Mar 12, 2012:

Active Retirement Ireland Calls for Reassurances on Benefits for Older People

Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) has called on the Government to offer some reassurances to older people that their benefits will not be reduced or withdrawn as part of continued cuts in Government spending.

 

ARI made the call after it received a significant number of contacts from its members around the country, who became concerned about the potential loss of benefits - such as free travel and access to a medical card - after a number of media reports suggested this was being considered in recent days.  Reports indicated that the IMF has adopted the view that older people have been 'largely unaffected' by the impact of Government cuts.

 

According to Maureen Kavanagh, CEO of ARI: "It is blatant misinformation to say that older people have been 'unaffected' by Government cuts. The withdrawal of services nationwide affects all generations equally, and older people in particular have been targeted directly by changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance and the closure of care facilities around the country.  With reports that the IMF is now looking to further cut benefits such as free travel and the Household Benefits Package, some older people are becoming increasingly anxious about how they can maintain their livelihood. For 84% of people in receipt of a State Pension, that same pension is what is keeping them out of poverty. The myth of the wealthy pensioner is damaging to the real older people of Ireland, who have not come out of this recession unscathed.

 

"For many of our members, the Free Travel Scheme is the only way they can interact with other people socially and play a part in their communities.  Any cuts to this scheme would be detrimental to the fabric of society, of which older people play such a vital role.

 

"An assurance from Government that older people will not become a target again for cuts would be welcome.  It is very disconcerting for older people that rumours of potential cuts to free travel and other important schemes continue to rumble around without any intervention by our political leaders," added Ms. Kavanagh.

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