Fuck it - the government will look me

I would challenge this also. My mum did
not work much in her life, she had to
many children that she could not afford. She is now living in a brand new-build and living
very comfortably on the state pension. And she has a moan every now and then that it’s not enough. And my mum is not unique.

I ask her where does she think it comes from and why she feels so entitled.

No one is saying that she should be put out on the street or left to starve to death. But her needs are provided for, whilst others that make better life choices, and I did despite my mum, are not being considered.

OP feels punished for making responsible choices, a sentiment many feel now. We work, save, make sensible choices, while the system ignores this.

Why bother doing it properly if it no longer counts?

I feel much the same. It’s exhausting trying to do the right things and then watch policy after policy, such as OP mentions, chip away at any sense of reward or stability.

You can't claim money towards rent for a house owned by a family member. If your going to make up a benefit bashing story at least make sure it is believable.

TLDR: hello I'm a Tory and even this centre-right version of the Labour party is too left wing for me.

Shame they were democratically elected op. I always think these sorts of 'you are your choices' posts should come with a CV showing which choices you made and which were made for intergenerationally/by your family trust.

It is true that private landlords have their BTL mortgages paid by the state but the housing element of UC is unlikely to cover the entire rent. But then I'm in the South East and the experience in other parts of the country where the going rate for private rent is not so bloody extortionate may be different. I don't know if the someone you know has set the rent at the amount he knows will be covered by the housing element (which is fixed according to income).

I'm not sure I'm following your second para. If you have worked and saved all your life (assume 40+ years here) you will be far better off than anyone on PC and/or only state pension with no savings. I am assuming that by working all your life you will have paid into some form of private pension scheme or have other assets (house) or savings as you say they have "saved". But maybe I've missed your point?

If you are unfortunate enough to have to go into residential care and own a home that no spouse or dependent is living in, then yes, this is sold to pay for your care. This will usually mean a choice of care home provider. If the state is the provider you have no choice and could end up anywhere within the county (and possibly far away from any non dependent family). Sadly, my vamily have had first hand experience of this outcome on both sides and can say that being able to pay for your own care is a far better outcome than not being able to.

What do they do around the globe?

Countries can only do what they can afford.

and to make it clear, what do you want the government to do about disabled people who can't work or carers of disabled children who can't work?

We are too far gone to go back.

@Ponoka7 yes, so much short term thinking.

i want to government to support positive choices - ie saving for retirement, finding employment, buying a house, having children when you can afford them.

Housing is unaffordable for many young people & they are often choosing not to even have dc now due to cost so how should the government support them?

it will be means tested, its very obvious that decision is coming our way.

The ageing population and the fact that current pensioners have not paid anywhere near enough tax for pension & free healthcare means it's inevitable.

I think OP has a point, enjoy your life, spend your money, work until you’re 70 then go on pension credit with housing paid and all the other benefits that come with that.

This will not be an option for younger generations though

We have many problems that have been ignored and exacerbated for years. There is no easy fix.

That was the North's point, in the 80's when all the opportunities were redirected down south and abroad. As well as the wealth being directed to the minority of people. Then the industries went. They took our choices away. Austerity didn't work and was never going to. That and the bedroom tax were popular on here. Now we wonder why families can't take granny in to recuperate when the doctors want to discharge. We are too far gone to go back.

I believe 90% of our lives is the summation of our own choices

hard disagree with that one.

Should I just spend my money, move into a smaller house and quit my job. At this point I think I’d be better off.

So you believe in a safety net?

@YoureNotGoingOutLikeThatI don’t agree. I know someone who owns a house his father lives in. The private rent is paid by the council, the father gets PC and has a very nice life. I don’t begrudge anyone benefits where there is an absolute need but no-one should be better off on benefits.

In my view if you’ve worked all your life and saved then your retirement (often by forgoing things) should be of a much better quality with more choices. That isn’t what’s happening. There are people on state pension getting less/not much better off (when you factor in all the additional benefits that come with PC) than those on PC. Plus if you have to go into care your house gets taken whilst the person next to you is in there for free.

k, bye.

If you think being completely reliant on benefits and state support either now or in old age is a preferable arrangement to trying to make arrangements to look after yourself you are completely delusional. The insane cost of living these days doesnt only apply to working age average earners.

Housing benefit/UC and pension credit in old age is unlikely to give you any kind of comfortable retirement. Council owned properties are now far and few between and social housing landlords are filling the gap. Even slightly lower than market value rents are higher than the housing benefit element. In all likelihood, anyone without some kind of private pension will be living their old age in poverty (and for some that will mean no change if they earned so little they were reliant on in work benefits to pay the bills).

Public sector pensions are not as generous as they once were. I worked in the NHS for 10 years as a part time Band 2 Admin and my projected pension from there will be in the region of £140 per month. Before tax. (I read somewhere years ago that the mode of public sector pension was actually very low as the majority drawing it were women who had worked part time on low wages).

(EDIT for typo)