NEW England pensioners need at least an extra $30 a fortnight to bring their living standards up to acceptable levels, a local pension- er advocate has said.
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Inverell’s Betty Moore is an advocate for aged pensioners and for years has fought for their right to live and not just exist.
Ms Moore, who will turn 80 this year, says pensioners are still only existing, and there is no relief to what appears to be an endless struggle to get by.
Speaking ahead of a series of forums for senior citizens hosted by independent candidate for New England, Tony Windsor today and tomorrow, Ms Moore has called for more support for Australian pensioners, which could only come in the form of an increase to their fortnightly payments.
The forums, will also raise the question about how much the aged pension should be.
“It’s getting worse and grimmer, “Ms Moore said.
“We were way behind the eight-ball when the government had their inquiry (in 2007) and back then a lot of the major charity organisations had recommended aged pensioners needed about $70 per week to get up to a sustainable living standard.
“We got a $30 increase that certainly helped us a long way, but now, again, we are caught up in the same old bind.”
Ms Moore said periodic increases in the pension in line with the consumer price index were not keeping up with inflation, and with the rising cost of groceries and everyday living expenses, pensioners were struggling to get by.
“We’re getting less value for money, “she said.
“While there was a price fall in power bills in usage, they’re (electricity providers) making up for it in service charges.
“We are seeing it at the supermarket all the time, even basic items are leaping up by 20 to 40 cents.”
Ms Moore said pensioners were forced to go without heating and cooling due to the fear of skyrocketing gas and electricity bills.
With buses and other forms of public transport also scarce in regional areas, she believed pensioners were unable to purchase taxi fares in fear they would be further out of pocket.
As far as savings were concerned, she said pensioners would be lucky to have anything in the kitty for emergency situations.
The aged pension is among a selection of topics to be discussed at Mr Windsor’s seniors forums, co-hosted by former National Seniors Organisation chairman Everald Compton.
The forums will be held today at Glen Innes Ex-Services Club from 10.30am and Inverell Flanders House from 2.30pm.
Tomorrow’s forums will take place at Armidale Ex-Services Club from 10.30am and Tamworth Community Centre at 2.30pm.