You're right: pensioners face mountain of debt

02/07/2008

The National Pensioners' Convention interpretation of the Scottish Widows survey that "one in three can't afford to save for retirement" will surely become more apparent as the credit crunch continues. Your article elsewhere about those "closer to retirement" being deeper in mortgage debt is also alarming.

 

As a recently retired Legal Aid debt adviser, I helped countless clients facing a lifetime of debt and poverty and many were in or beyond their middle age. Credit Action's recent statistic that 23% of pensioners still have unsecured credit debts is, in my experience, probably very accurate. Many of my clients had been sacrificing disability benefits and essential income to pay off creditors and sometimes they were living on less than their benefit or tax credit entitlements even before debt repayments were made.

 

I urge any of your readers facing money problems to contact their nearest free advice agency - Citizens Advice Bureaux are listed in the phone book - or to phone Community Legal Advice on 0845 345 4345 for free legal aid advice on welfare benefits, debt or housing issues. Help is at hand.

 

Russell Cavanagh

Sheffield