SOCIAL security rules state that pensions must be cut for hospital stays longer than six weeks.
At any one time, more than 30,000 sick older people are enduring these cuts, which also results in other benefit cuts, including income support, housing and council tax benefit.
The worry and stress of trying to pay essential household bills at a time when they are needy and vulnerable is an unacceptable injustice for older people to suffer. To add insult to injury, it can take months to go through the bureaucratic system to have benefits reinstated, all at a time when they should be convalescing.
Readers can help to get these unfair rules reviewed by writing to our local MPs. These outdated and discriminatory rules need to be abolished. Pensioners should not be penalised for being ill.
Updated: 12:32 Thursday, December 20, 2001
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