UNLESS something is done quickly to address the situation, Widows' Pensions will be replaced from April 2001 by Bereavement Allowance.

This will be paid at the same rate as Basic pension, but there will be no SERPS element as there is at present. A further cause of concern is that this will be paid for a maximum of only 52 weeks.

This means t hat our widowed older people, a vulnerable group who need and depend upon our support, will not have the financial help which they need and have paid for over many years during their working lives. SERPS was introduced in 1978 because only half of the 22 million working population were in occupational pension schemes and the money paid SERPS should now be available as originally agreed -- firstly to cushion the blow of bereavement for widows and widowers and, secondly, to increase the basic pension by the maximum possible (25 per cent if paid up for 20 years).

Successive governments have, however, not honoured this contract and now widows/widowers will not receive the SERPS earned by their spouse. Not only is this an intolerable situation, people who reached pension age from April 6, 1999, receive a reduced SERPS entitlement of only 20 per cent of the pension accrued.

Age Concern Hyndburn feels very strongly that something needs to be done to reverse the Government's decision.

The welfare of our older people is the concern of us all and we hope that we can count upon the people of Hyndburn and elsewhere to join our campaign to protect the rights of our widowed older folk.

PATRICK COLLISTER (chief officer) and Rosemary Bowling (advice, information and campaigns officer), Age Concern, Hyndburn, Whalley Road, Accrington.