Budget 2009: Older generation 'struggling to survive'
Wednesday, 15 April 2009 04:59
The chancellor must ensure older people are not forgotten in the Budget as 42 per cent struggle to afford essential items, charities warn.
Age Concern and Help the Aged, charities that have recently merged, have found two fifths of older people are cutting back on socialising (42 per cent), electricity (41 per cent) and gas (38 per cent) as prices rise.
Michelle Mitchell, charity director for Age Concern and Help the Aged, said: "Many older people are being clobbered by high prices and are being pushed to extreme measures to cope financially - the government cannot sit by while older people skip meals and put their health at risk."
The charities are asking for 'emergency funding' of at least £1 billion to tackle the crisis in the care system.
This would significantly increase access to services and create around 45,000 jobs, the charities believe.
The Budget should also include measures to help older people back to work, increase the energy efficiency of homes as part of a drive to eradicate fuel poverty - and ensure banking services are still available locally, the charities said.
"The state of the economy is the defining issue of our times and this year's Budget will have many demands on it. But the challenge to government is to ensure that older people, and older voters, aren't forgotten," Ms Mitchell said.
Age Concern and Help the Aged also wants to see automatic payment of income-related benefits and assistance for low income savers who have seen the income they rely on from savings eroded by cuts in interest rates.
The charities also want the government to use its influence as major shareholder in several banks to make sure banking services are available locally, via local branches or the Post Office.
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