to think the poorest pensioners in the UK aren't actually that poor

[twistedsista]

The minimum amount a pensioner will get at the moment if they have made no provisions is 7714.2 pa tax free + free bus / train (depending on areas) + winter fuel allowances + warm home discount + free perscriptins + consesionry prices for many things etc and most bought homes when they were reasonable so they have minimal housing costs.

Compare this to a single person on nmw who could be paying 25 a week on bus travel, 130 a week on rent with no hope of buying. they have to pay tax and if they are under 45 they will never get the benefits that they are paying for pensionrs to have at the moment.

I'm not being ageist, just looking at the sums

I think the govt have done a very good job in creating a them and us situation....
Instead of blaming global economic policy, greedy bankers and hedge fund mangers, and huge corporations and individuals who pay little or no tax (legally) they have us at each other's throats.
It's the pensioners/single mothers/people claiming DLA/lazy youth/immigrants*

• delete as appropriate.

Bubbles, I am under 55 so not actually a babyboomer. I know that childcare is still difficult for working families but it is much, much easier to return to work after having children than it was 30 years ago.

Thanks for that unreal explains a lot.

If bubbles has really gone I'm glad. I am a baby boomer who does agree that the younger generation are having a harder time than we did on the whole (although there will always be individual exceptions). Bubbles tendency to lump all over 60s together and assume we all agree with each other is majorly pissing me off.
Does everyone between 30 and 45 hold the same view on everything.
Her attitude was ageist and offensive and I'm glad she's gone

Think it just depends. My GM has me and dm helping her, she claims everything she is entitled to as I done the claim. My DM is a home help and was convinced she shouldn't be getting housing and council tax benefits after speaking to other pensioners. I have checked it numerous times and she is. She gets much more than I used to get with 3 kids when I was claiming. I think many pensioners don't claim various benefits they would be entitled to. It also depends if they are paying for carers etc.

My GM gets her state and private pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, full housig and council tax benefits. Winter fuel for gas which covers more than her years gas and her electric payment which covers all her electric for a year so she is very comfortable. I guess some others are not for whatever reason.

My GM gets her state and private pension, pension credit, attendance allowance, full housig and council tax benefits. Winter fuel for gas which covers more than her years gas and her electric payment which covers all her electric for a year so she is very comfortable. I guess some others are not for whatever reason.

I am younger and think this must be the best time to bring up children nowadays we have long maternity leaves, can soon even share maternity leave, very decent benefits system, tax credits, heavily subsidised childcare, loans if we want to study. It wasnt like this in the 60s/70s and definitrly not prior during the war. I feelvery lucky ti live now

Govt has double standards. No point means testing wealthy pensioners but higher earners with young children are fair game.
I am sure most pensioners who rent are in social housing. I know one couple who owned their home but still qualified for social housing due to their age.

Some things have improved-some haven't.
I do think if pensioners are claiming what they are entitled to they are generally better off than young families on lower wages.

When I went to university I had a full grant that I could live on and you could work or claim unemployment benefit over the summer.
In the early 70s it was very easy to find a job, youth and graduate unemployment is terrible now and a waste of talent.
However until 1979 you could be sacked for being pregnant and when as a young woman with a full time professional job I tried to enquire about a mortgage I was told to come back with DH or DF and my earnings were unlikely to be taken into consideration.
Police called domestic violence "a domestic" and wouldn't come out.
Swings and roundabouts.

I think young families have never had it so good and I say that as a young family. My family along with most families I know have been able to have numerous children in our 20s ans you get more money everytime you have one. The government support you whether you work or not with significant cash payments. Young families live a much better lifestyle than any generation before us imo.

Boomer1, that's OK there seems to be an epidemic at the moment

I cant understand all this divide and conquer either.

But I guess the fact that 13 mil are now going to foodbanks is a figure of my imagination.

Melissa read your post again. If you really believe that we have come as far as we think we have then the fact that you believe "cash is thrown at young families" then surely its proof that this is just another way of keeping women in their place. Making sure that they have kids and spend more time in the home.

Society still has no idea how to deal with or treat women like me.....women that decided not to have children.

Definitely not dark eyes. Ive had about 50k given to me on childcare alone in last 6 years. It means I have been able to pass my degree, do a masters, work from the bottom to management and get a profession.

In the 70s zero hours contracts and workfare didn't exist. Now they do and are a major cause of people having to go to foodbanks.

It seems now that the idea of actually being paid for your work seems to be an alien concept.

To be fair low earning familys are also looked after.

You are screwed if you don't have kids and on a low wage, its like your not deemed important enough in society. I speak as someone with kids, my friend had to try and live on JSA and it wasn't possible. If she had of had kids she would of got enough money and all the extras like a free boiler. She needed a winter fuel allowance but it was wasted on the vast majority of boomers who don't need it, but are happy to take them.

We take ours and we give it to Shelter, a lot of boomers do that,twisted

Problem is even if its given to chairity so much is taken up by admin. Would rather it was doubled remove the warm home discount and given to everyone that needs it, regardless of age. But its a popular vote wining policy so its left untouched and the vilification of JSA people continues as they are paid apitance.

Alot of boomers I know joke about it being the deposit on a cruise or beer money, so sad.

I think it was given in lieu of a cost of living pension increase, twisted. Why do you hate older people so much? Do you have a problem with your parents? Your dislike is out of all rational proportion.

Twistedsista your problem is that wages are too low and the cost of living is too high for single working people. The government tell you that wages can't go higher but that's because their allegiance is with big business who do very well out of low wages. I think a hike in the minimum wage will mean fewer jobs to go round but better working conditions. Employers will be more choosy and will probably employ people who are going to stay for longer.

Your friend needs to look at her costs, there are tax credits available.

I agree that JSA is a pittance for singles but that's because it is designed as a temporary stop between jobs. Your friend is lucky because as a single person she can move to find work.

Moving costs money.