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“On the third day before the budget, Older People asked of Brian …”
Living alone / Over-80 increases
Dear Brian,
The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice has shown that the cost of living alone equals 73% of the cost of living as a couple. The state helps the 26.7% of all people aged 65+ in Ireland who live alone by paying them a living alone increase amounting to €7.70 per week.
But this payment has not been increased since 1996 – in over 13 years. We are calling for this payment to be now increased to €18 per week.
This is an essential benefit – not only do we want to see it maintained but we feel that it should be increased to match the rise in the cost of living since 1996.
The Age Increase paid to those aged over 80 has not changed for a number of years and the Parliament is now calling for it to be increased from €10 to €15 per week. It should also be extended to a dependent spouse over 80 years of age.
Every small measure that keeps Older People healthy & out of hospitals and nursing homes will save the state money.
Yours sincerely
Ireland’s Older People
“On the fourth day before the budget, Older People asked of Brian …”
Carbon Tax relief
Dear Brian,
We are very concerned that the introduction of a carbon tax may only worsen the position of the 10% of older people who are already experiencing fuel poverty.
The Parliament is seeking assurances that measures to protect vulnerable older people will be introduced alongside any carbon taxes. We agree with the Commission’s proposal that revenues collected should be used to achieve improvement in the situation of the less well off.
We urge that this must include the less well off older people in Ireland. It is older people living alone, on low incomes, in older, poorly insulated housing that are currently struggling to heat their homes. It is these people that must be protected. A further tax on this segment of the community could result in deaths due to hypothermia this winter.
Of course a carbon tax would also affect older rural drivers. The proposal in the McCarthy report to cease state funding for the rural transport initiative – 58% of the passengers are aged 65 and over – would have a detrimental effect for many older people living in isolated areas.
The ISCP welcomed the extension of the fuel allowance from 30 weeks to 32 weeks and the increase to €20 per week.
Please increase the fuel allowance and restore the rural transport initiative.
Yours sincerely
Ireland’s Older People
“On the fifth day before the budget, Older People asked of Brian …”
Don’t tax household benefits for older people
Dear Brian,
Over the years Older People have gained a number of very helpful schemes. These so-called “free schemes” include the provision of passports, electricity or gas, telephone and the television license.
Please do not succumb to the temptation to tax these schemes.
“Why not?” You may ask. Don’t we all have to bear the budgetary burden?
These schemes have a direct effect on the living standards of the poorest & most vulnerable people in Ireland. If you tax the schemes, you will get hardly any extra money. Indeed the cost of collection could well exceed the amount collected.
It makes no sense to tax vulnerable older people for little or no gain.
Indeed you should modestly add to the schemes. Free broadband accesswould extend social participation for Older People at minimal cost.
Yours sincerely
Ireland’s Older People
“On the sixth day before the budget, Older People asked of Brian …”
Keep the Travel Pass
Dear Brian,
It is essential that the Free Travel Scheme remains in place for all Older People!
The free travel scheme is a major enabling factor in allowing the social participation of Older People in their communities. Social participation is extremely important in tackling loneliness and isolation amongst Older People. Not only does this scheme enable Older People to take part in social and civic life, it also provides them with access to essential services such as hospitals etc.
Many Older People find themselves isolated due to increasing frailty or because of high costs many of them have stopped driving. The number of people holding a full driver’s licence decreases with age; in 2006 only 44.5% of men over 80 and a mere 12.8% of women over 80 had a driver’s licence. Therefore public transport is an essential service for the many people unable to drive themselves. (CSO, 2007)
Taxi fares for a pensioner for medical visits can represent as much as 1/4 of their weekly pension. Recommendations included in the “Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditures Programmes” to reduce the costs in HSE funded non-emergency transport services by 20% would result in this service being cut by 1/5 on the ground. This would only serve to worsen the situation for many vulnerable and sick Older People.
Yours sincerely
Ireland’s Older People