Currently they receive £10 each year, the same amount as when it was introduced 46 years ago.
“In 1972 the Christmas bonus was introduced at a respectable £10, enough for a good Xmas family dinner,” said Councillor Clarence Barrett, who started the petition. “46 years on and it is still £10, enough for half a chicken, a few potatoes and a splash of gravy.”
“If the bonus were index linked to inflation, it would be worth an equally respectable £128 today.”
The petition is calling on the government to consider raising the amount to £25 and linking it to inflation.
“The festive generosity of 1972 has now become something of a seasonal oddity that many people, including pensioners, are probably totally unaware of,” he added.
“The petition seeks to bring the bonus into the 21st Century, and with well over a thousand signatures, the response has been terrific.”
Last year, £150 million of festive bonuses were handed out to 15 million people.
The petition was started by Councillor Barrett, Leader of the Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Group.
It needs to reach 10,000 signatures for the government to respond and at 100,000 it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
There are 6 months left until the June 2019 deadline.
If you’d like to sign, you can do so here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/234288
Tags: Havering, Upminster
