THIS month I would ask all pensioners over the age of 80 to send back the 25p weekly age addition they received. Send this insulting amount back to the Chancellor, in protest at the governments failure to substantially raise the basic state pension.
Again the pensioners have become second class citizens, it all comes when the state pension is increased by just £3.40 a week extra. But this additional 25p payment - first introduced in 1971 - is seen by many older people as insulting and derisory.
It is now 37 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. Over the years, its continued neglect has made it a symbol of discontent amongst the elderly.
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The pensions minister Mr Mike O'Brian has acknowledged in a parliamentary debate at the end of last year that the 25p payment was "an insult" to the elderly.
The general secretary of the NPC has stated that the people aged over 80 who receive this pathetic payment just rubs their noses in the fact that their state pension of £90.70 per week is so pitifully low. Today, the age addition can't even buy a 27p second class stamp.
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