Pensioners across Northern Ireland will take to the streets today to demand an increase in the state pension after claims it is “one of the worst in Europe”.

Age Sector Platform (ASP), a regional campaigning body for older people which represents around 200,000 citizens in Northern Ireland, made the call ahead of the rally at Belfast City Hall.

It is part of a UK-wide Day of Action when the pension increases by £4.55 a week.

ASP is calling for the basic state pension to be increased. The event has been organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC).

Speakers at the rally, which has also been backed the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), will include Nigel Dodds MP MLA; Dorothy Hanna, president of NI NPC; John Corey, chair of NI ICTU, and Bill Carson, chair of ASP.

ASP also supports the NPC’s demand that the state pension is raised immediately above the poverty level for all pensioners and increased every year in line with either average earnings or inflation — whichever is the greater.

Dorothy Hanna said: “We know that only a decent state pension provides an effective and reliable way of guaranteeing real financial security in retirement.

“However, our state pension is one of the worst in Europe, this is shocking.

“A fair pension would eradicate many of the income-related problems facing older people caused by unfair means-testing, low benefit uptake, a weak private pensions system and a staggeringly low interest rate.”

Bill Carson said: “If the basic state pension was increased by just £50 for all pensioners in Northern Ireland, this would not only help pensioners make ends meet, but would result in an extra £15 million being spent every week in our local economy.

“Can you imagine the positive impact this would have on our local shops and businesses?”

“Government can be assured that if they give extra money to pensioners, they will spend it.

“Give more to the banks, and they won’t even lend it.”

Mr Carson added: “Only a decent state pension can provide an effective and reliable way of guaranteeing real financial security in retirement; and in doing that it can also help our economy during the recession.

“During the last year, nearly everyone in society has experienced the negative impact of the credit crunch.

“Pensioners, however, have been living through a personal recession for decades.

“Older people really are feeling the pinch. They spend a higher proportion of their income on necessities such as food and fuel than other age groups, which is the reason for higher pensioner inflation rates.”