Our Just Equal Treatment campaign aims to identify and confront age discrimination in shops, services and healthcare.

Share your experiences of age discrimination and help us to build our case when we lobby MPs on 18 April.

I have received Lower Rate DLA for both the Care and Mobility Components since 2002 when I was 62.

In September 2002 I realised that I was having more difficulty walking about outdoors.  But being ignorant about what I was or wasn't entitled to (having spent 19 years in South Africa) I didn't tell the DLA about the change in my condition.

By August 2004 things had become so bad for me, I had to give up my various voluntary works.

I was advised by friends to contact the DLA and tell them of my problems with walking.

Since then I have been turned down for Higher Rate Mobility DLA, no less than 8 times.  Plus I have been to 2 Tribunals.

The last time I was turned down was a letter dated December 20th 2006.

I asked for a Written Statement of their decision.

To put it briefly:

Because I applied for Higher Rate DLA in August 2004 and it was two months past my 65th birthday I was not entitled to change my DLA.

My argument is - As I was already in the system since I was 62 surely that should mean I was in the system for life.

Has anybody else had this problem and if so what should I do next?     

I have just turned 50 so  these new laws will affect me in the future. I am concerned that a general move towards banning descrimination limits choice. We end up with "enforced uniformity". Only yesterday many gays where surprised that the new SOR law meant they couldn't have Gay only hotels. Well I don't want the elderly to be similerly surprised when they can no longer go on Warner Child Free holidays or SAGA Over 50's Cruises etc. Are we to see the head of Help the Aged going on TV, like Mr Tatchill, advising people to  continue as they were, arguing that few will chose to use the new law against them? The Elderly in particuler do not like being made into criminals.

A stand has to  be made at some point in favour of positive descrimination. People want to have the choice of having sevices which only cater for them. So  the Elederly have SAGA, and the young have Club 18-30. Each would argue they descriminate postively in favour of there chosen age group, not against those of other ages.

I don't think this attitude finds favour with New Labour. Their policy is descrimination is bad on principle, there can be no excemptions.

....other than financial. I bet they will still allow Travel Insurance Companies to charge based on Age!

 

 

My Mother has recently experienced the rather distressing necessity of moving into residential care. Some years ago she gave me power of attorney and I am in the process of selling her house so that she can afford the care charges. I have also been investgating savings options so that she can get the best return in respect of interest on the capital from the House. As part of this I phoned up the Yorkshire Building Society about their e-cash ISA and was told that this was not available for people who's finances are 'under' a registered Power of Attorney. This strikes me as being indirectly discriminatory, in my mother's case. both on the basis of age and also disablement. I have written to them about this and will advise on their response.

Have you considered getting an Immediate Needs Annuity? You pay a lump sum and get a monthly payment to cover the costs of having someone in care. This means that some of the capital will be left. 

 

My wife is disabled and I complained about the cost of Travel Insurance to my MP. I was informed that The Disability Rights Act excludes financial matters , which still falls under the FSA, not the Disability Rights Commission. I pointed out to the FSA that the EU had forced the ending of Sex Descrimination in Pensions etc. The reply I got from the FSA implied that  the FSA where only going to go as far as the EU wanted, and no further.

 

I am currently researching case studies for Help the Aged's age discrimination campaign, Just Equal Treatment and was wondering if it would be possible to talk to you over the phone about your particular case.

 

If so, please could you either phone or email me with your contact details as soon as possible. 

 

Many thanks,

Pamela Wilkinson

Case Study Researcher, Help the Aged

0121 427 8663 or 020 7239 1942

pamela.wilkinson@helptheaged.org.uk

I was rather annoyed upon receiving an enclosure with my bank statement from the Alliance & Leicester which offers 16-21 year olds a massive 10% interest on opening a Premier 21 bank account.

This smacks of ageism to me as the premier account I have with them pays only 1.49% and the most I could get on a fixed term Bond would be about 6.25%.

What do others think about this.

ScorpioLady