GWYN PROSSER, MP for Dover and Deal, is leading Age Concern's campaign in Parliament for an urgent review of the 50-year-old rules which mean pensions and benefits are cut if someone stays in hospital long-term. Mr Prosser has announced that the campaign had received the support of major health organisations.

He is backed by 93 other MPs, including Thanet South's Steve Ladyman. Mr Prosser says the rules, introduced in 1948, are "outdated and unfair" and is currently building up support amongst MPs from all political parties for an Early Day Motion (EDM) which was tabled in parliament on Monday.

He stressed: "The pension claw-back rule comes as a complete surprise to older people. It hurts the sick, it penalises pensioners and it should be abolished. During a recent visit to Dover's Buckland Hospital I found one ward where nearly all the patients were pensioners, more than half had been in for more than six weeks but I couldn't find anyone who knew that they would be penalised by this rule."

Jan Dewing, Senior Fellow at the Royal College of Nursing Gerontological Nursing Programme said: "It is grossly unfair that vulnerable older people should be penalised for being ill. The current system causes worry and hardship at a time when older people should be concentrating on recovery.

"Many bills still need to be paid when someone is in hospital, and some costs like transport, laundry and phones, may even go up. The RCN is pleased to support Age Concern's campaign."

Age Concern's report highlights that under current obscure and long-standing rules, the state pension for a single person is cut by £28.30 for a hospital stay of six weeks or longer. At any one time, the rules affect more than 30,000 sick older people, causing them to endure reduced pensions and lose out on other vital benefits such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

The rules say that pensions must be cut because expenses such as food and living costs are reduced during a stay in hospital. Many older people have found themselves facing financial hardship because ongoing household expenses still have to be paid while they are in hospital.