More than 350,000 pensioners will receive Budget 2000 information from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in the coming weeks. The newsletters set out the various improvements in pension entitlements announced in this year's Budget such as the £7 a week personal rate increase and pro rata increases for those on reduced rates.

Additional changes include new income guidelines for receipt of a medical card from a health board.

Three separate newsletters have been designed, one for those in receipt of widow or widower's pensions, one for old age contributory and retirement pensions, and one for old age non-contributory and blind persons' pension.