Pensioners have already paid their way
I AM a Guernseyman, aged 66, and I have never before felt the need to write to the Open Lines column of the Guernsey Press. I am incensed at the proposals that are coming up to be debated in the States in October to limit the annual increase in the rate of old age pension paid to the elderly in Guernsey. I am one of the lucky pensioners as I have two occupational pensions to back up my old age pension, but I struggle to know how anyone manages now on the basic OAP. For our States members to propose cutting the annual rate of increase is beyond belief.
Why is it always the working class that pay in this island?
It has always amazed me that an employed person who earns £3,000 per week would only pay their 6% Social Security contribution on the upper earnings limit of £2,601 per week.
I was never able to earn this sort of money when I was working, but I had to pay 6% on my gross pay. If the Social Security Department needs more funding, why not remove this cap and let the high earners pay 6% on all their gross pay? Oops, sorry, I forgot – it's easier to target old age pensioners.
I know that our deputies will say that we need to encourage high-earning individuals to this island, but these people would hardly notice the additional amount of contribution that they would be paying. For some pensioners who have worked hard all their lives, it is a matter of whether we can heat our homes or we can eat.
Some will say we should have saved more for our retirement, but do not forget that today's pensioners grew up in the post-war years and times were hard.
I get fed up of hearing in the media that there are too many pensioners and not enough working and paying contributions to support them. I do not need anyone to support me. I paid into the Social Security fund for 51 years to pay for my pension.
Just think of all the people who contributed all their lives and never drew a penny as they died before reaching the age of 65.
Finally, if any of you deputies think it's easy to live in Guernsey on £201.03 per week, just try it for a month or two.
You might even be able to put the rest of your income away for a rainy day.
Any of you who vote for these proposals, don't knock on my door at election time. I could say so much more, but that's for next time.
JOHN DE JERSEY,
Willow Lodge,
Camp du Roi,
Vale,
GY6 8LU.
