Budget 2015: No mention of for the very poorest of our society

"While on the face of it parts of this Budget could look like an attempt to win the ‘grey’ vote with changes announced on pensions reform and savings tax, in reality it has failed to address key challenges facing many older people and their families today. The Chancellor didn’t say anything about the hundreds of thousands of older people who struggle to wash, dress and cook for themselves who are missing out on vital care and support as council budgets have been cut. And he didn’t tell us how he would plug the estimated £4.3 billion care funding gap expected by 2020.

“We welcome the Chancellor’s plans to make changes to savings tax. With interest rates at a record low many of the poorest pensioners have had little return on their hard earned savings. However 28% of older people have less than £5,000 in savings anyway, so how much will they really benefit? And the Chancellor said pensioner poverty is at the lowest level ever, but it can’t be right that 1.6 million elderly people still do live in poverty. What help has been announced for the very poorest and frail pensioners in our society?”