A pensioner who set up Colchester's first charity shop is being forced to live on the breadline after her pension went unpaid for ten weeks.

Connie Hazell, 80, of Rayner Road, Shrub End, claims her problems are set to worsen as she will not receive her pension until June 28.

She said she has gone without her pension twice - the first time for six weeks, and then for four weeks.

Mrs Hazell found her problems began after she decided to change the way her pension was paid - from traditional pension book to having it paid directly into her bank account.

But Mrs Hazell said that after doing so, her pension was not paid in for the next six weeks, and when she was finally paid the amount she received had been cut.

Because she had no weekly pension statement under the bank credit transfer method, the problem went unnoticed until Mrs Hazell found herself unable to pay a builder who had carried out work to her home.

Mrs Hazell established Colchester Famine Relief in 1962 as well as 25 other stores nationwide.

She claims the problems she has encountered are affecting her health.

After not receiving her pension for six weeks, Mrs Hazell complained she would have been better if she had stuck with the pension book scheme.

And now she claims her pension has again been stopped for the past four weeks, crippling her financially.

Mrs Hazell, who has never before had an overdraft, and who worked as a charity shop pioneer for more than 30 years, said: "I have never asked for anything in my life and they have treated me disgustingly badly.

"I am no longer able to pay my bills. How many other people are there out there who have experienced what I have?"

Mrs Hazell, who has arthritis, angina, a gastric ulcer, vascular disease, and is also going blind, has also had her severe disability premium stopped.

She said the Benefits Agency, which is an executive authority for the Department of Social Security, had stopped her pension for the second time to transfer her payment system from directly into the bank to the old pension book scheme - without her written authorisation.

A spokesman for the Benefits Agency said today: "Although we cannot normally comment on individual cases, the circumstances presented will be looked into as a matter of urgency and Mrs Hazell will be contacted shortly."

Problems - Connie Hazell.

Picture: NIGEL BROWN

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