Express & Star

Thousands in West Midlands to get rise in state pension - of just 87p per week

Thousands of pensioners in the West Midlands will get a rise in the state pension of just 87p per week.

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Dudley North MP Ian Austin called on ministers to rethink the plan after it was revealed pensioners will get the tiny increase because of changes to tax breaks.

Under the new rules, a single pensioner will receive 87p more a week and couples will have to share a rise of £1.20 a week or 60p each.

The small increase comes because although the basic state pension will rise by £2.85, the pension credit tax break which tops up the payment has not been protected.

The credit will no longer go to anyone who reaches state pension age from April 2016 while those currently in receipt of it will get less each year as it is phased out.

In 1999 the then Labour chancellor Gordon Brown came in for heavy criticism for giving pensioners a 'derisory' 75p increase.

In the West Midlands there will be 51,720 pensioners who will get the 87p rise.

Mr Austin written to the work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith urging him to keep his promises over the 'triple lock' on pensions so that they rise by whichever is highest out of inflation, wages or 2.5 per cent.

The MP said: "The government promised the state pension would rise by £2.85 in April next year but thousands of pensioners in the West Midlands will receive a rise of just 87p.

"David Cameron's government have not been open and honest with pensioners in the Black Country about the state pension, saying one thing and doing another.

"Local pensioners have worked hard and contributed their entire lives, so it's time that the government treated them with some respect."

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "In order to protect the poorest pensioners, the Government has again taken the decision to raise the standard minimum guarantee for Pension Credit in line with the cash rise in the basic State Pension.

"The cost of this measure is being offset by an increase in the Savings Credit threshold. In the current economic climate the Government believes it is right to target resources to protect the income of our poorest pensioners."

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