Pensioners Get Increase, But Heavily Taxed

Trinidad Express

May 1, 2010

Trinidad and Tobago

Old age pensioners have received increases in their pensions this month, reportedly ranging in one instance from 13.5 per cent to as much as 35 per cent in some instances. 

Pensioner Ashraf Ali, of Barrackpore, told the Express yesterday that he was surprised to receive the increase in his pension and even more surprised to find out that his was heavily taxed. 

The 72-year-old bed-ridden pensioner said his last pension was $1,850, but his latest cheque received on April 29 was in the sum of $2,100. His wife, who previously received $1,950, received a cheque of $2,500. Ali said his two sisters who live in San Juan received similar increases but his sister-in-law, who lives in Port of Spain received a $550 increase on hers. 

Other pensioners also called the Express to say said their pension had increased from $1,950 to $2,500. 

However, Ali was not pleased with his increase. He felt instead of a $250 increase, he should have had a more substantial increase. Asked why his pension was lower than his wife’s, he said $100 was deducted from him because the welfare officer who interviewed him felt he was benefiting from the profits of his son’s business. He said his son, who was unemployed at the time, opened a snackette on the ground floor of his (Ali’s) home to earn a living. When the $100 was first deducted, Ali said he went to the office of the social welfare board in San Fernando, who directed him to the Ministry of Social Development in Port of Spain. The ministry’s officials, he said, told him they could do nothing about it. 

On the current increase, Ali said he called the San Fernando office to register his complaint about it. They advised him to call the ministry in Port of Spain, which he did, but they advised him to call back next week. 

Frustrated with the response, Ali said if the increase in pension was meant to buy votes for the party in Government, he would be going to cast his vote for change even if he has to be taken on a stretcher. 

Efforts to contact officials at the Ministry of Social Development yesterday were unsuccessful. Minister of Social Development, Amery Browne, did not respond to calls on his cell phone. Permanent Secretary Antonia Popplewell was also reported to be engaged in a budget meeting, while the Director for Social Welfare did not return a call. The Corporate Communications and Education Unit meanwhile, transferred our call to the Social Welfare Department, which referred us back to the communications unit.

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