PENSION CREDIT AND TRAVELLING ABROAD

Early day motion 1730, tabled 13 October 2004 by Roger Berry (Labour). Signed by 95 members.

That this House welcomes the Launch of Age Concern's campaign Let's Make Pension Credit Work Abroad; recognises that the unfair rule means recipients of pension credit who travel abroad for more than four weeks and have to re-apply on their return causes unnecessary hardship; notes that in many cases, older people leave the country for long periods to visit relatives abroad and often stay abroad for longer than a month to make the visit worthwhile; further recognises that this is a problem which can effect many older people from black and minority ethnic groups in particular, for whom it is important to maintain links with their country and origin; and supports Age Concern's call to the Government to take action to amend this unfair rule and extend the length of time allowed to a minimum of 13 weeks in line with other payments such as housing benefit.

Signatures by party: Labour 56, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 7, Labour/Co-operative 7, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 3.