Helen Lyons from Tralee told her story to Jerry. Her husband sadly died seven years ago but she wasn’t entitled to the full widow’s pension as she was not of pension age, which is 66, and her children were over the age of 16. She would also be financially penalised if she returned to work.

Timothy E. (Tadhg) Foley of Racecourse Road, Tralee and formerly Cork City

Jerry spoke to Ronan Lyons who is author of the latest Daft.ie report and is an economist at Trinity College Dublin.

Robert (Bobby) Buckley, Derry, Listowel

Julia McElligott, Kilcaragh, Lixnaw and late of Dysert, Lixnaw and New York

Mick O'Brien, Church Road, Moyvane.