More help sought for the elderly living on their own

THE death of a spouse – where the farming couple both are pensioners – can leave the surviving partner under serious financial pressure for the rest of their days, according to a Galway IFA representative.

While Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell, has welcomed the €5 increase in the Living Alone Allowance in Budget 2020 – up from €9 per week to €14 – she said that more needed to be done in future budgets.

“There are many, many cases in rural Ireland where one of the partners passes away leaving the remaining spouse in a difficult financial situation.

“Where an elderly couple are both drawing the pension, this amounts to a weekly income of roughly €500 which goes to pay all the usual household bills.

“On top of that, one of the partners may also be getting a carer’s allowance which brings in another €100 plus to the house – however, the financial pinch comes when the partner being cared for passes away.

“As well as the personal grief and trauma for the remaining spouse they find themselves in a position where they now have to live on well less than half the income they had previously,” said Anne Mitchell.

She added that there was disappointment amongst elderly members of the farming community that the usual €5 increase in the pension had been scrapped this year because of the Brexit situation.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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