provide appropriate assistance to ensure she could stand up
out of the chair safely. Full
story...
0
'Every day' opportunity to give to AFTAID at NO COST - it's fantastic!
Internet
shoppers can realise 'commission donations' when buying at a great range
of goods and services from high street brand websites - it won't cost
you, the shopper, any extra as it is the retailer who gives a small percentage
for the referal and then pays it to AFTAID via the 'portal' website.
When
something appears too good to be true, it generally is. But this is an
exeption. Regular internet users are likely to have seen promotions for
'referal' websites that ask you to buy from well known retailers via a
particular website. Some will offer a small incentive which can often
be too small to be personally worthwhile or, frankly, irrelevant. But
the accumulative benefit for AFTAID makes it a very real help.
AFTAID are now
listed with two quite similar sites but with one important difference
- the commission comes to us to help older people in the UK. One of these
websites does not take an admin fee at all and although the other will,
it is a small one and they widen the retailer choices for you, the consumer
(ie gaining a small percentage from eBay transactions).
...
many older people really are desperately poor - due to Britain having
the most meagre State pension in Western Europe and some of the meanest
means tests to punish those with modest savings ...
Exerpt
from an article by Ian Cowie, personal finance editor of The Daily Telegraph
March 2nd, 2010
The
national rate of inflation for pensioner households has averaged 9% a
year for the last four years.
OAP
social care costs 'to double'
The
cost of social care for the elderly is set to double in the next 15 years
just to maintain current standards, according to a report by the King's
Fund.
New research
by the think-tank found that the bill, projected to reach 8.1 billion
pounds in 2015, would hit 12.1 billion in 2026.
Should the Government introduce universal free social care for the elderly,
costs would rise to 16.8 billion pounds by 2016, it said.
The King's Fund called for a "partnership" model, whereby half
of everyone's care was met by the state, which would also match every
2 pounds spent by the individual with an additional 1 pound.
That would cost 10.1 billion pounds in 2015 and 15.5 billion in 2026,
the think tank said.
But it would also halve the amount of people in need of care but unable
to access it by 2015. With the status quo, unmet need will continue to
rise.
The publication, an update of the Wanless report in 2006 which initially
proposed the partnership model, comes amid intense political debate about
the way forward on elderly social care. Inter-party talks on the issue
recently broke down over the issue of compulsory payments, or what the
Tories described as a "death tax".
Health Secretary Andy Burnham has ruled out the prospect of a 20,000 pound
flat-rate levy on estates after an individual's death, but is considering
a percentage levy, perhaps at 10%. The Tories are proposing a voluntary
insurance scheme, which they say could be charged at about 8,000 pounds
on retirement.
Statistics
are a stark reminder of the need to be vigilant for our older neighbours AFTAID
is constantly reminded by applications for help, but the following statistics,
published in the Second Annual Age Audit of 2006, remind us all that society
needs to be able to assist those most vulnerable in our communities.
These are the stark facts from the very latest Age Audit and since 2006
life has got much more expensive!
Winter mortality
In 2004-05, 31,600 people aged over 65 in England and Wales died as a
result of the cold; an increase of 9600 on the previous year and the highest
level of winter deaths for five years. Office for National Statistics
Health and well-being
1.8million men and 3.2million women aged 65 and over (37% of all pensioners)
suffer a long-term illness that restricts their daily activities.
Office for National Statistics
Diet
1.1m (10%) people over 65 in the UK are malnourished. One in 10 nursing
home patients lose 5% of their body weight within a month of admission.
Malnutrition Advisory Group 2006
Social exclusion
and isolation
21% men and 33% of women aged 75 and over say they have difficulty getting
to the shops.
English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2002, UCL
Do
you want to know about grants? A number
of individuals do write directly to us for help. But more elderly people
in need 'make do', often being too proud to ask for help. Consequently
most of the grants we make come as a result of an approach from other
Charities, Social Services or Support Groups none of which are able to
help as we can and do.
We can only make grant aid available to UK residents who are of pension
age and on low incomes.
The process of applying is made as easy as we can. Full story...
More
info: How we help
More info: Apply
for grant
More info: Useful Links
Spreading
the message, ideas or fundraising - can you help? Ever
conscious that it is our responsibility to keep operating costs as low
as possible (AFTAID
have no staff for instance) we still have to bring our work to the attention
of the wonderful British public who have supported us.
If anyone can offer some voluntary help in any capacity, please contact
us to tell of the skills or ideas you have to offer. We will be most grateful
but more importantly those we are able to help will be grateful.
'FORGET
THEM NOT' When
our founder, the late Brian St. Clair Burke, realised in 1982 that there
was a surprisingly large number of elderly people in desperate need and
that they were falling through the "safety net" of Social Services,
he decided to do whatever he could to help.
He had no idea that more than 25 years later applications to the charity
he started would have increased to the level we currently receive... Full
story...
More
info: How we help
