An extra £100 for pensioners

THE sight of angry pensioners taking to the streets to protest about council tax rises seems to have spooked the government.

In his Budget speech this afternoon, Gordon Brown said evidence showed that council tax bills were taking a higher share of pensioners' income than the rest of the population.

This year, for people aged over 70, the Government would, therefore, pay an additional £100 to each household. This will be on top of the winter fuel payment.

He continued: 'Together with the winter fuel payment, pensioners aged over 70 will this year receive a total of £300. Pensioners aged over 80 will receive a total of £400.'

Charity Age Concern said: 'The Chancellor's promise to give an extra £100 to over 70s this year shows his recognition of the council tax crisis - but this is a short-term measure and not the answer.

'It's a disgrace that the state pension is so inadequate that people have to rely on one-off payments to cover daily living costs. The Government must turn its back on means-testing and increase the basic State pension to a minimum of £105 per week to lift pensioners out of poverty.

'We are also deeply frustrated that the Government has ignored pension reform for women and carers. It has publicly recognised the state pension system is failing them yet continually breaks its promise to act. Once again this group has been left empty-handed.'