By Raymond Buchanan BBC Radio Scotland's Sunday Live

Help the Aged said rises mean increased hardship

The charity said a recent survey suggested that more than 50% of pensioners in Scotland are in council tax poverty.

It warned that the tax rises overtake the rate of pension increases, making elderly people's plight even worse.

Ministers said that all pensioners were being encouraged to apply for council tax discounts.

The charity found that more than half of Scotland's pensioners were spending more than 10% of their disposable income on council tax and water charges.

I feel that if you have a good income you wouldn't mind paying the full amount but if you're struggling I think it would be a wee bit of help if you didn't pay quite as much Betty Middleton Pensioner

Policy officer Richard Meade said: "We found one single female pensioner, aged 85, spending a quarter of her disposable income on council tax.

"The average earner spends no more than 5% of their disposable income on council tax. That is just not acceptable and it's not fair."

Mr Meade said the Scottish Executive must act now to address the issue.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Sunday Live programme: "Urgent measures need to be taken.

"Every time a council tax increase occurs it's much greater than the rate pensions go up by.

"So every time council tax increases, pensioners have to make cuts on their budgets on food, heating, clothing. These are things that you shouldn't have to make cuts on in your retirement years."

Funding review

Betty Middleton, 75, said that she and her husband spend �107 a month on council tax.

She said the burden that council tax puts on them means they are denied other pleasures in life.

Mrs Middleton said: "It is unfair on pensioners. I wouldn't mind paying council tax provided it was to do with your income.

"I feel that if you have a good income you wouldn't mind paying the full amount but if you're struggling I think it would be a wee bit of help if you didn't pay quite as much."

A review of the funding system for local authorities is under way but the findings are not expected to be published until the summer of 2006.