Mark and Alice are retired, in their 70s and living in Leitrim.

Mark has an occupational pension of €27,000 and receives dvidends of €8,000 per annum.

Alice is in receipt of dividends of €9,000 per annum.

Mark also receives the Social Welfare Old Age Pension of €167.30 per week.

Alice does not qualify for a pension in her own right, but she does satisfy the conditions for a qualified adult.

As a result of this, Mark receives an additional €129.20 a week in his pension.

The payments add just over €15,000 a year to the couple's income.

Mark and Alice would like to see an increase in the Social Welfare Old Age pension rates

They also hope that the new Minister for Finance will continue the recent trend regarding an annual increase started by the previous minister.