Thread 1 Burnham: Esperanza en cada Corazón

[DuncinToffee]

New PM, new thread

Welcome to our long running thread for political discussion, general chit chat, a friendly hug and taxes in kind

🍦 for anyone who needs them

Previous thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5552800-thread-54-starmer-grev-soppelbottefjes-sommergalskap?page=38&reply=153652516

That’s exactly why pensions shouldn’t be called benefits. It’s not an accurate description.

Sorry but you were horribly ageist and I’m really shocked.

I'm 65 years old. If that horribly shocks you then so be it.

But it is. It’s a payment from the state, to people. It’s a state benefit.

As per the ONS, 22% of pensioners live in millionaire households - aka, they’re millionaires.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/pensionerhouseholdswithassetsoveramillion

Nandy to remain as Culture secretary

Being 65 doesn’t preclude you from being ageist.

Late to the thread, what’s going on with Streeting? And Defence?

It’s only been categorised as a benefit for the last ten or so years. It’s the only state payment based on decades of contributions and most people will have exceeded the minimum number of years by around ten years. My contributions, for example, were made over a period of 47 years.

Yes state pension is a benefit. It makes up for most of the DWP - Department of Work and Pensions- budget. 55% or £146 billion annually. It's triple locked as well.

How am I ageist. Please explain.

Okay?

No matter what you have paid in, millionaires receiving state benefits is unconscionable. I’m sure that any other group receiving benefits would be vilified if it was revealed they were doing so as millionaires.

Now imagine reducing that by even 22%. How much money would be freed up for other departments

You do realise that the main component of those people’s assets is their house? And it’s very common in old age to be asset rich and cash poor?

Thank you. That figure is based on data collected by the Wealth and Assets Survey (WAS).

The WAS provides a unique, single source of detailed information on household and individual wealth and assets in Great Britain, covering property, financial, physical and private pension wealth.

So the notion that 22% of pensioners are sitting on a million plus of liquid assets is for the birds.

What does that do to affect his potential ability as Chancellor? Do you also think that he shouldn't even be an MP because he might be claiming state pension as well as the salary and any other income he might have?

You do realise that a popular policy within local councillor Labour politicians is to turf older people out of their council house and into a flat so that younger people with families can use it?

And yes, I was horrified to hear that.

What’s that got to do with denying paper millionaires their state pension?

You do realise that if they were any other age group they’d be told to sell up and liquidate assets?

Would they? So nobody who owns a house can claim benefits?

Bloody hell, I'm going to need to scrabble together some more tax.

They can always downside. My cousin is doing this to future proof her pension.

Pensioners with a few bob getting the SRP they're entitled to, and parents on decent money getting DLA to help pay for the extra costs of their child's disability shouldn't really be on our radar while we have billionaires hoovering up wealth. Relatively ordinary working people shouldn't be trying to fight over crumbs while 0.07% of the population enjoy a feast.
I'm hoping Burnham goes for the wealth tax before cutting any form of welfare.

Spot on.

No. A person's home is not included in means testing for any state benefits.