To think well done on Tue government for looking after OAPs

[Marue]

Fair play to the Tories they are looking after pensioners. There is lots of Tory bashing on here but the people that have worked hard their whole lives for the benefit of the country are rightly being looked after. They have kept to their word and I'm pleased to live in a country that looks after the elderly and makes sure they dont have to freeze or starve themselves.

Just felt like we needed a positive thread after that other one :)

Of course state pensions are a benefit. Your stamp is paid if you claim child benefit, esa, IS or JSA.

mollie123 £12k a year after tax is a decent amount of money for one person to live on.

My mum gets £13k after tax (state pension and dads small company pension)
She doesn't pay rent or mortgage, so only has her food and utilities.
She went on holiday 4 times last year :)
Good on her.
But it rankles with me that she gets benefits she does not need.
My pils are well off. Been mortgage free since the mid 90s. Just bought 2 new cars, cash. why are they getting winter fuel payments!?
It's madness!

andnow then mine wont be a benefit as I will have paid in for 51 years OUT OF MY OWN WAGES as I have never received a benefit where my NICs got paid for me and never will

I totally disagree with people aged 60 getting free prescriptions, I have had a medical exemption certificate since 2003 as I have an underactive thyroid, the certificate covered all prescriptions not just my Thyroxin, however if I had other medication not on the same prescription as my Thyroxin I always paid, I work I can afford it - until this year.

This year I am 60, my age and DOB is printed on my prescription I had a chest infection and was given 4 items on a prescription, but instead of paying (as I would have done before) I was automatically given them for free, I offered to pay - as I said I can afford it but was told my age entitled me so no I couldn't pay.

There is already a means tested scheme for free prescriptions, and you can get a prescription pre payment to help with costs if anybody over 60 really cannot afford the costs BUT if the NHS goes down that route then the same criteria will have applied to Children under 16 (or 18 if in education) why should rich parents get their Children's prescriptions for nothing

Oldau they are still a benefit because it is irrelevant whether you paid your stamp or the government did.
You don't " pay in" for your pension, you pay for the next generation.

old

Surely the children are getting their perscriptions for nothing

AndNowItsSeven well everyone knows that of course but the state pension without means tested top ups is not a benefit, the DWP might lump contribution based SP with benefits (for reasons of their own ) but the tax office doesn't its shown as State pension/pension benefits on my Husbands tax coding letter so two separate things (not that's he actually gets any pension benefits)

Rufus my point I that if rich people over 60 should pay for their prescriptions (which I agree with) then rich parents should pay for their children's medicines as well

andnow - have you ever factored in what a single person has to pay (if you have seven in your family the cost is not 7 times as much )
TV licence
House insurances
Running a car/paying for public transport/taxis
Food - marginally cheaper
Council tax - 25% cheaper but still a lot of money
Water - the same as a family of 10 unless on a water meter
Electricity and Gas - heating and lighting a house costs almost as much for a single person as a family
If anything breaks down - fridge, washing machine - still paid for out of one income
If anything needs doing to the house - plumber, electrician - again out of one income

This is all out of ONE income with ONE tax allowance and no add-ons like child benefits. tax credits and the rest

Just to add it is the equivalent of working 35 hours at minimum wage - would you say that is a good income and able to live well ?

I contributed for nearly 40 years for my state pension (working full time)
I paid into my private pension out of my income which gives me the small annuity.
had I been feckless and done nothing but sat on my sofa or been kept by a partner I would be on pension credit and get lots of 'benefits'

sorry that was long but I get so incensed at those who think a single life is a 'cheap to live' life - it is not regardless of age.

The state pension is not a benefit! Its for people that have paid in and have full credits.

Its almost an insulting amount to live of a week anyway. In Germany its twice as much and in Sweden its three times as much!

and in Sweden its three times as much!

Income tax in Sweden is absolutely crippling, the cost of living is ridiculous, the government has full control over sales of alcohol and gambling and its actually illegal to home educate your own child- its a socialist hell hole.

I don't care about gambling or drink.

I don't think the cost of living is that high. Its far cheaper than London from people I know that have moved out there and get a much nicer flat with much better amenities (all bills included and an amazing laundry room, underground storage) for less money in equivalent area in London. Food is 20-30% more, but food is still cheap compared with incomes IMO.

I don't care about gambling or drink

Good for you then

Mollie123 I have nine people in my family, and yes I understand economies of scale. I think 12k a year is a good income if you have no rent or mortgage.
It's more than minimum wage as that would be gross.
If you hadn't worked you would not receive the equiviliant of 12k on a state pension and pension credits.
Marue like I said earlier credits or stamp is paid on your behalf if you claim JSA IS ESA or CB. There are many pensioners who receive full state pension and have not paid in all their working lives.

I thought the bus pass was to get traffic off the road and to encourage travel at non peak times.

I thought free prescriptions was because it was the same cost as fiddling around with paying for some, paid by some, changing entitlements etc.

Free tv licence was silly - no idea what that was about. I spose lots of people would claim they couldn't afford it. So easier to give it free.

Winter fuel, well it means the gov looks generous and kindly whilst cutting home care, meals on wheels, etc etc

And pension income will half when one spouse dies. So some who seem well off won't always be.