Further to a meeting with Eddie Lynch, Chief Executive of Age Sectorxa0Platform, Ms Ritchie said: “I am delighted to endorse the Pensioners’xa0Parliament Manifesto.
“I have worked very closely with Age Sector Platform previously and thexa0Manifesto clearly outlines areas which matter to older people.
[caption id="attachment_60674" align="alignleft" width="270"]
South Down MP Margaret Ritchie with xa0Eddie Lynch, Chief Executive Age Sector Platform.[/caption]“This includes the protection of the smartpass and free prescriptions toxa0those over the age of sixty; a reduction in operation waiting times and thexa0delivery of care packages; and robust legislation to tackle agexa0discrimination.
“As Member of Parliament for South Down I will continue to ensure the needsxa0and views of older people are protected in every level of Government andxa0will be working hard to deliver, assist and protect the very importantxa0issues laid out in the manifesto.
“I will also be making urgent representations to the Minister for Works andxa0Pensions on the issue of the ‘Forgotten 14’s’. Many pensioners have workedxa0in Northern Ireland from the age of 14 and paid National Insurance from thisxa0age.
“They, however, do not have entitlement to a full pension and cannotxa0avail of pension credit. Advice from the Law Centre NI has suggested axa0change in interpretation of existing legislation would ensure contributionsxa0before the age of 16 could be used towards pension entitlement.
“It is crucial, for the financial benefit and social well being of thexa0elderly, that this change in interpretation of legislation is carried out asxa0a matter of urgency.”
You can read more about the Pensioners Parliament in Northern Ireland and download the MANIFESTO at:
www.agesectorplatform.org/ni-pensioners-parliament/overview
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