Beckenham Constituency has its fair share of pensioners and I have met quite a few of them yesterday campaigning in Shortlands and Copers Cope. I was particularly impressed by one lovely couple I met in Shortlands. They were awesome – enthusiastic, upbeat about life, uncomplaining and very friendly. But, I suspect, they were pretty broke too. It reminded me that poverty amongst the elderly can be very well hidden and it was something that has worried me throughout my last 5 years as an MP. Indeed I led a House of Commons debate on it in 2011 not that long after I was first elected,
Thankfully all of us have growing life expectancy but inevitably looking after the elderly will become an increasing responsibility on society. Nearly one third of the 66,000 plus voters in the Beckenham Constituency are pensioners and quite a few of them will be living below the Government’s poverty line.
A big problem is looming in front of us. For a man or woman of 65 the State Pension is normally about £113 a week with married couples getting approximately £67 more. No one can live on that and we all know it. So obviously it is vital to keep additional payments like the winter fuel allowance, bus passes, eye tests, free prescriptions and free television licences for pensioners. But there are also additional grants to help those who need them too.
According to the Department of Work and Pensions, 700,000 elderly people in the UK do not claim that to which they are entitled. Having met some very independent and decent senior citizens since I was an MP and before that as well I am sure that much of this is down to pride. Despite the fact that they have earned everything they may get many proud people refuse to be what they consider to be beholden to the State. I can understand their point of view; it was one most certainly held by my own mother.
Nonetheless we need to get elderly people, who do not claim their benefits to do so. Certainly there will be such people in the constituency. Surely it should be relatively easy to identify pensioners as they approach retirement and ensure they know what entitlements are available to them. I am sure Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs could do that small service for people who often have never asked for anything in their lives.