"WHAT IS THE USE OF OFFENDING THE OLD?"

A1+
[02:27 pm] 01 October, 2007

71-year-old pensioner Varditer lives alone. Being a former accountant
she calculates her daily expenses and lives on bread and water to
survive till the end of the month. She has recently applied to the
"Paros" social welfare fund to get old-age benefit.

After drawing up the documents Ms Margo, a representative of the
Social Service, hinted at "tips." She demanded my two months’ benefit
– 12 000 drams. "This is the usual routine. Your pension is high and
you shouldn’t be granted benefits."

"A month later I got the money. The following Monday Ms. Margo
telephoned me to remind about the "arrangement." Two hours later she
looked in and said I would be denied benefits in a month in case I
didn’t pay.

She was right as Ms Varditer no longer got old-age benefit.

Ms Varditer is indignant at the fact that "the old are offended."

It is noteworthy that she has worked for 46 years and her pension is
15 212 drams.