Pensions on the agenda as Lib Dem MP visits Age Concern

11.56.24am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 28th Apr 2009

Steve Webb MP, Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, has visited Warrington's local Age Concern branch in Latchford to hear first-hand about the issues facing Warrington's older residents.

Joined by Warrington South Prospective MP Jo Crotty, the Lib Dems were eager to hear what front-line volunteers thought needed to be done to improve life for older people.

"Naturally, a lot of the talk focused on pensions," said Mr Webb. "For people who are now retired, or who are approaching retirement, rules regarding pensions have changed countless times over the years.

"The forms are needlessly complicated and people have received poor advice about their pension entitlements.

"Groups like Age Concern are so valuable in trying to make sure older people have the information they need.

"It is simply wrong that the same people who worked hard and saved hard throughout their lives can end up in retirement with very little and can miss out on means-tested benefits.

"Age Concern also need our support to make sure that older people can stay connected to their communities," added Jo Crotty.

"Too often older people live a life of isolation. Age Concern's volunteers do a wonderful job of providing ways for them to keep in touch and stay involved in the communities where many of them will have spent their whole lives.

Photo shows Jo Crotty (3rd from left), Steve Webb MP (4th from left) and Age Concern's Melissa Critchley (2nd from right) with volunteers and activists at Age Concern's Warrington offices in Latchford Village.

"The Liberal Democrats want to see dignity for older people given the importance on the national agenda that it deserves. We are fighting to ensure older people can have decent pensions and a decent standard of living without being forced to jump through hoops and deal with layer after layer of bureaucracy."