I AM a 77-years-old severely disabled OAP living in warden-controlled accommodation.

Last week I had to fill in a form to get housing benefit.

When my husband was alive he received a small pension from the NHS whom he worked for before retirement. When he died, two years ago, it automatically came to me and went straight into my bank.

Now we've always declared this pension and every year it goes up by the magnificent sum of roughly 60p/70p per year, so it works out at about 5p or 6p per month. It is only paid monthly -- not weekly.

I got the rent office to help me fill in the form and I was told I could be in trouble if I didn't declare this as a change in circumstances. I couldn't believe it when they told me.

To think they get the likes of Thora Hird to come on TV and tell pensioners it's easy to claim what they are entitled to. Even if I am entitled to other money, they can keep it, as I wouldn't subject myself to the indignity of claiming.

(Name and address supplied)