Valentina, 60, Moldova

HelpAge works across Eastern Europe and Central Asia promoting and securing older people's access to their benefits, like Valentina, 60, from Moldova.

We helped Valentina access her pension. (c) Maxim Ahner/HelpAge International

Valentina told us: "The loss of my son, who died in a road accident when he was only 21, was the hardest point in my life. After that I started to have health problems. My blood pressure rose and I had a stroke that paralysed my right hand and leg."

No documents, no pension

Valentina did not have documents to prove that she had been employed, so she could neither receive a pension nor get a health insurance policy. She would have had to pay high fees for a medical examination and treatment.

"Re-applying for these documents was very difficult, because I was born in Gagauz (now an autonomous part of Moldova). So to get these papers back I have to go to many state bodies," she said.

Valentina could not afford to travel the 250km to Gagauz to apply in person so HelpAge's partner organisation went and applied on Valentina's behalf.

She said: "I thank HelpAge and their partner the Organisation of Veterans from the bottom of my heart for going to all these authorities on my behalf.

"Without their help and these documents, I wouldn't be able to receive my pension now. When I found out that my documents had been reinstated, I was the happiest person in the world."

HelpAge collects evidence as well as advising and lobbying government to ensure older people's right to pensions, income security and healthcare.