When we started out on married life, we were given very little help. When deciding to start our family we had to take responsibility for their welfare. No keeping jobs open to return to, no help with child care, very little child benefit. My husband worked 12 hour shifts to keep our heads above water until I was able to return to work.
We worked hard all our lives and when we need a little help in retirement everything seems to be taken from us. After the two coldest winters in decades, we are told that the winter fuel allowance is to be cut. When the basic pension rise comes into effect in 2015-16 we are now told that we will not qualify.
It seems that people who have done nothing to help themselves, now get all the benefits.
