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Sign–up and support ‘Dignity not PEAnuts’ campaign Older people in care homes struggle on personal allowance
Government are planning to 'up' the Personal Expenses Allowance [PEA] by a mere 70p in April – just enough to buy two first class stamps and 15p less than last year. A paltry amount of just £20.45 per week is all thousands of vulnerable older people in care are allowed to keep from their income if they are supported by the state. This cash is all they have for buying day–to–day essentials like toothpaste and things like newspapers or socks that everyone else takes for granted. Older people left with only the Personal Expenses Allowance are saying that they have to do without. Their relatives – many of whom also pay to ‘top–up’ their care fees – have to help them out by buying basics for them. The charity wants the Government to raise the Personal Expenses Allowance to a decent level. Care home residents, their relatives, Mencap, the Local Government Association1, Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the English Community Care Association are backing the move to increase the Personal Expenses Allowance to £40 per week. The need for the PEA to be higher has been exposed by consultations, but Government have not listened to pleas to significantly increase it. Age Concern is calling for a public consultation and to act on the findings. To add your voice to the campaign, telephone: 020 8679 1609 and leave your name and number. Alternatively sign–up via our website at: www.ageconcern.org.uk/PEA or email:campaigns@ace.org.uk. To find out more about paying for care, telephone our information line on: 0800 00 99 66 to ask for one of our free fact sheets. Infolink: Age Concern is the UK’s largest organisation working with and for older people. It provides vital local services as well as campaigning on behalf of older people. To find out more visit website: www.ageconcern.org.uk. From your browser | Email the page | Email the page link | Print the page | Add page to favourites Handy Guide to Wellbeing Series. For You, Family and Friends. Online and printed titles | Communicatormentalhealth.org | One-worldmentalhealth.org | EUhealthnews.eu [starts soon] | UKHealthblog | One-worldHealthblog | EUHealthblog |
Angered by witnessing their loved ones struggle on a pittance, people up and down the country are signing–up to Age Concern’s ‘Dignity not PEAnuts’ campaign.