Alan Richardson said there are many people who are scraping by because they are not receiving enough pension. 82766 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
LIA BICHEL
A BERWICK man who retired last year says he feels discriminated against because he does not receive full pension due to his wife working part-time.
Alan Richardson, 68, said he had worked full time since he was 14, but did not receive superannuation until the policy was implemented in the 1980s.
He said if he did receive superannuation, he would be financially comfortable, but instead he and his wife had to live off her part-time earnings and the small pension he receives.
Mr Richardson said he recently received a statement indicating only 11 cents and also a supplementary allowance of $40, giving him $20 a week.
“I have paid megatax over the years, so I should be entitled to pension. I should be able to get about $400 a week. I don’t see why my wife has to pay for me,” Mr Richardson said.
“But instead, we would be lucky to make $500 a week between the two of us. Basically, we are scraping through and there are heaps of people in the same situation. I feel we are discriminated against because we choose to marry a younger woman (who still works)- and it could be opposite- where a bloke is going to work and his wife has reached retirement.
“At 68, you shouldn’t have to go back to work. What kind of society are we living in? We are one of the richest countries in the world, and the best economically run- but to me, this is a disgrace.”
Mr Richardson said he and his wife would have liked to travel after retirement, but would instead have to clearly monitor their spending.
“We will be terribly wary of what we spend,” he said.
“We are in a prime position to travel, spend and help the economy, but instead pensioners are getting paid a pittance.”
Manager of Department of Human Services (DHS) Hank Jongen General said the DHS was happy to look into Mr Richardson’s circumstances and speak to him about his concerns.
“We’re happy to look into the details around this case to ensure this couple are receiving all the payments and services they are entitled to,” Mr Jongen said.
“The Age Pension is designed to provide income support for the most vulnerable people—older people who cannot provide for themselves in retirement—but also as a supplement for people who have access to their own savings or other income in retirement, and who are in a better position to contribute towards their own support. The rate of payment depends on the current level of a person’s income or assets, rather than on past income or contributions an individual has made during his or her working life.”
