West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 21 September 2007
Pensioners living a life of luxury!
• KEN Savage of Camden Pensioners Action Group (Forum, September 7) is not correct when he says the government pay pensioners £87 a week “leaving more than two million in poverty”.
The truth is pensioners are paid by the minimum income guarantee, £119.05. If they have any income of their own they are allowed to keep some of this as well by the pension credit.
They get free travel, pay no council tax, have no rent to pay, get free dentistry on the NHS, free NHS prescriptions and various other cut-price concessions.
Five out of six pensioners are richer than most of the rest of the population.
It is utter nonsense to suggest “an old person puts down a tin of beans because they cannot afford it”.
As for not buying new underwear for 18 months, why should they?
Their size is not likely to have changed and they do not have to look smart for their non-existent job.
ANN RAYNES
Fitzjohn’s Avenue, NW3
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