Page 13 | Andy Burnham should put the damn social care tax on landlords and big occupational pensions

Bushmillsbabe · 29/07/2026 14:32

The people with those pensions are likely to be those with savings who are going to pay for their own social care. And they will have paid tax through their lives, and will pay tax on their pension on receipt, and may hand down an inheritance which will get taxed, if its not all taken in their social care bill.

People like my Grandma lived their whole life in a council house, worked a few hours a week cash in hand, never paid in any taxes, then moved into taxpayer funded residential care. No reason why she couldnt work, she just decided not too. Offered a 1 bed council property but insisted on staying in her 4 bed, as she was 'entitled'.

The first group cannot keep being asked to pay for the 2nd group.

magnomam · 29/07/2026 14:31

Retro12 · 29/07/2026 14:18

But they have worked and paid for that privilege, have they not?

Show quote history

And yet workers today don’t have access to the same pension schemes because they are unaffordable.

magnomam · 29/07/2026 14:30

Duvetdayneeded · 29/07/2026 14:17

controversial question perhaps - then what about the vastly increasing number of people relying on benefits as a Lifestyle choice who will never have to pay towards a pension and will never have to pay towards this social care tax? How is that fair? Why should they continue to be subsidised?

Why is this only an argument when it comes to social care?

People have more dc than me & get benefits. People rent & get a council house or housing benefit. People don’t pay into a pension but get pension credit.

We all pay tax for things we don’t necessarily use but the vast majority aren’t covering their own costs let alone paying for others!

magnomam · 29/07/2026 14:28

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 29/07/2026 14:17

because now the State is feeding an awful lot of them in these breakfast clubs.

Child benefit ( family allowance) originally wasn't paid out on the first child. So if you only had one child, you got nothing.

Show quote history

Are they feeding a lot of them in breakfast clubs?

We know families were bigger in the past, people had more dc….

magnomam · 29/07/2026 14:26

Digerydont · 29/07/2026 14:21

I just need "scrap the triple lock" for a full house.

why shouldn’t it be scrapped?

NoSausage · 29/07/2026 14:25

CurdinHenry · 29/07/2026 13:41

A lot of people. Retirees are the richest demographic in the UK by miles.

Show quote history

You mean people who worked and paid in to dave for retirement.

hairbearbunches · 29/07/2026 14:24

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 29/07/2026 14:14

When I worked for the NHS I paid out 1/3 of my salary every month in stoppages. Tax, NI, Graduated Pensions and Superannuation !

Show quote history

Graduated pension and superannuation was being taken off younger you to provide for older you and the NHS were still adding almost 25% on top of that to your pension.

Darker · 29/07/2026 14:24

Landlords would just pass it on to renters.

FredaMountfitchet · 29/07/2026 14:22

Er it’s workers who get occupational pensions ….

Digerydont · 29/07/2026 14:21

I just need "scrap the triple lock" for a full house.

angelos02 · 29/07/2026 14:20

Duvetdayneeded · 29/07/2026 14:17

controversial question perhaps - then what about the vastly increasing number of people relying on benefits as a Lifestyle choice who will never have to pay towards a pension and will never have to pay towards this social care tax? How is that fair? Why should they continue to be subsidised?

At the minute they are paid for by other people in the same care home - those that are paying, pay more to cover those that don't. For exactly the same level of care. You couldn't make it up.

Retro12 · 29/07/2026 14:18

CurdinHenry · 29/07/2026 13:41

A lot of people. Retirees are the richest demographic in the UK by miles.

Show quote history

But they have worked and paid for that privilege, have they not?

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 29/07/2026 14:17

magnomam · 29/07/2026 13:58

@lemontswhy should we take more away from children? Child benefit used to be universal

because now the State is feeding an awful lot of them in these breakfast clubs.

Child benefit ( family allowance) originally wasn't paid out on the first child. So if you only had one child, you got nothing.

Duvetdayneeded · 29/07/2026 14:17

controversial question perhaps - then what about the vastly increasing number of people relying on benefits as a Lifestyle choice who will never have to pay towards a pension and will never have to pay towards this social care tax? How is that fair? Why should they continue to be subsidised?

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 29/07/2026 14:14

hairbearbunches · 29/07/2026 14:00

The NHS would be in the firing line then. Private sector workers would give their right arm I'm sure to have a 23.4% employer contribution to their pensions. This has long been unsustainable and is completely unfair. It's unfunded, it's a massive liability, and every single government just studiously ignores it because the debt burden is now so big it risks knocking over the entire economy. As of March 2025, the liability was £457.2 billion.

Show quote history

When I worked for the NHS I paid out 1/3 of my salary every month in stoppages. Tax, NI, Graduated Pensions and Superannuation !

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 29/07/2026 14:09

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 29/07/2026 13:34

I think we all need to contribute to the cost of social care in a fair and proportionate manner.

Yup, "those with the broadest shoulders should take the biggest load" - so let's start with our overpaid underworked MPs.

magnomam · 29/07/2026 14:09

MidnightPatrol · 29/07/2026 14:08

It’s mad that workers need to pay, while inheritances are protected.

completely mad

MidnightPatrol · 29/07/2026 14:08

It’s mad that workers need to pay, while inheritances are protected.

Polyestered · 29/07/2026 14:08

We just need to admit that we are keeping people alive too long. That’s the problem. I’m not talking about killing people off to be clear.

but stop healthcare being SO FOCUSED on tight control of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, etc etc and extending life expectancy into the 80s. Why?!? We can’t afford it!!

WhatAMarvelousTune · 29/07/2026 14:07

CurdinHenry · 29/07/2026 13:37

To be clear I'm not saying instead of workers I'm saying the tax should not only be on workers

Pensioners do pay tax though.

If you’re saying that it should be funded through income tax, rather than a rise in NIC which pensioners and landlords don’t pay (on their property income) then I’d agree.

washingmysocks · 29/07/2026 14:05

Why do you assume landlords are not also workers? Not all landlords are living entirely off property income by any means.

Soontobe60 · 29/07/2026 14:05

CurdinHenry · 29/07/2026 13:37

To be clear I'm not saying instead of workers I'm saying the tax should not only be on workers

I’m a pensioner and still pay tax on my occupation pension. Someone on UC pays no tax and could be receiving much more in benefits than I get in pension

Soontobe60 · 29/07/2026 14:02

CurdinHenry · 29/07/2026 13:30

Why is it always workers who pay

Surely anyone who has an occupational pension is a worker!

WhatAMarvelousTune · 29/07/2026 14:01

magnomam · 29/07/2026 13:55

What counts as a big occupational pension

One with a big fat employer contribution

I’m not clear what’s being suggested. Tax pensions when received if you look back and see that there was a big employer contribution? Tax employer pension contributions when made? Seems like a slight own goal when the gov really needs people to have private pensions because the state pension is unaffordable.
Or just get rid of the big NHS employer contributions that a PP mentioned?

hairbearbunches · 29/07/2026 14:00

magnomam · 29/07/2026 13:55

What counts as a big occupational pension

One with a big fat employer contribution

The NHS would be in the firing line then. Private sector workers would give their right arm I'm sure to have a 23.4% employer contribution to their pensions. This has long been unsustainable and is completely unfair. It's unfunded, it's a massive liability, and every single government just studiously ignores it because the debt burden is now so big it risks knocking over the entire economy. As of March 2025, the liability was £457.2 billion.