“The Lone Pensioners’ Allowance is one of the standout achievements of devolution.  Almost 25,000 pensioners from all parts of our Province have benefitted to the tune of close to £4 million in reductions in their rates bills this year and another 22,000 received nearly £3 million in rate relief last year, courtesy of devolution and DUP Finance Ministers.  

The average reduction in rates bills for single pensioners aged 70 and over this year has been £155.  For single pensioners who are amongst some of the most vulnerable in our society, keeping this amount of money in their pockets will provide a tremendous boost that will help them pay for life’s essentials.   

Devolution may not be perfect but we’ve made a good start at helping pensioners in Northern Ireland.  Lone Pensioners’ Allowance is a great example of how having our own Assembly at Stormont can make a real difference for our people.  It is on issues like helping pensioners that we must continue to concentrate and it is only through devolution and not a return to the dark days of direct rule that we can slowly but surely improve the lives of everyone in Northern Ireland."

Note to readers 

1.      The Assembly question and answer referred to is detailed below: 

To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number and the total value of Lone Pensioners’ Allowance awards made in the last financial year and in this financial year to date.

ANSWER 

As at 31 January 2010 there are 24,624 current awards of Lone Pensioners’ Allowance with a total value of £3,830,017.17. 

For the financial year ended 31 March 2009 there were 21,767 Lone Pensioner Allowance awards made with a total value of £2,994,541.53.

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