TOUGH TIMES.. Patricia Donald contemplates how pensioners are expected to live on the current state pension after taking part in an experiment to see the challenges faced by pensioners of today RMGFH63
THE new flat rate pension is barely enough to live on, according to one older lady from Enniskillen who has told the Herald that she is essentially a hand to mouth existence.
Patricia Donald, who is in her 70s, spent around three months living on the new flat-rate pension of £150 per week in which she struggled to buy new clothes while meeting up with a friend for a coffee was a ‘pure luxury’.
The changes will be made in April next year when pensioners will receive around £600 per month. The new rate will also see the end of the means tested benefits.
Patricia, who is a member of the Age Sector Platform, described how she survived on around £100 per week in which she would have to pay for food, clothes and electricity.
She was forced to sacrifice her car, health insurance, gym membership, donating money to charity and to her church – and even going to the dentist – as the new pension would not allow for those extras in life.
After deducting all of her bills which included rates, phone and broadband, electricity and oil, Patricia was left with enough money for to purchase her weekly shopping.
She explained: “When I did my food shop I kept the receipt and I became an expert in where to go for the cheapest food.
“When I took those bills off my lump sum, the money I had left I divided by four so that’s how much I had to live on every week.
“My rates were £60, my broadband and telephone is £50, my oil is £76, my electricity is £35
“In the week I had left £104 to live on for everything. Out of that you have to pay for your food, clothes and this year I will save because oil was down in price.
“There’s not much living, that’s to buy your food, to put a little bit away if you want a holiday, but you certainly couldn’t run a car on it. I also took the money out of my bank, kept it in my purse and paid by cash.
“It’s very tight living. In that eight weeks I bought one pair of brown trousers at £20 and didn’t have to buy anything extra for the house. But what do you do when your washing machine breaks down? You have no money for a holiday, you could use your bus pass for a day out but take your lunch with you.
“I couldn’t afford to give to charity, there was nothing to give to the church.
“I couldn’t afford some membership clubs or decorate the house or buy new duvets. There’s no luxury. It’s a pure existence.”
She also admitted that the only way for these pensioners to have social interaction would be through their church or attending senior citizens clubs.
“Food and heat are the two big expenses. There’s not much left after that so you’re living hand to mouth. You’ll exist, but there’ll be no treats,” she added.
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