Havering Over 50’s Forum

Manifesto for General Election

• Maintaining universal tax free pensioner benefits (Freedom Pass, winter fuel allowance, free TV licences for the over 75’s and free prescriptions) without means testing.
• Appoint a Minister for Older People:
• They support 5.7 million full time jobs in the UK through their spending and taxes
• Gross income of over 50’s households were 48.1pc of total UK household income in 2013
• In 2013 the over 50s generated £113 billion in tax revenue
• Ensuring the basic state pension for all new pensioners is above the poverty level and existing pensioners will not be not penalised by the new single-tier state pension
• Reintroducing the Retail Price Index alongside the Consumer Price Index, earnings and 2.5% as a measure for increasing pensions each year
• Ensuring that all patients leaving hospital have their needs for care after discharge fully considered in good time to make appropriate arrangements, ensuring that uncertainty about responsibility for funding does not interfere with best practice.
• Introducing a legally binding Dignity Code to improve the quality and standards of care for older people in hospital, care homes or their own home.
• Improve quality of current and future dementia care by increasing public awareness of the issue, planning for increased resources in the future and ensuring that professional carers have adequate time to help their clients
• Higher visibility of police on the streets and access to police generally.