MODEL LETTER ON WOMEN'S PENSIONS
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(your MP)
House of Commons
LONDON
SW1A OAA
The former DWP Minister admitted women’s pensions are a ‘national scandal’ but the recent DWP report on Women’s Pensions does not even recognise the problems that millions of women pensioners face now.
2.2m women pensioners receive so little income that they qualify for the means tested Pension Credit. This £109.45 has raised the the income of those women who claimed but why after working numerous years raising a family or looking after elderly parents, should they not receive an income above the poverty line as an entitlement in their own right?. Having to apply for benefits can be shameful, undignified and complicated.
The national insurance fund, which is to pay for our pensions, currently has a £35bn surplus. The government is also spending at least £19bn on tax relief for private pensions, which mainly benefits men on higher incomes.
The simplest way of tackling the plight of millions of women, is to pay everyone a basic state pension of at least £114.05 a week and re-link it to earnings. Any improvement recommended by Turner may start in 2010. We have to live now!
The debate on the
Turner Commission on Pension Reform is a timely opportunity for Parliament
and the Government to correct these wrongs.
Please tell us what you intend to do about it, and in particular if you agree that the basic pension
should be substantially raised and re-linked to earnings, as a matter of
urgency.
Yours sincerely