Government plans to extend retirement age beyond 67

MADRID Despite protestations to the contrary last year, the Government has admitted that it is studying the possibility of extending the mandatory retirement age beyond 67. A document handed over to the Pacto de Toledo points to the fact that sustainability of the pensions system might be dependent on 'indexing' in a way other than today's measurement of the CPI (Consumer Price Index) figure for the month of November every year. A committee has until the end of this month to come up with a definition of the sustainability factor that could well mean that the retirement age is pushed back beyond 67, which at present is to be in place by 2027.

15 charged with using Food Bank aid to feed elderly patients

One of the homes involved

They also allegedly used deceased pensioners' cards to obtain medicines and other items valued at over €9,000

CÁDIZ The Guardia Civil's Operation Pócima, which continues open, has so far resulted in charges against fifteen people involved in a fraudulent scheme run by several private residential homes for the elderly costing up to €1,800 a month per pensioner. Apparently, the patients were being fed with food obtained from Food Bank charities, from which a total of 140 tons were taken and distributed to various homes throughout the province. In addition, the fifteen are accused of using pensioners' discount and health cards belonging to 66 people who had died, which is how the scheme came to light.>>>

Are you entitled to winter fuel allowance?

SPAIN A recent decision by the European Court has allowed expat British residents in Spain to claim their winter fuel allowance despite many attempts by the UK government and indivduals against it. If you're a pensioner living in Spain, you are qualified to apply. The qualifying week is September 17 to 23 - that's next week! If you need any help, please contact Phil (617 390 984) or Alberto (685 052 684). We have the forms.

Just a fistful of pounds after years of work

Monument to Spanish workers
La Línea

GIBRALTAR/LA LÍNEA Hundreds of Spaniards who have retired from working in Gibraltar are now having a very hard time of it thanks to the laws on the Rock, according to an article in Europa Sur. Their pensions are worth almost nothing, yet it is the same as that received by pensioners in Gibraltar, with one major difference: on the Rock, apparently, they get tax benefits and extras that allow them to live 'a dignified retirement'. But those who live in Spain are not entitled to that. On the Rock there is a Government fund called Community Care, says the article, access to which the two organizations that cover the Spanish pensioners, CITYPEG and ASCTEG, have been asking for years. It is a matter of equality that, say these organizations, 'only works one way'. The Spaniards have paid the same taxes and Social Security payments as their Gibraltarian counterparts, but do not get the same benefits.

For decades now, people on the Spanish side of the border, particularly from La Línea, have had to seek employment on the colony (a word used by all Spanish media, but more PC is British Overseas Territory) mainly in the service and catering industries, and also in construction. Pensions after working for private companies are considerably lower than those from Government, but all are much lower for those not living on the Rock.>>>

Gibraltar frontier workers to get the same free bus service as residents

GIBRALTAR One of several things that came up at the first official meeting between Mayor Gemma Araujo of La Línea and Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, held on Friday, is that registered frontier workers in Gibraltar will be able to benefit from the same free bus facilities available to local residents. It would require registration as employed and contribution to the economy via PAYE payments, no matter what nationality they may be. This was announced at a joint press conference held at Convent Place after the meeting. There were several items on the agenda, including such subjects of mutual interest as sewage pollution on Western Beach, the situation of Spanish pensioners, the situation regarding the Spanish side of the airport and even the type of helmets being worn by motorcyclists. You can read all about these on The Gibraltar Chronicle or Panorama.

Spanish frontier workers and pensioners claim discrimination in Gibraltar

Also demand bus passes "to which they are entitled"

GIBRALTAR/LA LÍNEA (Press release) The Círculo de Pensionistas y Trabajadores Españoles en Gibraltar (Citypeg) insists that the workers and pensioners they represent are being discriminated against by the Rock's authorities. The confrontation is regarding the so-called Community Care benefit -some €600 per month, to which workers also contribute- is received only by pensioners living in Gibraltar, not by those living elsewhere. Francisco Ponce, Citypeg's president, said that he would be presenting his case at the investigative commission set up by La Línea Council that meets tomorrow, Wednesday. Aside from having Council representation, the commission is made up of the two similar organizations (the other is Ascteg), as well as union and political party representatives. "Workers who retire have a right to receive this benefit, to which they are forced to contribute during their working days," says Ponce. He is also asking that frontier workers and pensioners get the same treatment when it comes to bus passes, which, again, are only available to Rock residents. "We pay the same taxes as everyone else in Gibraltar, and the buses are Government run, so we have the same rights." The statement issued by Citypeg included criticism of the Minister of Labour, Joe Bossano, who "checks all work contracts and rejects the vast majority."

UK retirees owning property abroad could spend more time at home tax free

UK (received from Jimena Real Estate) New UK Treasury reforms could see retirees who live and own property abroad able to spend up to a third of their time back home each year without paying any tax. The new laws, to be implemented in April 2012 if they are passed, will allow British retirees living abroad to be back in the UK for 119 days of the year before they are liable for any local taxes. This will come as positive news for many expats who live and own properties in European destinations such as France or Spain, but still spend a significant part of the year back in the UK seeing friends and family or for medical issues.>>>

'Pensioners driven out of Spain': Daily Mail

(Daily Mail)

SPAIN (Daily Mail) Thousands of pensioners have seen their dream retirement plans shattered after being driven out of Spain when their finances reached breaking point. Fears over the collapse of the Spanish economy, its crumbling property market, falling incomes and 18 months of weak exchange rates have forced them to return to the UK. Property website Rightmove says the number of homes put up for sale soared by 10% in December - at a time of year when owners don't normally sell. Many had been struggling for months, hoping their finances would recover and enable them to stay overseas. But currency and property experts report many have finally given up.>

Retirement in the sun dream unravelling, say currency experts

UK (Agencies)  According to specialist currency broker currencies.co.uk, many UK pensioners are being forced to abandon their dream of retiring abroad because of the weakness of sterling., which according to the company's research has seen a 28% jump in the number of retired expats who were selling up and returning to the UK during the past 12 months. The group blamed the situation on a combination of the weakness of sterling, in which most retired expats still receive their pension, and rising inflation. The value of sterling has varied by up to 67% against currencies in popular retirement areas. Sterling/Euro exchange rates, which affect such retirement centres as France and Spain, have registered a 49% variation over the last five years, on a typical monthly pension of £1,175.  This amount was at its highest when it exchanged for €1,793, and at its lowest at €1,204.>

British expats lose pensions appeal

STRASBOURG
More than half a million Britons who retired abroad will not have their pensions increased in line with inflation after a test case was today rejected by a European court. Judges in Strasbourg dismissed an appeal by 13 expatriates who had argued that the UK government's refusal to uprate their pay outs each year breached their human rights. The group had been leading a campaign to overturn rules which they say result in 540,000 expat pensioners receiving lower state pensions than their counterparts residing in Britain and some other countries.>