Submission 271
May 08
Green Paper Submission
A review of pensions, Transition and State Contributory is required now in 2008 as there are pensioners today who left the workforce prior to the Carers Act 1994 to care for family members, or to get married – pre marriage ban, and need to be considered now from the perspective of equity and fairness. Some of them are single people who have the same outgoings as a married couple/partner but have only one income to survive on.
I feel it is very unfair for older women not to get the benefit of the Homemakers Scheme because it only applies to those who stayed at home to look after children after 1994.
It is difficult to understand the difference between looking after children in the home before 1994 and after 1994?
Many of these women, who were carers between 1953 and 1994 have been denied, or at best received reduced pensions, because they did not possess the credits younger women have been awarded in their capacity as unpaid carers.
Single pensioners on one income pension should receive an increase in living alone allowance.
A free call number (1800) should apply for all calls to the Department of Social Protection
Carers are playing a valuable part of the Healthcare System and must therefore receive credits entitling them to a Contributory Pension.
