Fairness for poorest seniors

Dear Editor,

The prime minister keeps announcing a $300 to $500 non-taxable benefit for seniors. How many times will he announce it before it’s delivered? If he really wants to do something to help, seniors’ CPP should be revised to stop targeting the poorest seniors. A senior who is not well enough to keep working and can’t afford to wait until age 65 is able to take CPP at age 60 with a penalty. If that senior is fortunate enough to live past age 71, their lifetime benefit is reduced. On the other hand, those who can afford to wait until age 65 receive the full benefit.

It would be fairer for the poor who can’t afford to live without the early benefit to be reinstated to full entitlement once the penalty of early acceptance has been repaid.

Rob Goheen