To think that if you will not even look look at this pie chart regarding the welfare spend from last year you have no right to comment?

[MadameDefarge]

THE FACTS

I will now try and find a breakdown of figures of those on long term benefit JSA/IB etc.

Then perhaps we could all have a reasonable discussion.

2010 figures

Yes most of the welfare budget goes on OAPs. Most of the healthcare budget also goes on OAPs.

However, OAPs and those coming to OAP age soon (baby boomers) form the largest voting blocks, so we cannot possibly cut any of their perks, much better to target the young and the vulnerable of working age.

Thanks for the very useful and interesting link.

I think you might be expecting too much to have a reasonable discussion :)

Not sure what your point is? We all know the majority of benefit goes to pensioners.

Why isn't Child Benefit there? Genuine question.

So where is Child Benefit or is that not classed as 'Welfare'?
Just looked it up - it totals £12 billion pa.

But we also have to consider that a lot of our OAPs now were promised a welfare system which would support them in their old age, and they therefore made no other provision.

Damn right. When people talk about cutting the welfare budget it's very suspicious that they're only talking about the left hand side of the pie chart I think.

There are pensioners in desperate need of welfare of course. But there are many who are most certainly not. My in laws for instance. Lovely people, pillars of the local golf club, to fully paid off properties. go on holiday 3 or 4 times a year, enjoying life to the full, and good for them. Why do they need winter fuel payments, free bus passes or state pensions though? If other previously universal benefits (such as child benefit) are now means tested, why not those?

I not know what your point is either

What is Attendance Allowance?

But we also have to consider that a lot of our OAPs now were promised a welfare system which would support them in their old age, and they therefore made no other provision.

They are being more than just 'supported' though aren't they? Why exactly should a generation be able to promise itself unaffordable retirement benefits and those who were children or unborn at the time be expected to pay for it?

YABU - I have the right to free speech, to comment as I choose to regardless of any diagrams I may or may not want to look at. I have the right to an opinion whether it agrees with anyone else's or not, whether it's based on fact or not or whether it's just made up because I have crashing pmt today. HAND, HTH :-)

And then they refuse to enter discussion about it. Like my dad. He just shuts over everyone else's opinion and says "I worked for this".

Attendance allowance is a benefit for those over 65 who need lots of care, eg in a nursing home. It's basically Disability Living Allowance for over 65s.

When I get old and infirm, I do NOT want to be a lingerer.

My Auntie said she wants to be euthanased when she can no longer wipe her own bum or feed herself.
I agree with that definition.

Medical science works wonders keeping us all alive longer, but what is the point of just lying in bed without any faculties.

Where's tax credits on that?

Tax credits ???

Thanks for this, Madame - I had no idea, and I really should have.

oopps x-post :)

one for the year before inc CB and CTC

1% of carers allowance, why doesn't that suprise me its a shame because helping carers more would take a lot of the strain of other services but they will contiune to be expected to do it for a pittance.