News
Enough Is Enough
The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament views with alarm the reports that there are plans in train to make further cuts to the living standards of Older People.
Older people have seen serious reductions in the value of the spending power of their pensions. Daily they are being confronted by increases, reduced services and additional charges. Serious cuts in household benefits and the removal of the additional payment at Christmas are biting deeply.
With the sweep of a pen the Minister for Social Protection has determined that those about to go on pension effective September 2012 will see cuts to their payments ranging from €18.80-29.80 with follow on reductions in payments for dependents. There was no warning for these people and no opportunity to continue to work for most of them.
Callers tell us that in their view what is happening to pensioners or those about to become pensioners is in stark contrast to what they see as the manner in which those who recklessly endangered the State were and continue to be dealt with.
For further information please contact 01 8561243
What did we learn? Are we wiser ?
Revenue meeting with ISCP 9th January
Representative of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament met with two officials from the Revenue Commissioners today at 9.15am. There was a full and frank exchange regarding the crass way in which Revenue had handled this whole matter.
Revenue did not provide us with the level of detail we had hoped to receive in relation to their surety that the people who received letters owed money. Indeed we urge that they must be more forthcoming at the meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on 11th January. It is the right of every older person and their families to be proactively be told what the situation is.
Many of the case studies which have been advised of were raised with Revenue. There was an acceptance that in a large number of cases there will be no monies due, and where some monies are due the amounts are very small and that the abolition of the bin charges exemptions is a factor. Indeed there has been an admissions that people who are “Exempt” got letters .
In relation to people who were bereaved in 2011 we were told that a letter was sent to anyone who received a payment in 2011 even if that payment had ceased in 2011 and a bereavement grant had been paid. We feel this display a lack of sensitivity.
We got clarification that of the 562,000 persons in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments in the specified categories, letters were only sent to those who are liable to pay tax under the PAYE system Form 12.
There are some 100,000 persons in receipt of DSP payments who fall into the category of self assessment and who complete Form 11.
Following the meeting with Revenue a report was given to our National Executive who met today to consider the matter. It was agreed that we will continue to monitor and await the outcome of the Oireachtas Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday 11th January 2012.
Mairead Hayes
Re Letters from Revenue Commissioners
Special Message to all who received letters from Revenue regarding State Pensions
Please help us to assist you all
Many of you are ringing us and giving us details of your situation. We cannot handle the volume of calls we are receiving.
To assist us, we ask you to log onto our website and tell us your story or send us a note in the post with your details at the above address. You can email to info@seniors.ie or to Dolores@seniors.ie or add a comment to this message.
We really appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this matter.
While we are aware that many of you are worried and concerned we urge you not to ignore it and to ring Revenue and find out your exact position. From the calls we have received many of the people who have got letters do not owe any money and some may owe very small sums. Either way it will be worked out and will be resolved.
The main advice is not to panic, to seek advice either from family or a person you trust.
We have been contacted by many people who told us, that when they finally managed to contact Revenue, that, the Commissioners accepted the fact that their State Pension had been reported to them. In one case Revenue were able to give chapter and verse of the many contacts with the pensioner.
We are meeting Revenue this week and would appreciate hearing from you about your case. So far we have not had many contacts from people who owe money.
ends
Contact: Mairead Hayes
Email: ceo@seniors.ie
Budget 2012 Changes To Contributory Pension
The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament welcomes the fact that in Budget 2012 Pensions in payment were maintained at their current rate. However the Parliament is concerned that many members who are due to receive their pension from September 2012 will be affected by these proposed changes to the contributory rates listed below.
We urge the Minister to consider a more gradual approach to these changes. We also urge all those people who have been in touch with us to make their views and individual concerns/ situations known to the Minister and their elected representatives.
BUDGET 2012 PROPOSED CHANGES State Contributory Pension
| Average PRSI Contributions per Year | Previous Payment | Proposed Payment | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 or more 40-47 **30-39**
20-29** 15-19 10-14 |
230.30225.80225.80
225.80 172.70 115.20 |
230.30225.80207
196 150 92 |
Nil Nil18.80
29.80 22.70 23.20 |
**Previously this referred to 20-47 contributions
Qualified Adult: at this time we do not have figures
These changes require legislation and are not yet in affect.
ENDS
For further information please contact
Mairead Hayes
086 349 8848