To think all the targeted pensioner benefits ie bus pass, TV and winter fuel should be abolished...

[Figmentofmyimagination]

.... And the equivalent amount added to the pension credit of low income pensioners. That would overcome the logistical/cost based arguments against means testing these benefits.

I 100% agree to means testing. 3 nanas / Nan's in law-

1 is 89, born 1921 so was18 in war and in WRNs. Very wealthy. Pensions worth around £3000pcm, £350k house mortgage free, savings around £100k. Says ridiculous she gets tv license etc

Next is 86, again wealthy, pensions of around £2500pcm. Was in war

Next is 81, pensions worth £30k pa (after tax ie so £2200 PCM). Mortgage free house worth £400k.

All 3 nanas always worked and inherited husbands pensions hence the accumulated wealth.

It is crazy they get this but I lost child benefit.

Ridiculous cowardice from conservatives.

I wouldn't believe a word that comes out of that mans mouth. I do believe scotland is still waiting for these promised devolved powers. I know for a fact that my grandparents and friends grandparents etc voted against independence and are now regretting it.

Sorry no opinion on the means testing pensions etc but I doubt it will be as good as it is now when we retire I just hope they don't even think about touching my nhs one!

Lots of pensioners haven't fought in the war due to age. Many haven worked all their lives especially women who were sahm's. Giving benefits to the elderly wealthy makes me really angry when there are younger people who have to choose between food and heat.

There are many pensioners who own their own home have some savings but only get a state pension. They aren't wealthy but have been prudent. The free bus pass gives them a good deal of freedom, not everyone lives in a city or large town where shops and banks are on the door step.

They wont be stopped or reduced because over 60s are the largest group of voters so the gov need to keep them happy. most except the very old ones will have never fought in wars and they would of had the added bonus of being able to buy homes for ridiculous money eg £10k

Will these benefits still be around when we're 70+??

I don't know what way around it there is though, you will always get some that save and some that don't. Myself, I would never pay into a pension, I would remove the one the government now try and enforce on you too. If im barely scraping by now, why on earth would I be worried about saving now for 50 years time!? madness!

All this war shit. It ended nearly 70 years ago. How many are even still alive who fought in wars? Not many.

YANBU

YANBU. This is just more bullshit from Cameron, another way to secure votes from the elderly and demonise the young.

YABU

There are quite a few pensioners that aren't entitled to any sort of additional benefit as they are "earning" just over the allowance. In my Mum's case its something like £1.50 too much as she gets a very small private widows' pension courtesy of my late DSF.

Also don't forget that those in receipt of healthy private pensions or hefty savings accounts are taxed on those - it doesn't stop when you hit 67.

I'd surmise that the reason you don't see OAPs at the foodbank is because they aren't being noticed by those that can issue the vouchers for a whole 3 days worth of food. Unless you have come to the attention of SS, GP, CAB or HV you are stuffed. We already know that a lot of proverty line pensioners will make the choice between heating and food in the winter months.

I was wandering around a beautiful little village close to where I live recently whilst waiting for a DC to finish an activity, it was Sunday afternoon and not as cold as it had been. I noticed something that I'd never thought about before....nearly every house had a couple of fancy cars and a caravan on the drive and everyone pottering around the houses were 60 plus, I just thought, these are the people who have all the wealth in this country, our kids don't stand a chance, this generation had everything, free uni, cheap houses, holidays, new cars, plentiful employment........man how times have changed, someone needs to call it out. Our young people need a leg up, I'm not sure how we will do it but the balance needs redressing pretty soon.

I just thought, these are the people who have all the wealth in this country, our kids don't stand a chance, this generation had everything, free uni, cheap houses, holidays, new cars, plentiful employment

What a remarkably stupid thing to say. The wealth is owned, as it always was, by the aristocracy and the establishment. 10% of households own 44% of the wealth. Pensioners daring to own caravans are not among them.

All this war shit. It ended nearly 70 years ago. How many are even still alive who fought in wars? Not many.

That is a very disrespectful comment.

My mother (age 91) gave up any hope of a career to join the Land Army and when she was unable to continue doing that she worked in a munitions factory. I don't begrudge her a single penny of her WFA/TV licence etc.

Stupid I may be but I worry for my children, let's not deny the easy ride that a lot of the older generation had in terms of housing, education and jobs.

They had a tory minister on Radio 4 this morning, talking about how expensive it is to means test universal benefits. Well, they managed it with child benefit. Families have lost out big time under this government, but as usual, rich pensioners are sacrosanct. If one group can be means tested, so can another. It's double standards. Anyway, Cameron's a wanker and I don't believe a word he says.

Actually, my two offspring (in their early 30s) own houses, have paid off their student loans and have more holidays/ luxury things (cleaners/better cars etc) that I do.

I know it is easy to generalise, but I am not sure where all this "young people are having an all round dreadful time" comes from. Some do, some don't...

Bit like people over retirement age, really.

Lucille you just described where I live.
My road is all 4/5 bed houses, we are the only non-pensioner household.

In terms of political propaganda (and not at the level of individuals) the war shit is tired old nationalistic bollocks. As someone else has said - what about the ex-service people who fought in more recent wars?

They had a tory minister on Radio 4 this morning, talking about how expensive it is to means test universal benefits. Well, they managed it with child benefit. Families have lost out big time under this government, but as usual, rich pensioners are sacrosanct. If one group can be means tested, so can another

Child benefit is a minimum of £20 a week while wfa works out at £4 a week for a household under 80 and £6 a week for a household over 80 which is why child benefit is cost effective to means test and wfa isn't.

All this war shit. It ended nearly 70 years ago. How many are even still alive who fought in wars? Not many.

That is a very disrespectful comment.

My mother (age 91) gave up any hope of a career to join the Land Army and when she was unable to continue doing that she worked in a munitions factory. I don't begrudge her a single penny of her WFA/TV licence etc.

The average life expectancy in the UK is 81 (I just googled it). The reality of the situation that there aren't many people around anymore who fought it the war, so we may as well drop it.

when I was in my 20`s yes, you could buy a house for 10,00 pounds, or even less. But I was earning 15 a week in a full time profesional job! And no one would give me a mortgage anyway, because I was a single woman. When I eventually managed to buy a house in my late thirties, the interest rate was over 15%. Some of you need to get your jealous heads out of your arses.

I'm not jealous in the least.

many pensioners - like my mum and dad did not have the benefits that people get nowadays though -

NHS - pah - my dad's dad had "national insurance healthcare" - but the wife and kids did not get it till the mid to late 40s.

Child benefit - then family allowance was not paid for the first child at all.

Housing benefit, 15 hours free childcare, childcare vouchers from employers before tax etc, etc, etc

So THEY would say why not us - we haven't had back what YOU have had back...

there where 1.25 Million people in England and Wales alone aged 85+ in 2013 - I bet that's gone up since

google it!

so I'd say that equates to many

You had to be born in 1919 to be 18 in 1939 and serve throughout the whole war - that would make you 96 now. So basically anyone aged 96 (or over) to what, 89/90, is old enough to have taken part in the war effort. Pensioner benefits start at what, 65?

There is a 'fairness' aspect here though CantBe. The very fact that they can remove child benefit, means they can do the same for pensioner perks, once you factor in TV licence and WFA and bus passes, it is a bigger sum of money. Also families with children have mortgages, rent to pay and obviously children to bring up, hence the term child benefit. Rich pensioners on the other hand, have none of these costs, mortgages paid, cheap houses to start with, final salary pensions. These are all things we will never have. Cameron knows he's shafted families with children and he's putting everything he's got into getting the pensioners to vote for him.

Those who fought in the war (or fought at home) were rewarded for it after the war. The unprecedented economic boom, more and better housing and the welfare state, for example.

In my experience, (and only going by the ones I know, rather than as a sweeping generalisation,) old people tend to vote Conservative, because they have worked all their lives and when they get old, they want their free stuff and to keep what they've earned and that's what they get from a Tory government. They don't care about younger people or disabled people or those who might need benefits to keep their heads above water because they are doing just fine themselves. But to be fair, I do know some very selfish old people. There could well be loads of them who are concerned about social justice.