A quote from Chris O’Neill’s letter (Chronicle, September 5) about the Winter Fuel Allowance (WFA) - ‘The indifference to the needs of pensioners has continued through the years etc’ - struck a worrying note for me.

Keir Starmer in his many pre-election speeches said the word ‘change’ and this really impressed me because of the austerity problems suffered under the Conservative Government for so many years.
So what has happened in the early days of the new Labour Government?

The WFA will not be paid to many people who really need it this year. Unfortunately, I am unable to claim Pension Credit as my income is just above the threshold.

I have the state pension and a small occupational pension but like so many women, I looked after my children and was unable to work and contribute to a worthwhile pension.

Last year the WFA thankfully helped to cover most of my winter bills. This winter will probably be a cold one for me and the food bills will have to be cut again.

An increase in the state pension will mean I will have to pay income tax because the personal allowance hasn’t changed for many years so I can’t expect much help from that.

One bright thought for me is the fact that Neil Duncan Jordan, the newly elected Labour MP for Poole, suggested that a task force be set up by the Government to look at pensioner poverty when he abstained from the crucial vote in Parliament recently.

Good idea, Keir Starmer! One change which might help to make a difference.

What many of your readers won’t know is that when you reach the age of 80, you will receive an extra 25 pence per week on your state pension. Wowee!

I am the lucky recipient of this amount as I am 89. All pensioners receive a bonus of £10 at Christmas. These amounts are laughable in the context of today’s cost of living and ever-increasing prices of energy and food.

Cash is required to fix a failing society, as Chris O’Neill rightly points out, and the proper method is by taxing according to the ability to pay.

Forget about withdrawing benefits from those who most need them. Message to the new Government: let’s have a change now as promised and get rid of pensioner poverty.

Patricia Turner, 

Bitterne Road East,

Bitterne, 

Southampton

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