To worry that the conservatives are going to target pensioners next

[Sjdorset]

Have anyone else noticed the anti pensioner stuff out this week? Firstly about getting rid of the essential tripple lock (2.5% so not a huge increase) and the talk that pensioners are supposedly getting more than working age people (why shouldn't they after all they have worked their entire life and don't have options available to increase their earnings).

I'm worried they maybe next on the target list, quite frankly I think this is a worrying trend building up.

www.express.co.uk/finance/retirement/445956/Fears-for-pensions-as-government-s-crucial-triple-lock-guarantee-faces-axe

[Sjdorset]

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/11944141/Pensioners-are-11-a-week-better-off-than-those-in-work.html

www.express.co.uk/finance/retirement/445956/Fears-for-pensions-as-government-s-crucial-triple-lock-guarantee-faces-axe

[Darkbehindthecurtain]

It's the next generation of pensioners rather than this lot, I suspect. The issue is, put crudely, that as people live longer, the more they will cost.

[Fugghetaboutit]

Did most pensioners vote Conservatives?

[Inertia]

Pensioners will be the last group Tories target, as many of them are reliable Tory voters.

[Singsongsungagain]

To be honest I think some pensioners could take some cuts. I'm thinking about my in laws who own their own large house (no mortgage) with two cars on the drive and travel everywhere on buses because it's free and they don't have to pay for parking and then cash in on the winter fuel allowance.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that these things are lifesavers to many pensioners but a bit of means testing wouldn't harm.

[Sjdorset]

Which group should DC gouge more from to continue paying for his fan base?

The Amazon's, googles, starbucks and facebooks of the country!

[lostincumbria]

Pensions are the largest single part of the welfare budget, so perhaps there should be alignment rather than focussing on the under 25s so much. And who said all pensioners worked hard all their life?

(Divide and conquer)

[Sjdorset]

Sing - means testing these would cost more and stop some people from claiming them. The average bus pass only costs a hundred pounds a year.

[SeaMagic]

Not all pensioners have worked their entire lives.

It's close to that oft trotted line 'worked hard all their lives'... well, some did but not all tbh.

Today's pensioners benefitted from free university, low house prices, jobs for life, gold plated pension schemes.

I still think they need to be looked after by the state if required but should be means tested. So those who own their own home, have savings/stocks and shares/buy to let, don't really need the same benefits as someone relying on their state pension do they.

Meanwhile tax credits are being cut to the bone and we have a new class of 'working poor' who cannot afford a family holiday once a year in Skegness let alone an overseas cruise like some 'pensioners'!

[whattheseithakasmean]

Personally, I think young people on the scandalously low wage for under 18s need a free buss pass more than most pensioners.

[SeaMagic]

Hear hear whatthese!

I think quite a few people who are less well off than some so called 'pensioners' could do with these perks - free bus pass, winter fuel allowance, etc...

[Sjdorset]

No one here has claimed they worked hard, I didn't use the h word. But they have worked as there wasn't a welfare state so they had no choice.

My mum worked on raising 3 children. Back then we didn't hava a washing machine, dishwasher, central heating or convenience food so she did have to work hard to raise a family on just my dads income. Not all work comes with in income!

[Sjdorset]

Young people are not at risk from the winter and are more mobile so can cycle or walk more. They shouldn't get the pensioner benefits as they habe very different needs.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

You make some good points OP.

In general pensioners are the group needing protecting because they are vulnerable.

Means testing would be a good idea though.

Although I think the pensioners now will probably be the last with such benefits. It's a growing group of people and will become more and more expensive.

[Mydearchild]

Not all pensioners will have worked all of their lives - just like today's younger population so getting back what they put in is rubbish in some circumstances ( can think of 2 aunts who never worked a day in their lives).
Winter fuel payments should be means tested too. The poorest shouldn't be made any worse off of course but with other generations facing cuts why shouldn't wealthy pensioners?

[SeaMagic]

Yes, but surely not all pensioners require the winter fuel allowance.

They are not all sitting in penury in a tiny council house, unable to turn on the heating for fear of the cost!

[Binkybix]

means testing these would cost more and stop some people from claiming them. The average bus pass only costs a hundred pounds a year.

I hear this a lot, but have never seen any evidence to support it. Could link to pension tax credits maybe?

[Mistigri]

There is no point in means testing things bus passes which cost nothing - I doubt wealthy pensioners even use buses.

However the reality is that if Osborne wants to cut the state to the bone, pensioners will have to be targeted. There will be nothing else left.

It is also true to say that many pensioners are already suffering from austerity, if they rely on home care visits, or the NHS.

I don't really buy the "worked hard without benefits" line - I am 51 and there were plenty of benefits available when I was a teenager. Thatcher herself pushed many of the current generation of pensioners out of manufacturing jobs and onto invalidity benefits (to massage the unemployment figures).

It's true that some pensioners were hammered by changes in pension rules back in the day - my FIL lost out by changing jobs at the wrong time. But at least this generation could afford to acquire assets, like houses, which many of today's young people will NEVER be able to do. Both my mum (single parent teacher) and my ILs (working class Irish) own property and have stock market portfolios.

[Mydearchild]

Thinking of my dfil and an uncle who both retired at 55 (now in their 70s) ones just returned from his annual golf trip to Florida, the other is on a cruise around the world. They aren't the frail type of vulnerable elderly that need extra benefits from the state.

[echt]

There you go, with your means testing.

www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/

[Devilishpyjamas]

Pensioners vote Tory.

They'll be better protected than the disabled. I'm sure they can screw a bit more out of them before they go after pensioners.

[CPtart]

I don't think it's worrying, I think it's fantastic. Some of the wealthiest people in this country are pensioners. It's not all "heat or eat?" Rubbish. PIL have more money than they know what to do with, and those unnecessary universal benefits just keep on topping it up. My DM is currently cruising the med on her fourth holiday of the year, and we are by no means a wealthy family. This country cannot afford sentiment. Think of that when your next library closes or your children's respite services are cut.

[echt]

Surely all the fat bastard OAPs can be taxed on income? The system is already there.