This is heartbreaking for me as I have worked in very well paid jobs for 50 years and - through no fault of my own, but a bad divorce settlement - I find myself living in almost poverty.

Do I buy food or pay my electricity bill? Do I buy wood for the fire or freeze?

READ SANDRA'S STORY HERE

I have no chance of paying my credit card payment so the interest just accrues! I don't expect you to understand Mr Morrison, but how about talking to and listening to the pensioners who are doing it tough?

An increase in the pension of $1.50 twice a year is an insult. Shame on you.

Sandra Roberts, Ballarat.

Old people are vulnerable and struggling with day-to-day things.

Having almost no money to stay warm, pay a bill or for a sandwich is demoralising.

They have contributed to society in more ways than we do now.

Have a heart, look for a way. Dignity and appreciation please.

Kim Cyrran, Ballarat.

Disgusting. Our government is killing us - not COVID.

Allen Howat, Albury.

I believe this is a disgrace that the government has decided to freeze aged pensions.

People on JobKeeper and JobSeeker are being paid $1500 per fortnight some of these workers would not earn that if they were doing their usual jobs.

Pensioners were given two $750 stimulus payment, ok that was a big help but how does this seem fair when the majority of aged pension recipients are unable to get part-time work to supplement their income?

But prices still rise, does Mr Morrison put a stop to businesses net utility suppliers from increasing their income? Where is this fair?

Marion Broadbent, Enfield.

Please don't punish the elderly further.

Reconsider the freeze, shouldn't we be taking care of everybody in Australia?

Margaret Hehir, Newington.

I worked in aged support and was shocked at the amount of pensioners using candles for light, blankets only for warmth and having very limited diets as they tried to make do on the clearly insufficient $280 per week. There were no double payments for pensioners over COVID but the costs have gone up.

The way we treat our aged is a national disgrace. $280 per week is barely more than our politicians give themselves each day as lunch money.

Robbi Neal, Ballarat.

Allowing pensioners to keep more money if they are lucky enough to do work for remuneration whilst on a pension without it affecting their fortnightly pay.

Peter Barr, Ballarat.

I find it so hypocritical that politicians continue to give themselves pay rises on top of the substantial extra allowances.

Yet those who have worked through much more difficult times and situations are treated so very poorly.

You will spend $100,000+ on keeping a prisoner in a centrally heated and cooled room with all meals, medical, recreational and educational needs supplied.

But, you will allow a pensioner to stay in a cold or hot environment because they have to make a choice of paying bills which continue to rise because companies are now privately owned and seek to gain profits for their shareholders.

Why can't you feed pensioners from the same trough that seems to be so readily available to politicians?

Melinda Wellard, Torquay.

Please reconsider and end your decision about freezing the aged pension.

We are your parents or grandparents, you exist because we gave you life. We are vulnerable now and we need help.

You'll get to be old and vulnerable one day. I'!! bet, you will want to feel supported and respected. And rightfully so.

Marta Kaczmarek, Sunshine West.

We are 67 and 69 and this is our first year on a part-pension. I started the application for a pension when I retired at 65.

After four years I finally got through the never-ending paper trail and pen-pushers to be granted a part-pension.

My crime seems to have been that I worked hard from the age of 15 and paid my taxes. We started a modest small business and employed and opened a trust account.

The business was folded, the accountants wound it all up and the trust account has a zero balance.

We are now chasing more letters to prove the account has a zero balance until then we get part of a pittance granted to us by some power-crazed pen-pusher who obviously refuses to relinquish the power it holds.

We did all the right things, we have paid personal tax business tax

Are we asking too much to expect what should be 'our right'? The government setup the pension scheme. Workers paid into that scheme through their whole working lives.

As it stands the government is still collecting that payment and also expects people to pay into super funds to set themselves up for retirement. All I wanted was what I was entitled to. What we have worked for.

Considering the pay rises granted to politicians and the size of them during this pandemic, how do you in good conscience refuse the pittance given to any pensioner?

What a disgrace all governments are.

Janis Stankovic, Kyabram.

IN OTHER NEWS:

After suffering lockdown, a cold winter that required heating on for long periods each day, prices in the supermarket skyrocketed.

We now find that the pittance we receive each fortnight is to be frozen for at least six more months.

That's okay though, we have to support Morrison and Frydenberg's millionaire mates with tax cuts.

They might starve otherwise, just like the bloated, champagne-swilling politicians.

Redmond Fitzredmond, Echuca.

Short and sweet: We are constantly told that power, heating, fruit, vegetables, meat and other essentials are getting cheaper - when and where? Is this all media hype or as Mr. Trump says 'this is fake news'?

The politicians and CEOs of big industry will never have to worry about living on our pension rate, they have more than enough money put away to survive on when they retire.

David Wearne, Cranbourne East.

The aged pension may not be increasing by its usual six-monthly increments this year but we have received two payments of $750 and may get a third.

This amount of money is way more than the usual increments. Also, if you own your own home it is easy to live on the pension.

Sure it won't get you an overseas holiday or allow you to excessively smoke, drink alcohol or gamble but that's not what the pension is for.

I do think the rent allowance needs increasing for those who don't own a home due to a working life of low income, divorce and illnesses.

Sharon Smith, Rosedale.

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