Should pensioners lose their bonuses?

I AGREE with S. Jenkins (Letters) regarding the £10 Christmas bonus paid to pensioners. If the Government stopped this payment, imagine how much money they would save. It was introduced in 1972 and hasn’t increased with inflation. When my mother had it, she could buy a week’s groceries, but today it would just about pay for a fish and chip supper for two. I know some pensioners struggle to make ends meet and I would be willing to forfeit my payment if it meant they received more.

S. WOODS, Rochester, Kent. HOW lucky that S. Jenkins can show such altruism in her desire to give away her winter fuel payment and Christmas bonus. Please don’t assume we are all in such a position. I welcome the winter fuel payment each year, grateful I can indulge myself with an hour or so of extra heating a day. The £10 bonus is used to cover the cost of my Christmas card stamps. Not any more!

B. MORETON, Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

DOES S. Jenkins think we should have our bus passes confiscated and senior discounts on haircuts and tickets taken away, too?

GEOFF PEARCE, Christchurch, Dorset. INSTEAD of these one-off payments, imagine if the Government raised the weekly pension by £4 to cover increasing living costs, council tax and fuel bills. I can’t imagine anyone would believe that was generous and some would feel it was a downright insult. Yet pensioners are expected to think that as these amounts are given to us as lump sums we should be grateful. However we receive the cash, it doesn’t go far in paying exorbitant fuel charges. A. EVERS, Welwyn Garden City, Herts.

I DON’T have the luxury of turning down the winter fuel allowance or not noticing the £10 bonus. I would miss both if they were withdrawn. That £10 gives me ‘permission’ to buy myself a little treat for Christmas. As for the winter fuel allowance, it’s a godsend. If you don’t need it, give it to charity, but don’t crow about it. MIA CAMPBELL, Acle, Norfolk.