Labour Failing Bedford's Poorest Pensioners

4.07.44pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Feb 2005

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner, Michael Headley, has discovered

Many of Our Poorest Pensioners Are Losing Out Under Labour's Pension Credit

that there are likely to be in the region of 1,600 households in Bedford and Kempston eligible for the new Pension Credit but not receiving it. This is around 30% out of the predicted 5,700 eligible pensioner households.

"These figures are shocking. Labour's Pension credit is meant to help the

poorest pensioners but clearly it is failing hundreds of pensioners in Bedford and Kempston alone. Things have gone from bad to worse with the new pension credit, leaving many of the poorest pensioners still living far beneath the poverty line."

"Thousands of vulnerable pensioners are set to miss out on the help they desperately need. The only real way to ensure that pensioners have dignity and security in old age is through a decent state pension, payable as of right."

"That is why Liberal Democrats would guarantee £100 a month more on the

pension at 75, over £130 a month for couples over 75, immediately lifting a

million pensioners out of means-testing."