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Bills push pensioners towards poverty
06/03/2006 14:23:00
Many pensioners in the UK are struggling to get by as more and more of their money is diverted towards the cost of bills, according to Age Concern.
Despite state pension payment increases, pensioners are being forced to cut back on aspects of their every day lives many take for granted.
More than a third are unable to eat out, visit friends at the pub or have people over to dinner.
Worse still, some take the precaution of heating just one room in their house, buying food just before it reaches its sell-by date or buy second-hand clothes.
Gordon Lishman, Age Concern's director general, said: "It's appalling that so many older people face a daily struggle to make ends meet and are being forced to sacrifice simple pleasures to afford their rapidly rising bills.
"There is no question that radical pensions reform is desperately needed to prevent future generations facing the same fate in retirement. But the plight of today's pensioners must not be overlooked in the midst of the pensions debate."
Mr Lishman called on the government to raise the basic state pension to £109 per week and ensure all pensioners had enough money to maintain a decent standard of living.
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