Tuesday, February 25, 2020 - 13:01

Government inconsistencies and plight of underprivileged pensioners, highlights Marlene Hassan's party

Following the statement released by the Directors of Gibraltar Community Care Limited (GCC Ltd), Together Gibraltar says it is alarmed with the announcement made in relation to the community officers scheme which was made exclusive to male residents between the ages of 60 and 65.

A statement from Marlene Hassan Nahon’s party adds that there are several incongruences in the way this decision has been executed:

* Firstly, there is the status of the GCC Ltd charity, a private entity whose decisions are tantamount to changes in pension policy. If these changes are indeed changes in pension policy, why did the Government not seek a mandate for these significant changes at the last election? Why is it sprung on the community four months after being re-elected? Why did the Government wait until the night their victory was proclaimed to announce that the “era of entitlement” had ended?

*Another incongruence is the discrepancy between the very reasonable example used to justify this change and the practical changes it will bring. The statement from GCC Ltd highlights the unfairness of affording recipients of “six figure pensions” the benefits of the community officers scheme, yet maintains the threshold (residents earning less than £15,000, with reduced provision for those earning between £15,000 and £21,800) as originally drafted.
For those with pensions marginally above these thresholds, whose income is nowhere near six figures, this change will have a significant and completely unforeseen impact. Considering this threshold has been set at £15,000 for several years now, would it not have been wise to revise this threshold?