A chara, – Fiona Reddan's article on pensions ("How safe is your State pension? Five ways the benefit may be cut", April 5th) leads with a stark warning that our increasingly older population is a "time-bomb that has yet to go off". Older people generate social capital and contribute to their communities in myriad ways. Without security of income, this benefit, which the State heartily reaps in the form of volunteers, family carers and informal mentoring inside and outside the workplace, is at risk. Wealthier older people, from whom some suggest the state pension might be withheld, already contribute in the form of income tax.
The state pension is not meant as a short-term or long-term social transfer, but rather as an adequate income from retirement until death.
Older people should not be held accountable for poor forward planning by successive governments.
Over 13,000 people turned 65 last year, but they were all 64 the previous year. At a time when we are discussing the living wage and a fairer deal for working-age citizens, it’s also time to discuss a living pension and ensure that older people have the income security and public services they require to live the comfortable retirement they deserve. – Is mise,
PETER KAVANAGH,
Head of Communications
and Public Affairs,
Active Retirement Ireland,
The Capel Building,
Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7.