Hospital pension cuts

"It is scandalous that my 87-year-old mother was forced to worry about losing her pension and benefits while she was terminally ill in hospital." Mrs M, Nottingham

MPs and health organisations have today backed Age Concern's call for an urgent review of rules stating that pensions and benefits must be cut for longer hospital stays.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser, who is leading Age Concern's campaign in Parliament, today announced the backing of major health organisations against the current rules which he believes are 'outdated and unfair'. Mr Prosser is currently building up support amongst MPs from all political parties for an Early Day Motion (EDM) to be tabled in parliament on December 10.

Gwyn Prosser MP said: "The pension claw-back rule comes as a complete surprise to older people, it hurts the sick, it penalises pensioners and it should be abolished.
During a recent hospital visit I found one ward where nearly all the patients were pensioners. More than half had been in for more than six weeks and will be penalised by these rules."

As well as support from MPs, the call for an immediate review of these unfair rules has received backing from the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Psychiatrists and the College of Occupational Therapists

Jan Dewing, Senior Fellow, Royal College of Nursing Gerontological Nursing Programme said: "It is grossly unfair that vulnerable older people should be penalised for being ill. The current system causes worry and hardship at a time when older people should be concentrating on recovery. Many bills still need to be paid when someone is in hospital, and some costs like transport, laundry and phones, may even go up. The RCN is pleased to support Age Concern's campaign."

Age Concern's report, 'Penalised for being ill', published in September, reveals the extent of financial hardship suffered by many thousands of sick older people staying in hospital. The report highlights that under current obscure and long-standing rules, the state pension for a single person is cut by £28.30 for a hospital stay of six weeks or longer.

At any one time the rules affect more than 30,000 sick older people, causing them to endure reduced pensions and lose out on other vital benefits such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

The rules say that pensions must be cut because expenses such as food and living costs are reduced during a stay in hospital. Many older people have found themselves facing financial hardship because ongoing household expenses still have to be paid while they are in hospital.

Older people who have contacted Age Concern feel that the rules target them when they are at their most vulnerable and amount to a charge for their hospital stay. Some have even tried to avoid hospital treatment rather than face a cut in their pensions.

Many also expressed their frustration at the administrative difficulties they faced with the adjustment and re-instatement of pensions and benefits.

Age Concern Director General Gordon Lishman said: "Hospital downrating causes distress to thousands of sick older people and their families. It is outrageous that many older people who have paid a lifetime of contributions find themselves in financial difficulty when they are at their most vulnerable.

"We hope that this recent pressure from MPs and major health organisations makes the Government recognise the injustice of these rules and undertakes an immediate and full scale review."