“IT is no change for us.” That was the verdict of Don Harper, secretary of the Southampton Pensioners’ Forum.

George Osborne confirmed the previously announced revised flat rate pension – worth £144 a week – will be brought forward to 2016.

The Chancellor also confirmed that the cap on social care costs will be introduced in 2017 and protect savings above £72,000, while the threshold for means-tested help is to be raised from £23,000 to £118,000.

But Mr Harper said the Budget would be cold comfort for the thousands of pensioners struggling on breadline incomes.

Although he thinks the social care cap is “a step in the right direction”, he says the £72,000 limit on how much you could spend is too high.

He said: “I can see the sense of what he has been doing to increase growth but I don’t think he has done anything for today’s pensioners. The new pension does not affect the present day pensioners. We are excluded and it will not do anything at all for us.”

Increasing the personal allowance to £10,000 next year does not affect him because his is frozen. Different rates apply to over-65s. Those born between April 6, 1938, and April 5, 1948, will keep the same personal allowance of £10,500, while those born before April 5, 1938, will have an allowance of £10,660. These rates are frozen until further notice.