Boomer Anger
© Carole Fawcett
This Boomer is angry. I am 75 years old and my pension is less than someone who works 40 hours a week for the minimum wage and this is combined for both OAS and CPP (with the supplement). How disrespectful and minimizing is that? I’m tired of the tokenistic pat on the head with a pitiful pension. A lot of us fall into this category and it wasn’t because we planned badly, sometimes life gets in the way.
Before I go further I want to say that a lot of Boomers (seniors) are in the same (or worse) position. But I’m kind of tired of it and it makes me angry. Like a lot of Boomers, I’m tired of feeling invisible and unheard.
I live on the edge of financial disaster all the time hoping that nothing goes wrong that will require extra money. Every time I take my car in for an oil change, I worry that something else might show up. I cannot lift my tires when it is time to change them, nor do I have any place to put them, so now I pay $100 a year for someone else to store them.
That may not sound like much, but when your hundreds are limited, it makes a a big impact. There are so many things that cost extra all because you live alone. Lots of Boomers face the same challenges, I’m not that unique.
I work at writing part time. The trick, of course, is to earn a minimum amount so that it does not impact my income supplement. If I do, then I live in an even more skimpy (and worrisome) style, as the government removes the supplement for the following year. (last year I earned a bit too much, so the government removed $100 a month from my pension for this year).
I wrote about a 73-year-old woman who lived in her car on and off for 14 months for another publication. An agency in town put her in a motel in May of this year and now tell her she has until November 15. Then they want her to leave the motel and find a place to live. She has been looking, as they have too, and so far, nothing has become available.
As a low-income senior, she had to sign a paper that indicates that if she refuses a housing opportunity, she will be removed from the program. She is on OAS and CPP with the supplement and cannot afford the rents that are being charged at the moment. Yet another low-income senior who may end up living in her car again. It boggles the mind.
There are so many Senior souls who are struggling to live with dignity on their pensions. After all they have contributed to our Country, it just doesn’t seem right.
So, are you angry? Do you feel unheard and invisible? Then take action and write a letter (send an email) to our Federal Government. justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca They need to increase our pensions. Oh wait, I forgot, I think we did get a 6% increase not long ago. About $10 or $11, I think.
I get excited just thinking about how I’ll spend it all.
6 Comments
Cheryle H
Thank you all. I want to be part of this movement. As a stay at home mom I worked as hard as my husband only on 24/7 duty but was not a contributor to CPP. However, I made a significant contribution to Canada’s economy. I ran an excellent home, supported my husband and raised two contributing daughters. One daughter works for the provincial supreme courts and the other daughter works for the RCMP heading up victim services and has sucessfully raised three contributing children.
So Canada, where is my dignity now as a single senior getting a little over 1000 dollars a month.
Thank you for the link to justin trudeau. He will be getting a little note from me.
In Solidation,
Cheryle
Carole Fawcett
Thank you Cheryle – we will join together and help to make changes with senior pensions. It is not just Boomers who will be impacted. Gen Xer’s and Millennials will be impacted as well. It is time that respect was paid to those of us who have worked hard for this country – whether it be at home raising children, or working outside the home. I worked for non profits for a lot of my working history, or I was an entrepreneur. No pension. Then I had health challenges and could only work part time. Again, no pension. So, now I feel like I am being penalized for this, by
having to live on less. I am not alone. I still have health issues. There are a lot of us who need a boost in our pension in order to live with peace of mind and not worry every day of our lives.
Joanne Burroughs
A couple of important points for those who think Seniors (Boomers) are “entitled”.
I guess you’re not getting the point. The vast majority of Seniors DID save whatever they could for their retirement.
The problem is it costs much more money to live with dignity now plus seniors are living much longer now.
I would also like the government to stop lumping the OAS with the CPP. CPP is strictly run by employers and employees!! That is our money that goes into CPP, nothing to do with taxes and the government. Some people did not get it at all if, say, they were looking after kids at home, or were self employed years ago. This government always takes credit for CPP and they take credit for “helping” a small percentage of seniors. Not true at all.
When we are talking about raising OAS, don’t let them revert back to how much they help with CPP. Don’t confuse the two. That’s our money!!
Please join us for our next rally on June 27, 2024 and let’s make this Canada wide. Show up at every political speaking rally for the upcoming Federal election.
Special thanks to all Carole, Sharon, town leaders and the website team for an amazing site.
Carole Fawcett
Wise words Joanne – thanks so much. We are all working hard to move this forward. I was interviewed by Castanet today – and hoping I come across as somewhat sane. I got a bit worked up – as I do. When I think of all the folks in my age bracket who are seriously suffering financially, I could spit nails. It is so NOT necessary!
Iola Senez
Boomers had the forsite to start the CPP in 1965. It is suppose to get intrest on this money.
But PM Justin Tudeau decided to use it to buy a pipe line. Guess he was trying to impress Christy Clark.
Is he going to finish paying for the excess overage cost to finish paying for the line?
Boomers also put in the UI . Lots of us never used it. We all worked. Raised our familys and had time for them.
The first increase for OAS was August 2021.
This is the first permanent increase to OAS pension since 1973.
Carole Fawcett
Yes indeed Iola – now we cannot get any extra money from OAS and GIS. We made a lot of
positive change and now we are being ignored. Hoping this inspires all seniors to make the effort and
support us making changes that will benefit a lot of seniors. We need to get everyone up to the level
of poverty (at the very least) and better – maybe the minimum wage? Thanks for commenting.