Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)PENSIONERS struggling to survive in Spain with the economic downturn and collapse of the pound have been given a ray of hope.
The British Consular Minister is set to unveil emergency plans designed to help the thousands who have found themselves alone and lacking any form of support network.
The sharp fall in value of sterling has seen most pensions plummet by more than a 100 euros and thousands have been forced to face the drastic prospect of returning to the UK.
Minister Chris Bryant is expected to announce that the number of care workers for pensioners in Spain will rise to 100 and a new partnership with Age Concern to supports expats will be formed.
The Olive Press launched an appeal in January to raise awareness of the increasingly difficult plight of British pensioners in Spain.
The sharp fall in value of sterling has seen most pensions plummet by more than a 100 euros and thousands have been forced to face the drastic prospect of returning to the UK.
Furthermore, as winter approaches, the majority of retired people living in Spain are not entitled to the winter fuel allowance despite temperatures plummeting across the country.
Bryant will no doubt be hoping that the new measures will go some way to providing crucial support for expat pensioners during the most testing time of the year.
As ex pats we are still only GRANTED the basic pension,I think most of us will be dead before any changes are made. As the age to claim is hiked up, the hope is again that thousands will never be GRANTED what they paid in for! because they to will have died.