|

£60 Bonus for 20,380 pensioners in Erewash

30th January 2009

Liz Blackman MP today welcomed a £60 cash boost, opposed by the Tories, for 20,380 local pensioners. This will be paid as a one-off bonus to each pensioner by the end of the week beginning the 2nd February.

Liz said:

"I'm pleased that the Government has realised that older people need extra help and its right that they've invested this extra cash.

"This has been the coldest start to a winter for 30 years and with utility bills riding high, this payment could not have come at a better time."

The £60 bonus is in addition to the largest rise in the state pension since 2001, raising it from £90 to £95 a week for a single person. Pension Credit has also seen its largest increase since it was introduced. No pensioner will now live on less that £130 per week from April 2009.

Speaking after a meeting with Ms. Blackman in the House of Commons James Purnell, Labour's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

"Liz has told me time and again that older people in Erewash are facing tough times and that's why we are making this real help available.

"She has always been a champion for local people and I've been pleased to work with her in highlighting the real help that Labour is offering."

Liz added:

"It’s not just pensioners who will get this bonus – a total of 25,630 people in Erewash will get this extra cash to help with their bills, including 450 parents of young and disabled children."