Submission 64

February 2008

Non Contributory Pensions

1. Means test based on income tax return through Accountant.

2. Cost of living index taken into account, so pensions remain in line with living costs for the elderly.

3. Allowance be made if adult handicapped children remain with parents/or parents are responsible for subsidising same.

4. Transport costs for rural areas have to be taken into account, so pensions should be higher for rural isolated dwellers.

5. Applications should be uncomplicated and by mail for more old people/as computers screw them up, and the language used is too complicated

6. Post Office closures have ruined the life of all pensioners, cheques should be mailed to the home weekly. Many old people, if frail or bed ridden, cannot take advantage of on-line banking. Towns are a nightmare for parking etc., or there is nobody to drive to banks. Most post offices were in local villages.

7. “Home Care Choices” and phone number of same should be enclosed with pension cheques to avoid hospital crises intervention and to educate the elderly.

8. Over “65” should be allowed to double their pension through work, if available and they are healthy and can work.

9. People doing post doctoral or doctoral studies lose their pensions. This has to be cancelled.

10. People age 65 have approximately 30 more productive years left in many cases. These cannot be wasted in terms of academic growth.