A fair deal for Pensioners

Harlow pensioners will benefit from this Budget. Gordon Brown put up pensions by a miserly 75p. But under a Conservative-led Government, the basic state pension is rising by £5.30 a week. This is more money in the pocket of every single Harlow pensioner, to help with rising energy costs, and the rocketing cost of petrol and diesel.

The facts for Harlow pensioners are as follows:

1) Harlow pensioners have just seen the biggest EVER cash rise in the state pension this April, the highest rise since 1948 (£5.30 extra a week, and £8.50 extra for couples).

2) A Conservative-led Government has restored the link between pensions and earnings: something that Labour failed to do in 13 years.

3) There is a now a "triple lock" on the basic state pension, so it will rise by the highest of prices, earnings, or 2.5%. This will ensure that a typical Harlow pensioner will now get an EXTRA £15,000 in extra state pension over their lifetime, compared with Labour's spending plans at the last election. This avoids the problems that Harlow has seen in the past, with outrages like the derisory 75p increase under Gordon Brown.

4) On top of this, key pensioner benefits have been protected, such as Winter Fuel Payments, Cold Weather payments, free prescriptions and eye tests, free bus travel, and free TV licences for older pensioners.

5) The tax-free allowance for every pensioner is RISING next year, not falling. The simplification in tax allowances is being presented as a "granny tax". But the truth is that at present, an ordinary pensioner's tax free allowance is £9,940.

NEXT YEAR a pensioner's tax free allowance will INCREASE to £10,500. Every single pensioner in Harlow will be better off. It will be frozen under current plans the year after - but this will be compensated for by generous rises in the Basic State Pension.

6) Harlow Pensioners are better off, thanks to a freeze in Council Tax. Harlow Conservatives have frozen the Council Tax now for a record three years in a row. This had been worth around £70 each year, to an average band-D home. This policy was opposed by the Labour Party.

7) The Cold Weather Payment is now for life - not just for elections. Although Gordon Brown created the Cold Weather Payment, it was a one-off measure for the election year in 2010. But this Conservative-led Government has made it PERMANENT, and tripled the amount from £8.50 to £25. This helped to keep Harlow homes warmer this February and March, through the cold freeze.

I am proud of the fact that the Government has honoured David Cameron’s pledge to enhance the state pension, protect the Winter Fuel Allowance and other pensioner benefits that people depend on.

On the inflation issue, the basic state pension is now rising FASTER than the current rate of inflation, faster than wages, and faster than unemployment benefit too.

Finally, there are also plans that the state pension could now be increased to about £140 a week under plans to ensure everybody in Harlow has a decent retirement income. It is something that I have campaigned for, and I am urging the Government to make this happen. It would benefit everybody going into retirement, and would be a particular boost for Harlow women, many of whom lose out on the state pension after taking time out of work - and national insurance contributions - to bring up children.