RECENT BRIEFINGS (EXAMPLES)

 

 NB Silver Voices Members can obtain back copies of specific briefings by e-mailing info@silvervoices.co.uk 

 

PARTIAL VICTORY ON DIGITAL VOICE

Briefing 17/24, dated 5 April 2024, described how telecom companies have been forced to make the digital switchover voluntary, because of the concerns over the personal safety of customers, at least for the time being

 

SCRAPPING NATIONAL INSURANCE THREATENS STATE PENSION

Briefing 14/24, dated 19 March 2024, emphasised the threats posed to the state pension by the Conservatives’ policy of scrapping National Insurance 

VICTORY ON ONLINE GP APPOINTMENTS

Briefing 13/24, dated 12 March 2024, claimed victory in our campaign to outlaw online only GP appointments, with strict new amendments to GP contracts

BUDGET ANALYSIS

Briefing 12/24, dated 7 March 2024, condemned the Budget Speech for offering nothing, except tax rises for older people 

 

THREATENED RISES IN THE STATE PENSION AGE

Briefing 8/24, dated 13 February 2024, covered fresh threats to raise the state pension age beyond 66 and Silver Voices’ opposition

 

 

ONLINE ONLY GP APPOINTMENT PROCESSES

Briefing 4/24, dated 19 January 2024, asked for information about GP practices adopting online only appointment systems, in breach of GP contracts

 

AUTOMATIC CANCER SCREENING

Briefing 3/24, dated 13 January 2024, confirmed that Silver Voices had registered a formal complaint with the EHRC, arguing that the Department of Health and Social Care was in breach of equalities legislation by putting age limits on automatic cancer screening services.  

 

SAVE OUR LANDLINES

Briefing 1/24, dated 2 January 2024, provides advice to members on what they should do to prevent the forced switchover of traditional landlines to an internet-based system

 

DWP SNOOPERS

Briefing 56/23, dated 15 December 2023, outlined plans for DWP investigators to be given powers to snoop on state pensioners’ bank accounts

 

TRIPLE LOCK VICTORY

Briefing 53/23, dated 23 November 2023, provided an analysis of the Autumn Statement, including our victory in ensuring that the full Triple Lock increase is paid on state pensions next April

 

THE ELUSIVE FAMILY DOCTOR

Briefing 50/23, dated 9 November 2023, outlines the results of our member survey on the difficulties experienced in making GP appointments

 

CRUMBLING LOCAL SERVICES

Briefing 49/23, dated 5 November 2023, describes the dire state of local government services after a decade of cuts 

 

THREATS TO PENSIONS AND BENEFITS

Briefing 46/23,dated 20 October 2023, covered the threats to the state pension and benefits in the November Autumn Statement

 

SUNAK CONFERENCE SPEECH

Briefing 44/23, dated 9 October 2023, pointed out that the Prime Minister’s speech to his party conference totally ignored the challenges facing older people

 

CAMPAIGNING ON AGE DISCRIMINATION

Briefing 42/23, dated 28 September 2023, covers our response to a Parliamentary Inquiry on age discrimination

 

DIGITAL VOICE 

Briefing 38/23, dated 31 August 2023, explained that Silver Voices is withdrawing its support from BT’s Digital Voice programme to remove all landlines by 2025, as promises to safeguard  older people have not been kept 

 

GENERAL ELECTION 2024: SILVER VOICES POLICY AGENDA 

Briefing 36/23, dated 18 August 2023, consulted members on on our current policy agenda, in preparation for the coming General Election, expected next year

 

TICKET OFFICE CLOSURES

Our Briefing 31/23, dated 11 July, covered our support for the campaign against the proposals to close virtually all railway ticket offices in England 

 

MINIMUM STATE PENSION OF £320 PER WEEK 

Briefing 24/23, dated 18 May, announced the result of our poll of members on our proposed new pension policy. 99% voted in favour of our call for a minimum state pension of £320 per week (half average earnings)

 

EHRC AND OLDER PEOPLE

Briefing 23/23, dated 12 May, expressed concerns about the lack of priority given to age discrimination by the EHRC 

 

LOCAL SILVER VOICES GROUPS

Briefing 20/23, dated 23 April 2023, explained how to set up local groups to campaign in your locality

 

SOCIAL CARE BETRAYAL

Briefing 19/23, dated 17 April, outlined the serial broken promises of the Government on social care

 

SMARTPHONE APPS

Briefing 18/23, dated 11 April, highlighted the implications for older people of the rush to smartphone apps across all sectors of society

 

OVER 75s TV LICENCE REVOLT

Briefing 15/23, dated 22 March, revealed the extent of non-payment of TV licences by over 75s who previously held a free licence.

 

SPRING BUDGET ANALYSIS

Briefing 14/23, dated 16 March 2023, analysed the Spring Budget from an older person’s perspective. We described it as a “total non-event”. 

 

COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Briefing 11/23, dated 2 March 2023, covered the latest developments on Government energy support. 

 

DIGITAL VOICE

Briefing 10/23, dated 25 February 2023, described the assurances given by BT to protect older and vulnerable people in the roll out of Digital Voice. 

 

NOW OR NEVER FOR SOCIAL CARE

Briefing 7/23, dated 6 February 2023, outlined Silver Voices’ position on the social care crisis, and the need for urgent action.

 

SAVE FREEVIEW TV

Briefing 4/23. dated 18 January, explained our new campaign to save Freeview TV and aerial radio from being squeezed out by internet-based services. 

 

NHS AND SOCIAL CARE MELTDOWN

Briefing 3/23, dated 12 January 2023, argues that the Government is in denial about the dire state of the NHS and social care and appears to have no answers to the crisis, 

 

HOMES FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Briefing 57/22, dated 5 December 2022, exposed the neglectful approach by Government in tackling the pressing need for age-appropriate housing for older people.  

 

AUTUMN STATEMENT ANALYSIS

Briefing 55/22, dated 21 November 2022, provided a full analysis of the Government’s Autumn Spending Statement from the perspective of older people

 

VICTORY ON TRIPLE LOCK CAMPAIGN

Briefing 54/22, dated 17 November 2022, announced that the campaign to restore the Triple Lock, led by Silver Voices, had been victorious

 

UNPAID OLDER CARERS

Briefing 50/22, dated 25 October 2022, covered some important research from Carers UK on how unpaid carers are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis

 

NEW AGE OF AUSTERITY

Briefing 46/22, dated 1 October 2022, warned of the dangers of a new age of austerity in public services to pay for the tax cuts announced by the Government

 

MINI-BUDGET

Silver Voices criticised the Truss Budget from the perspective of older people in Briefing 45/22, dated 26 September 2022. 

 

BBC PROSECUTIONS

Briefing 44/22, dated 23 September 2022, launched a campaign with legal charity APPEAL, to persuade the BBC to suspend prosecutions for TV licence non-payment, during the cost of living crisis

 

ENERGY BILLS

Briefing 41/22, dated 2 September 2022, offered advice to older people on what they should do if they cannot afford to pay their energy bills this winter. The onus should be placed on the Government and the energy companies to provide sufficient support for the basics of life.

 

BBC AND COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Briefing 37/22, dated 27 July 2022, reported on a meeting with BBC Executives, where it was clear that the BBC was not prepared to take any extra support measures to help poor households in the cost of living crisis 

 

APP-DRIVEN SOCIETY

Briefing 35/22, dated 14 July 2022, covers the uncontrolled spread of smartphone Apps in business and the public services to conduct transactions. Silver Voices is concerned that this trend risks excluding millions from everyday services and transactions and is clearly age-discriminatory. 

 

STATE PENSION STATISTICS

Briefing 32/22, dated 29 June 2022, provides statistics from the DWP that show that only 6% of state pensioners receive the top rate of £185 per week widely quoted in the media. 87% receive the old state pension rate of £142. 

 

COST-OF-LIVING CAMPAIGN

Briefing 28/22, dated 5 June 2022, analyses the Chancellor’s latest energy support package, and includes a survey of all members to determine the next steps in the campaign.

 

DIGITAL VOICE

Briefing 27/22, dated 30 May 2022, outlines the dangers of the project to abandon telephone landlines in favour of an internet-based system.  

 

QUEEN’S SPEECH

Briefing 25/22, dated 17 May 2022, covers the Queen’s Speech on future legislation, notable for its lack of measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. 

 

REBUILD GENERAL PRACTICE

Briefing 24/22, dated 11May 2022, reports on the campaign by frontline doctors to hold Government to its promises on increasing the number of GPs.  

 

ACCESSIBLE HOUSING

Briefing 22/22, dated 27 April 2022, reports on the lack of accessible housing in the UK and the long waiting lists for home adaptions. 

MAY LOCAL ELECTIONS

Briefing 19/22, dated 9 April 2022, urged older people to deny the Conservatives their votes in the May local elections in protest at the many broken promises to senior citizens, including the suspension of the triple lock. 

 

COVID FREE TESTING SHAMBLES

Briefing 17/22, dated 30 March 2022, called for free testing to be reinstated across the UK, particularly for those with symptoms, and for the fourth dose vaccine programme to be accelerated.

 

SPRING SPENDING STATEMENT

Briefing 16/22, dated 23 March, reported on the Chancellor’s mini-Budget that day, which contained no measures to support the plight of older people facing astronomical price increases. 

 

NHS AND SOCIAL CARE 

Briefing 15/22, dated 20 March 2022, reported on the continuing crisis in health and social care and the need for a proper recovery plan.  

 

FUTURE STATE PENSION RISES

Briefing 13/22, dated 8 March, calls for no further rises in the age at which the state pension becomes payable, for at least ten years.

 

DEMENTIA PROMISES BROKEN

Briefing 10/22, dated 19 February 2022, outlines the broken promises by the Government on dementia support and research. 

 

ENERGY PACKAGE

Briefing 8/22, dated 7 February 2022, criticises the energy support package announced by the Chancellor, which does little to help older people. 

 

NATIONAL INSURANCE RISE SOLD ON A LIE

Briefing 7/22, dated 2 February 2022, criticises the health and social care levy on National Insurance, from the perspective that it is being sold as necessary to fix the social care crisis, when it will do nothing of the sort.  

 

BBC LICENCE SETTLEMENT

Briefing 5/22, dated 22 January 2022, describes the Government settlement with the BBC over the future of the licence fee for the next six years. There are no provisions in the settlement to alter the position of the over 75s being pursued over non-payment.  

OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Our first briefing of the New Year, 01/22, dated 3 January 2022, covered an open letter to the Prime Minister indicating why older people have lost trust in his Government. The letter calls for urgent action on pensions and the health and social care crisis.

COVID-19 SURVEY

Our Briefing 64/21, dated 30 November 2021, outlined the results of our large survey of members on their attitudes to Government Covid restrictions. A large majority are still cautious about social mixing and want more protective measures introduced. 

BBC LOSES OUT ON BACK PAYMENTS FROM OVER 75s

Briefing 63/21, dated 23 November 2021, describes how the BBC can no longer claim back payments from unlicensed over 75s’ households, a blunder discovered by Silver Voices

THREE LINE WHIP TO DEFEAT TRIPLE LOCK AMENDMENT

Briefing 62/21, dated 16 November 2021, outlined the growing political opposition to the decision to suspend the Triple Lock on uprating state pensions, following a Lords’ amendment to reinstate the earnings link 

 

 BUDGET 2021

Briefing 57/21, dated 28 October 2021, outlined a Budget which excluded any reference to the concerns of older people over pensions, benefits, the cost of living crisis or social care. 

 

GP APPOINTMENTS CAMPAIGN 

 

Briefing 55/21, dated 17 October 2021, outlined the Government announcement on improving access to GPs by patients, explicitly recognising the Silver Voices request for patient choice to be the determining factor in whether a face-to-face appointment is granted. 

 

 CLIMATE CHANGE SURVEY and more

 

Briefing 53/21, dated 5 October 2021, provided a campaign round-up on the cost of living crisis, face-to-face GP appointments, free TV licences, and our climate change survey. The survey results are available here: 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-HGV88CMY9/

 

FREE TV LICENCES CAMPAIGN: LATEST ADVICE 

 

Briefing 52/21, dated 28 September 2021, offered guidance to members, aged over 75, on how they could handle forthcoming visits from so-called ‘customer care’ staff from TV Licensing.

 

TRIPLE LOCK AND SOCIAL CARE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Briefing 48/21, dated 8 September 2021, covered the anger over the Government decision to suspend the Triple Lock on state pensions and pointed out some of the flaws in the social care reform plans.

 

WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS

Briefing 45/21, dated 17 August, pointed out that winter fuel payments have not been updated since 2011and that there is a need for these payments to be uplifted in line with rising energy prices. 

 

TRIPLE LOCK

Briefing 43/21, dated 4 August, outlined the threats to the triple lock on state pension increases and posed the question to members that if the Government scraps or suspends the lock, should we campaign for older voters to deny their vote to the Conservatives? 

BENEFITS UNDER ATTACK

Briefing 39/21 dated 12 July, covered the latest advice on the free TV licences campaign, and linked it to the latest benefits threat to free prescriptions for older people

NHS DENTISTS’ CRISIS

Briefing 38/21 dated 6 July outlined the crisis in NHS dentistry services across the UK and contained a survey on members’ experiences. 

 

CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Briefing 34/21 dated 16 June kicked off a debate on climate change and what contribution older people can make.

 

BREAKING THE IMPASSE ON FREE TV LICENCES

Briefing 31/21 dated 3 June 2021 included a Silver Voices letter to the Director General of the BBC calling for a joint approach to the Department of Culture to break the impasse over free TV licences for the over-75s.

FACE TO FACE MEETINGS WITH GPs

Briefing 30/21 dated 30 May 2021 proposes a campaign to enforce the right of patients to have a timely face to face appointment with their GP. The pressures of the pandemic are being used to alter the ways in which the NHS is delivered locally. Remote consultations only are inherently unsafe and discriminate against older patients.

UK STATE PENSION SHAME

Briefing 29/21, dated 24 May 2021, reported on  damning research by the House of Commons, showing how poor the UK state pension is in comparison to other developed countries and why pensioner poverty is so high in the UK. 

 

THE CHANGING FACE OF THE NHS

Briefing 26/21, dated 5 May 2021, outlined the insidious service transformations taking place in the NHS under cover of the pandemic, including increased charging for previously free services and refusal of face-to-face appointments with doctors.

VACCINATION SURVEY

Our Briefing 21/21 outlines the results of a major survey on the Covid-19 vaccination programme. There was strong support for a vaccine passport/certification scheme for both foreign and domestic use. And nine in ten members agreed that health and social care staff in direct contact with vulnerable people should be vaccinated.

RETIREMENT HOUSING

Our Briefing 14/21 proposed a new model of retirement homes, advanced community villages, which are self-sufficient in terms of funding and retain close links with the surrounding communities.  The Advanced Communities Prospectus can be accessed here:

Advanced Communities Newsletter

 

 COST OF DYING

Briefing 06/21 highlights the staggering rises in the costs of funerals over the last decade and the need for independent regulation and inspection of the funerals industry as recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority.

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