£millions unclaimed

One in Four

Retiring to Spain

Staying Active - Volunteering 50+

It’s not about luck, it’s about knowing your rights.

Are you struggling to cope because not enough money is coming in every week?
Are you claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to?
Every year millions of pounds go unclaimed.

Age Concern campaigns for better pensions and benefits for older people. Our aim is to encourage you to claim the benefits you may have been missing out on.

Rules and rates for benefits change regularly so it is worth re-checking your position every so often.

A quarter of single women pensioners live in poverty:
This scandal must end

A Report recently produced by Age Concern England and the Fawcett Society, highlights how the pension policy is failing women and challenges the Government to take action.
One in four single women pensioners now live in poverty and women receive just 32p for every £1 of income received by a man. The new report calls on the Government to take urgent action to ensure the state pension system works for women. It criticises the current system for being outdated, unfair and littered with obstacles for people with non-traditional working patterns.

‘One in Four’ warns that if the Government continues to bury its head in the sand on pension reform, future generations of women – particularly carers, full-time mums and low-paid workers - will spend their retirement in poverty. Future Governments will also be saddled with the spiralling costs of means-testing - women pensioners are twice as likely as men to need means-tested benefits to boost their retirement income.

The report outlines cost-effective proposals the Government could implement in the short-term to improve the system for women and increasing numbers of men. Proposals include a modern, flexible system of credits for carers; reducing the Lower Earnings Limit to bring low-paid workers into the national insurance system and scrapping an unfair rule which stops 100,000 people getting a pension in their own name, despite in some cases having paid thousands of pounds into the system. Read the report’s Executive Summary inside.

JUST PUBLISHED. This new book from Age Concern will help people avoid many of the pitfalls, and make the transition to a sunny and healthy retirement a reality. Full of anecdotes and stories to reinforce the points made, and a list of useful contacts and addresses.

Once free of the shackles of earning a living, thousands of people make the momentous move to head south to the sun. Living there is an entirely different experience from going there on holiday. This book will help other people avoid many of the pitfalls, and make the transition to a sunny and healthy retirement a reality. It contains chapters on:
· pros and cons

• · where people come from
• · the differences
• · where to settle
• · when to move
• · affording it
• · property
• · town halls and taxes
• · motoring matters
• · quality of life
• · pets and pastimes
• · healthcare
• · security
• · common complaints
• · going home.

Author: C R Holbrook
ISBN: 0862423856
Pages: 160
Publication Date: March 2004
Price: £7.99 plus post and packing
Call the Age Concern Books order hotline on 0870 44 22 044

Staying Active
Volunteering 50+

Are you 50+? We need people like you, with a lifetime of experience, talent and skills, which we value and can help you use in a variety of innovative ways.

Through your involvement with Age Concern, we can give you opportunities to help others, learn new skills and know that you really are making a difference.

Volunteering with Age Concern is great fun and very rewarding. Your time is precious. Join us and put it to good use.
We offer a range of great opportunities:

· Working within our project workers helping to spread healthy ageing messages to peers as well as taking part in the many activities on offer
· Get involved in a variety of settings with a wide range of roles from which to choose.
· Meet interesting and friendly people who share your interests in helping Age Concern.
In return for your gift of time we will:
· match your interests and experience with appropriate opportunities
· provide out of pocket expenses
· offer practical support
· give you insurance cover appropriate to your role
· support you in developing your talents whilst you help us

Everything you do with Age Concern makes a positive difference.

Give a little, a lot, on a regular basis or for an agreed period of time – the choice is yours. If you help us – we can help you!
Join us – and have the experience of your life!
In the first instance phone us on 01773 768240 to discuss what opportunities there are in your area, and to get our free Volunteering Opportunities Pack.