Age Benefit

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31005, 10 March 1966, Page 16

Age Benefit

Sir,—Stinted in Mr Nordmeyer’S time, beneficiaries have received no sign of a Kirk let-up on parsimony. The veteran union leader, Mr F. C. Ellis, in today’s issue supplies the reason in his remark: “Directly you take want away from man, he becomes a Tory.” Labour, scratching for votes, fearful of losing them, and suffering as usual from nerves and inferiority complexes, will therefore keep the five-pound-sixers in want.—Yours, etc., UNDER WEIGHT. March 9, 1966.

Sir, —“Bread and Dripping’’ mentions that an invalid beneficiary is not allowed to earn more than £4 a week, 1 have seen correspondence from a chairman of the Social Security Commission in reply to a request of an invalid beneficiary. He suggested that he attempt a three-hour-a-day job netting £6 a week, giving him £4 allowable income, and reducing his benefit by £2 a week (a saving of cost to the taxpayer). He was told that if he could earn £6 a week he would immediately lose his benefit. The beneficiary asked to be allowed to take treatment that would help him to attempt part-time work. He wanted it to be no cost to the upplementary fund. He asked permission to attempt to earn, and pay for treatment, and travelling, and that the amount be disregarded as allowable income. He was refused.—Yours, etc., ENCOURAGE REHABILITATION. March 8, 1966.