Pensioners reflect on the rising cost of living in Australia, urge government to prioritise the welfare of seniors in the country
- Replies 21
The impact of the increasing cost of living is hitting pensioners the hardest, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
It was said that the continuing inflation has caused an increase of 2.6 per cent in living costs for working households in the December 2021 quarter.
However, that figure is reflected as 3.4 per cent for age pension households.
Government benefits are not keeping up with inflation and pensioner cheques are not being increased at the same rate as the cost of living.
It should be noted that while the living costs have drastically increased for everyone, the age pension has only received an increase of $20.10 per fortnight for singles to $987.60 and a fortnightly increase of $15.10 for couples to $744.40.
Surprisingly, the boost is the biggest increase rate in payments in almost a decade.
Many pensioners believe that the boost does not make much difference to the purchasing power of seniors.
Pensioners Maria and Peter Haywood shared that they are watching every penny they spend on commodities.
Pensioners Maria and Peter Haywood described their day-to-day life living of pensions as a “struggle street all the time”. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
"It's a struggle street all the time," Ms Haywood said.
The couple, who hail in the town of Ulverstone, on Tasmania's northwest coast, said that they are "selective" when it comes to grocery shopping as they can only afford to fork out a certain amount of money on food.
Ms Haywood said: "Hubby probably fancies a chop or a piece of steak and looks at the prices and comes home with a packet of sausages or a packet of mince."
Additionally, the Haywoods have had to place a rug over their knees to keep themselves warm as they set their heat pump to not go above 18 degrees in a bid to keep their electric bill to a minimum.
"To keep your knees warm, that's how we do it," she said, revealing that they also use torches at night instead of turning the lights on.
"I am not happy, to think we've been taxpayers for years."
Accessible healthcare is also an issue for the couple.
80-year-old Maria said that while she is deemed as the highest priority on the waitlist for elective surgery, the treatment has not been given to her even after a year of waiting.
She said: "It's terrible — anything can happen in that time."
Maria and Peter Haywood live in social housing where rent is based on income.
Their next-door neighbour, Helen Martin, also feels the pinch of the rising living costs, saying that pension payments are not enough to get by.
Helen Martin admitted that the cash payments are not enough to support her socialising needs. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
"You've just got to go without [social activities]," the 76-year-old said.
"I'd like to go out once a week — go to the pub and have a counter meal, go to a cafe and have a coffee and a toasted sandwich."
"But you go and get your loaf of bread and make your own toasted sandwich and cup of coffee at home because it's cheaper."
Ms Hawes admitted that she doubts the government will do anything about the cost of living for pensioners even if it's a big issue facing millions of Australians.
"If there is no money, they can't give us an increase every time someone moans and groans about the pension," she said.
"$20 [increase] isn't going to go that far."
ACT pensioner Maggie Hawes also commented on the increase, saying that the increase will not make much difference to the quality of life of those who are relying on cash payments.
Maggie Hawes shared that she forwent hot dinners most of her life to have a comfortable life in retirement. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
She said: "For people who have only got the pension, $20 isn't going to go that far."
"They might be grateful for it but, really?"
"With petrol and things going up, it's going to be horrendous."
The 77-year-old said that she worked hard for the majority of her life to be able to achieve a comfortable retirement.
"I've had more jobs than hot dinners," she said.
"But it used to worry me that I'd get old and have nothing still, so yes, I did work towards it."
"And I feel incredibly lucky. There are just so many people out there doing it so tough."
However, Ms Hawes confessed that she only realised the importance of being social and staying connected when her husband of 55 years died a few years ago.
"To me, it's vitally important — I'd never survive on my own, I'd be hopeless," she said.
She enrolled in a gymnastics class after "nearly a year" of her friend "nagging" her to join the class.
"For your balance, it's brilliant. It's great for memory and strength, too," she said.
"But it's the friendships, as well. It's lovely and social, and it keeps us fit and healthy."
Other elders took on the responsibility of volunteering for advocacy groups to socialise.
Tasmanian pensioner Olwyn-Anne Cook volunteers to cook for a local charity distributing food and other supplies to people who are relying on pensions to get by.
Tasmania pensioner Olwyn-Anne Cook volunteers to cook for a local charity to socialise. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
She quipped: "Helping others is what we were put on this earth for."
"It is a feeling that you are being useful, that you are helping people."
"One of my loves in life is cooking."
"I just love going there, not knowing what there's going to be in the kitchen, in the pantry, in the freezers, and just making a meal other people appreciate."
Meanwhile, the pensioners commented on the upcoming federal elections, saying that our new leaders must prioritise the welfare of older Australians who are struggling to make ends meet.
Ms Cook said: "I hear what people are saying and they're always saying, 'Oh, there's a new park going here for sport and the children are getting this' — the seniors sometimes feel neglected."
Maggie Hawes also shared her sentiments, saying: "Older Australians are a large percentage of the population these days and all sides of politics probably ought to sit up and listen."
"If they don't, they could be in trouble."
Ms Maria Haywood said that she's looking forward to being able to afford some "little luxuries" such as a pedicure or a massage, but is hopeless given the financial situation that she's in.
"They give it to you with one hand and take it away with the other," she said.
"I can't see it any other way — it's the way the federal government has always acted."
Helen Martin admitted that she's hoping to be able to afford a trip to Western Australia to visit her daughter and grandchildren.
"It is hard but you learn to survive on it," she said, emphasising that the cash payments can't even make ends meet.
What do you think of this? Do you think our future leaders should prioritise the welfare of seniors in our country? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
It was said that the continuing inflation has caused an increase of 2.6 per cent in living costs for working households in the December 2021 quarter.
However, that figure is reflected as 3.4 per cent for age pension households.
Government benefits are not keeping up with inflation and pensioner cheques are not being increased at the same rate as the cost of living.
It should be noted that while the living costs have drastically increased for everyone, the age pension has only received an increase of $20.10 per fortnight for singles to $987.60 and a fortnightly increase of $15.10 for couples to $744.40.
Surprisingly, the boost is the biggest increase rate in payments in almost a decade.
Many pensioners believe that the boost does not make much difference to the purchasing power of seniors.
Pensioners Maria and Peter Haywood shared that they are watching every penny they spend on commodities.
Pensioners Maria and Peter Haywood described their day-to-day life living of pensions as a “struggle street all the time”. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
"It's a struggle street all the time," Ms Haywood said.
The couple, who hail in the town of Ulverstone, on Tasmania's northwest coast, said that they are "selective" when it comes to grocery shopping as they can only afford to fork out a certain amount of money on food.
Ms Haywood said: "Hubby probably fancies a chop or a piece of steak and looks at the prices and comes home with a packet of sausages or a packet of mince."
Additionally, the Haywoods have had to place a rug over their knees to keep themselves warm as they set their heat pump to not go above 18 degrees in a bid to keep their electric bill to a minimum.
"To keep your knees warm, that's how we do it," she said, revealing that they also use torches at night instead of turning the lights on.
"I am not happy, to think we've been taxpayers for years."
Accessible healthcare is also an issue for the couple.
80-year-old Maria said that while she is deemed as the highest priority on the waitlist for elective surgery, the treatment has not been given to her even after a year of waiting.
She said: "It's terrible — anything can happen in that time."
Maria and Peter Haywood live in social housing where rent is based on income.
Their next-door neighbour, Helen Martin, also feels the pinch of the rising living costs, saying that pension payments are not enough to get by.
Helen Martin admitted that the cash payments are not enough to support her socialising needs. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
"You've just got to go without [social activities]," the 76-year-old said.
"I'd like to go out once a week — go to the pub and have a counter meal, go to a cafe and have a coffee and a toasted sandwich."
"But you go and get your loaf of bread and make your own toasted sandwich and cup of coffee at home because it's cheaper."
Ms Hawes admitted that she doubts the government will do anything about the cost of living for pensioners even if it's a big issue facing millions of Australians.
"If there is no money, they can't give us an increase every time someone moans and groans about the pension," she said.
"$20 [increase] isn't going to go that far."
ACT pensioner Maggie Hawes also commented on the increase, saying that the increase will not make much difference to the quality of life of those who are relying on cash payments.
Maggie Hawes shared that she forwent hot dinners most of her life to have a comfortable life in retirement. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
She said: "For people who have only got the pension, $20 isn't going to go that far."
"They might be grateful for it but, really?"
"With petrol and things going up, it's going to be horrendous."
The 77-year-old said that she worked hard for the majority of her life to be able to achieve a comfortable retirement.
"I've had more jobs than hot dinners," she said.
"But it used to worry me that I'd get old and have nothing still, so yes, I did work towards it."
"And I feel incredibly lucky. There are just so many people out there doing it so tough."
However, Ms Hawes confessed that she only realised the importance of being social and staying connected when her husband of 55 years died a few years ago.
"To me, it's vitally important — I'd never survive on my own, I'd be hopeless," she said.
She enrolled in a gymnastics class after "nearly a year" of her friend "nagging" her to join the class.
"For your balance, it's brilliant. It's great for memory and strength, too," she said.
"But it's the friendships, as well. It's lovely and social, and it keeps us fit and healthy."
Other elders took on the responsibility of volunteering for advocacy groups to socialise.
Tasmanian pensioner Olwyn-Anne Cook volunteers to cook for a local charity distributing food and other supplies to people who are relying on pensions to get by.
Tasmania pensioner Olwyn-Anne Cook volunteers to cook for a local charity to socialise. Credit: ABC News: Owain Stia-James.
She quipped: "Helping others is what we were put on this earth for."
"It is a feeling that you are being useful, that you are helping people."
"One of my loves in life is cooking."
"I just love going there, not knowing what there's going to be in the kitchen, in the pantry, in the freezers, and just making a meal other people appreciate."
Meanwhile, the pensioners commented on the upcoming federal elections, saying that our new leaders must prioritise the welfare of older Australians who are struggling to make ends meet.
Ms Cook said: "I hear what people are saying and they're always saying, 'Oh, there's a new park going here for sport and the children are getting this' — the seniors sometimes feel neglected."
Maggie Hawes also shared her sentiments, saying: "Older Australians are a large percentage of the population these days and all sides of politics probably ought to sit up and listen."
"If they don't, they could be in trouble."
Ms Maria Haywood said that she's looking forward to being able to afford some "little luxuries" such as a pedicure or a massage, but is hopeless given the financial situation that she's in.
"They give it to you with one hand and take it away with the other," she said.
"I can't see it any other way — it's the way the federal government has always acted."
Helen Martin admitted that she's hoping to be able to afford a trip to Western Australia to visit her daughter and grandchildren.
"It is hard but you learn to survive on it," she said, emphasising that the cash payments can't even make ends meet.
What do you think of this? Do you think our future leaders should prioritise the welfare of seniors in our country? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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