• The Minimum Income Guarantee has benefited 2.1 million pensioners ensuring no pensioner need live on less than £102.10 per week, increasing the income of the poorest pensioners from the £68 a week they received in 1997.

• We’ve introduced the Pensions Credit to support those pensioners who are above the income support level but are by no means well off. For the first time in this country we are, through this Credit, rewarding pensioners for saving. Around 50% of all pensioners benefit - all single pensioners who get less than £139 a week from all sources, including interest on their savings and pensions, and all pensioner couples with an income of £203 or less per week, will gain.

• We’ve abolished charges for pensioners who have extended stays in hospital.

• We introduced the Winter Fuel payment to help over 11 million pensioners ensure they heat their homes properly over the winter months. The payment is worth £200 per year, and £300 for the over 80s.

• We introduced free TV licences for the over 75’s. Over 3 million pensioner households nationally are benefiting.

• In last year’s Budget we announced a £200 Council Tax rebate for all pensioner households who pay Council Tax.

• We’re providing free local off-peak travel for pensioners. Harlow Council has gone even further than the Government supported scheme and is providing free Essex wide off-peak travel for pensioners – worth a saving of £110 per year (the cost of the previous pensioner bus pass)

• We have provided compensation for British service personnel and civilians who suffered as Far East Prisoners of War during the Second World War.

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