PENSIONERS staged a series of protests to fight for their pensions rights.
Yesterday’s day of action organised by the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) saw demonstrations across the country against changes to the pension system.
Protesters called for the state pension to be set above the official poverty level of £178 a week. It is currently just over £102 and £163 for couples.
Demonstrators gathered outside Department for Work and Pensions offices in London, Leicester, Warrington and Southampton and in city centres in Newcastle, Norwich and Walsall.
They were joined by members of the PCS Union to oppose plans to link pensions rises to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from next year.
Previously it was linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) which typically increases at a faster rate.
NPC general secretary Dot Gibson accused ministers of creating a ‘pensions apartheid’ after they said they would give a pension of £140 a week to those who retire after 2016 but not to existing pensioners.
While pensions have been boosted by £4.50 a week this year, the Government has said it will cut winter fuel payments by £100 for over 80s and £50 for the under 80s.
Noreen Logan, chairman of the Huddersfield and District Pensioners’ Organisation, said she backed the action.
“I do feel these protests really do make a big impact for the authorities to take notice of,’’ she said.
“It’s very very unfair. What the Government is producing is a two-class structure within the elderly population.
“Everybody talks about the age of austerity but it seems it’s only for some, the low paid, pensioners and the disabled, who have to rely on Government benefits to live.
“It will be interesting to see what the affect of the change to CPI is next year – it won’t be more it will be less.
“We’re losing out everywhere and anywhere with the problems with the NHS.
“It’s going to affect the elderly more than anyone else.”
Mrs Gibson said millions of pensioners had seen their small pension rise swallowed up by increases in VAT, food and fuel.
