The Combined Pensioners' Association has urged Australians to get behind a campaign to adopt a pensioner. A third of Australia's retirees are struggling to afford life's essentials.

Being on a very low budget, that's all they buy so if the prices go up, it's really panic stations.

The Association wants the Federal Government to immediately increase the supplement for single-aged pensioners.

Paul Versteege from the Combined Pensioners' Association explains what the problem is and how people can help.

How desperate is the situation for pensioners?

"The situation is two million aged pensioners, the majority are doing quite well but about one-third are doing very, very badly. They are, by any stretch of the imagination."

"So the situation has been quite desperate for some time and the Budget last week was a real, real disappointment."

"Because one of the things is that the aged pension really doesn't keep up with cost of living, on $273 a week, which isn't living, does it?"

"That is the big issue. They are falling way behind"

"In the Budget papers, there was an interesting graph showing how much the staples of life have gone up, bread and food and transport."

"It is the basics of life they can't afford. Being on a very low budget, that is all they buy. If the prices of those things go up, it's really panic stations for low-income pensioners."

What do you suggest people to do if they want to help?

Obviously the adoption a pensioner scheme is a great idea. If they want to do that, they should. But the real help they can give is right there in their community. Fu know people that are elderly, get to know them and help them if they need help.

More info

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants of NSW