Committee to discuss savings-related pensions deductions

The Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs is due to meet today to discuss the issue of older people who save money from their state pensions.

Support groups for the elderly have claimed that non-contributory pensioners are being penalised by the Government through having their pensions reduced because their savings take them above the means-test threshold.

Speaking ahead of today's meeting, researcher Matt Moran said: "If the department become aware of it, they [department officials] reassess their [pensioners] means while their living and their pension will be reduced.

"In other words, they're penalised for saving the money they have actually got from the department itself."