Retirement and pensions

Read Anne Marie’s views in her weekly column; an advertisement sponsored by Conservative supporters.

Getting the basics right
We need to raise the basic state pension in line with earnings to help stop the spread of the means test. At the same time we need to look at simplifying the rules and regulations around pensions to encourage companies themselves to offer high quality pensions to all their employees. Then we have to look at public sector pensions to ensure they are fair and affordable. And we need to help people save for what is going to be a longer retirement. Quite a long list!

Protecting vulnerable pensioners
According to the Department of Work and Pensions, those over-65 who claim Disability Living Allowance currently get an average of £75 every week, and those who receive Attendance Allowance get an average of £60. This compares to an average pensioner’s income, according to the Office of National Statistics, of around £250 a week – and of course, many pensioners survive on less than this. The government proposed cutting these benefits, meaning that some of the most vulnerable pensioners in our country could lose around a quarter of their income. Conservatives are committed to protect our pensioners. We will preserve disability living allowance and attendance allowance as cash benefits, which can be used to support family care and all the costs of disability. Labour will not match our promise. Nor have they done anything to stop people having to sell their homes to pay for long-term care.

Tackling the cost of living
Utility bills can be significant when you are getting older and need more heat. And there is much more that can be done in addition to protecting and preserving winter fuel payments. We will offer households energy efficiency improvements – with the costs paid for from the savings made on their energy bills. But the real challenge is putting pensioners on a level playing field to enable them to access utility services more cheaply.

These are available to those with bank accounts from which direct debits can be set up – but many don’t have such accounts. If we expand the role of the Post Office Card Account so it can be used to make direct debit payments on utility bills this could cut the energy bills of up to 4 million POCA holders by up to £100 a year.

The changing role of grandparents
Grandparents’ roles in the family are almost coming full circle. More and more are getting involved in physically and financially supporting their children and grandchildren. They are finding their children struggling to find and keep jobs and to pay rent or a mortgage. They are also providing a lot more hands on childcare – so the financial burden is growing. If we made it easier for grandparents to receive tax credits and allowances when looking after their grandchildren, that would make a difference.

Getting out and about
While I still have my plaster cast firmly on my leg, it has not stopped me getting about! I had a meeting with First Great Western to lobby for the improvements many of you have asked for – the state of Dawlish station, especially the bridge and the number of carriages on busy services. With my Shopmobility wheelchair and my crutches I have a huge respect for those faced with permanent mobility problems - access is still a real issue.