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Age Concern and Help the Aged respond to Government's decision not to increase Personal Expenses Allowance

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Date published: 
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
News source: 
Age Concern
Region: 
England
Featured item on home page: 
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In response to the Government’s decision not to increase or consult on the level of Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA)‚ Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern said:

“Ministers should be ashamed - this decision is an insult to the poorest and most vulnerable care home residents across the country. 

“The paltry 75 pence increase is a betrayal of thousands of care home residents who are struggling to pay for basic essentials such as toothpaste‚ clothes and hairdressing.

“If the Government is serious about transforming social care for older people‚ it should start by giving people an adequate sum of money to live on and urgently reconsider this stinging decision.

“Ministers have made a number of pledges to parliament that they will consult on levels of PEA‚ but today’s statement shows these promises count for nothing.”

Mervyn Kohler‚ Special Adviser for Help the Aged‚ says:

“It is degrading in the modern world to consider that a personal allowance of just over £20 is appropriate. People in care settings still have expenses to meet‚ both for their own care and in their role as parents and grandparents.

“The cost of raising the personal expenses allowance is not great in monetary terms‚ but would be enormously beneficial to the quality of life of the older people concerned.”

 

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