PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: WELCOMES NEW LONE PENSIONER ALLOWANCE
 

Welcoming the new ‘Lone Pensioner Allowance’ SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns stated:

“I welcome this 20% reduction in rates for people over 70 years old living on their own but I would urge Government to roll this out to include all people of pension age. Really an allowance like this should be distributed fairly and equally to ensure there is necessary support for the most vulnerable within society.  

“There is also an issue of application. Currently there is a backlog in people receiving their rates relief from last year. Government needs to make these reductions at the start of the bill rather than it being administered as a rebate.

“The SDLP believes there should be a minimum income guarantee to ensure all vulnerable sections of the community are catered for. We believe there needs to be a ‘circuit-breaker’ mechanism which will prevent people falling below this threshold.”

ENDS