Pensions… again

I think at some point the triple lock does need to be looked at - which is not the same as saying I don’t think state pension should increase.

I also think it would be a good idea to cap State pension at the annual allowance, as it is going to be an admin nightmare if you suddenly get a lot of extra people needing to do tax returns. Pension credit could make up the shortfall for people with no private pension income, but with some way of providing that if you have saved for a private pension you’re better off than someone who hasn’t saved.

What could and should be done is to tax away the state pension for those pensioners in a higher income bracket so smaller amounts are given to those over the 40% tax band say and tapered away above.that to zero - a bit like child benefit.

It would be much cheaper to administer than means testing and the threshold would be high enough not to deter saving for retirement. Tapering it through taxation could probably start below £50,000 and still not be a deterrent to pension savings, I am sure there are some clever policy people who could look at this and find the right level. It would be complex to design and avoidance-proof but relatively straightforward to administer.

That would avoid wealthier pensioners being given a benefit they really don't need and perhaps help generational harmony?

Thank you.

I’ll just add that I have retired friends who are going to bed early because they are scared to put on their heating. No, the cold weather allowance doesn’t cover it.

Thank you.

I was still working full time until 6 yrs ago, so I’m better off than many. I pay the Scottish intermediate tax rate - same as the basic rate for the rest of the country plus 1 per cent. I’ll be okay.

However, I know others who have been having a much harder time.

Its just offensive to me that some younger folk are complaining about how easy all older folk had it.

There are people in all age groups having a hard time. Certain politicians must be laughing their heads off when they hear different groups attacking one another.

@WearyAuldWumman So sorry for your loss.

Carers are included in the economically inactive stats You do know that. What you really really dont want is every unpaid carer phoning Social Services en masse and saying they cant care for the person they care for anymore or taking the person they care for to their local Job Centre or A&E and leaving them there cos then you really would have a tax rise to moan at

So how are pensioners supposed to afford council tax, utilities, food, clothing etc on a pension that is not keeping up with prices op?

You need to ask hard questions about where the money is, seriously. We are not a poor country but 5% of the population have trousered millions of pounds for their own benefit. Ask your MP hard questions. Where's the money? Why are people allowed to off-shore their money and not pay tax? Where has the pandemic money gone? Start from there.

Thanks. Pensioner here. 37 years of work and 40 of pension contributions. I'd just like to say how much I value your generosity of spirit and kind attitude to those who have worked hard and contributed all their lives. It's not my fault the pensions system works as it does. I do know I need enough money to be able to live without being cold and hungry. I have a neurological condition and am thus disabled, I cannot work any more. Off I pop to the workhouse then.

@D0v3Gr3y I live in south London in an average semi. We are in a middle band, nowhere near the top and our borough isn't nearly one of the highest in London. Our house is old and draughty and because we are both home for most of every day, we have the heating on more than some people might do.

I suspect my generation had a rather better standard of education than many people in their 20s and 30s and at least we were taught to show a modicum of respect to others. Perhaps it's also worth bearing in mind that salaries were very much lower than they are today. If you look at mortgage payments in relation to the proportion of people's income, I think things were just as difficult 30 or 40 years ago. At the time we were paying 18% and 16% interest on our mortgage, that was slightly more than 75% of our combined take home salaries, and we had next to nothing left for food, energy, etc. people didn't earn Mumsnet salaries in those days.

Not in the South East either.

Out council tax is £300, many peoples are, it’s pretty standard in our very non be posh area for non mansion houses.

a good post, reminds me of the horshoe nail -

For want of a nail the shoe was lost
For want of a shoe the horse was lost
For want of a horse the rider was lost
For want of a rider the message was lost
For want of a message the battle was lost
For want of a battle the Kingdom was lost
and all for the want of a horshoe nail

We usually only have three candidates in our local elections too, and I think it's still preferable to go to the pollling station and spoil your ballot paper if you really can't bring yourself to vote for any of the candidates than to not bother and then spend the next four or five years moaning about the decisions that are made.

or as Billy Connolly insists, “don’t vote! it only encourages them!”

Not surer where you live but we usually only have 3 canidates in a general election, two of whom have no hope of getting elected.

My council tax is 300 a month and I live in a 3 bed detached in a busy Hertfordshire town. It's a big-ish house but definitely not a mansion. 3 beds/2 baths, living room and kitchen/diner and a garage. Small garden.

Spoiling your ballot paper has to one of the most dumb ass things anyone could do.
You ve taken the time to go out and vote but then dont....
Its meaningless, not voting has more effect as no party wants to have to justify why they won but on a low turnout.

There are usually plenty of parties from far left n right in between moderates and crazy ones, just go and vote for someone.

I agree. I have never missed voting in any General Election, local election, mayoral election, or referendum since I turned 18. I dont believe that anyone who doesn't vote has the right to complain about any government or political decision. Even if you spoil your ballot paper, everyone has a responsibility to at least turn out for an election.

Where on earth do you live where CT is £300 per month? or have you a mansion?

Same with energy.

Interest rates? really? i know your generation didn't have the best schooling available but 15% of 50k is many times less than 6% on 350k....

💯

@aLFIESMA

This thread has left me in tears, when I was young we were proud to think our OAPs would be able to have a nice warm retirement. Meal out once a week, coach trip in the summer and pair of good winter boots

what country have you been living in?

10s of '000s used to die from the cold every winter, still do but a lesser extent.

Pensioner poverty has always been a thing in the UK, meals on wheels first done to try an address it.

The UK makes a thing of talking about how it cares for pensioners (and veterans) whilst doing the exact opposite.

The state pension alone isn't enough to keep us ticking over. Our monthly direct debit for energy is £450 per month, council tax is nearly £300 per month, as well as all the other outgoings, so we will hardly be living in the lap of luxury on our pensions. However, we are fortunate in that we have paid off our mortgage, which was at interest rates which people of the OPs generation have never experienced.