Hands off Our Pensions

 

Carer Watch are supporting this campaign.

Cameron’s government have gone back on their promise in the Coalition Agreement, and are delaying the state pension for thousands of women who are in their 50s at the moment. It will mean that when they come to retire in their 60s, thousands will have to work for up to two years longer.

read Barbaras’ story    and please sign the petition here

Rachel Reeves  MP has made a downloadable copy of the petition available. Please offer your support  to save the cross-party consensus on women’s state pension ages in the Pensions Act 2007 .

please return completed forms to 

Rachel Reeves MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA

download here –   Hands off our Pensions  

The planned fast-forwarding of women’s SPA  also affects men on low incomes too as they will have to wait longer to access Pension Credit. 

 

It will also affect low-income couples which were reliant on the woman obtaining her SP at the expected date under current legislation

 

25th February 2011

Update

Age Uk to hold event at House of Commons – full details here

 

Carers desperate that respite could be taken away

DESPERATE carers who look after disabled children are devastated their only respite could be cruelly snatched away.

Tanya Cook cares for her 16-year-old son Jack who has a condition called tuberous sclerosis.

This means he has tumours in his brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys, as well as uncontrolled epilepsy and autism.

She has to help dress, shower and toilet him, as well as checking on him throughout the night because he frequently has seizures.

Herself unwell, the Quedgeley mum is “so exhausted” that she relies on The Meadows, in Dudbridge, Stroud, a home where Jack stays one night a week, to give her one night of rest each week.

But the centre, which is run by charity Action for Children, is at risk of closure and the news has put Tanya at breaking point.

“It’s just so wearing,” she said.

“It’s like having a big toddler. My brother had him for a day and asked me how I cope.

“The fact is we won’t be able to survive if we’re asked to care for our children 24/7 without a break.

“It will finish me.”

read in full here

This blunt-instrument welfare reform will harm the most vulnerable

from the Guardian – Comment is free

Your interview with Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, explaining why disability benefits must be overhauled, confirms that blind and partially sighted people are right to be terrified of her intentions (A ‘perfect’ storm, Society, 16 February).

The minister claims that those of us speaking up for vulnerable people fail to understand the details of her plans. Action for Blind People knows first-hand that many people with sight loss already live in poverty and isolation. Miller’s plans will both make matters significantly worse for them and increase their number.

read in full here