YET again the annual council tax and rent increases are likely to hit pensioners living in housing association developments, particularly those who do not receive any form of benefit despite their limited and fixed income.

In 2005 pensioners will get a 3.1 per cent increase in their state pension and possibly a similar increase in any small occupational pension to which they will have contributed throughout their working life. This will be swallowed up by the annual increases in council tax, rent and service charges.

Conversely those pensioners on housing benefit pay no council tax or any increase in rent and service charges with little or no effect on their state pension. It is therefore unlikely they will experience the stress and pressures placed on pensioners who are seeing their small savings eroded year upon year.

Such pensioners are being penalised for being prudent in putting a bit aside for a rainy day. In fact this section of the elderly are being overlooked by the Government.

Elizabeth C Earle,

Dower Court,

William Plows Avenue, York.

Updated: 11:11 Monday, January 24, 2005