To worry that the conservatives are going to target pensioners next

[Sjdorset]

Have anyone else noticed the anti pensioner stuff out this week? Firstly about getting rid of the essential tripple lock (2.5% so not a huge increase) and the talk that pensioners are supposedly getting more than working age people (why shouldn't they after all they have worked their entire life and don't have options available to increase their earnings).

I'm worried they maybe next on the target list, quite frankly I think this is a worrying trend building up.

www.express.co.uk/finance/retirement/445956/Fears-for-pensions-as-government-s-crucial-triple-lock-guarantee-faces-axe

Actually lots of pensioners do still make weekly trips to the bank and pay bills with cheque or cash. I know plenty of those in the 80+ demographic who run their finances this way and use envelopes to budget, heck I use hars instead of envelopes! If you want policy to be effective it needs to be delivered in a way that will be easier for the user to benefit. Otherwise it's just a waste of money.

Also I would question the assumption that all pensioners are on a monthly payment plan. You might find some are not, or bills are due at different times so a monthly payment might not be ideal.

Pensioners get massive exemptions from costs that others pay.
What are they then?
We pay income tax (but we don't pay National Insurance)
We get Winter Fuel allowance but that isn't an exemption.
Free prescriptions from 60, which means a lot of people who get free prescriptions are in full time work.
Bus passes- I have got one, but rarely use it because I live in an area with infrequent public transport.
Television licence but you have to be above a certain age for that and I haven't received it yet.
What else do we get?

I know plenty of those in the 80+ demographic who run their finances this way

80+ represent about 15% of pensioners, at most.

And it's not as though people aged 70 will, when they turn 80, suddenly switch to their parents' payment methods. The number of people that keep cash in envelopes is shrinking every year. This was all thrashed out when pensions were switched to being paid into bank accounts some years ago.

If you want policy to be effective it needs to be delivered in a way that will be easier for the user to benefit.

Indeed. Which is not the case for the way it's currently delivered.

Also I would question the assumption that all pensioners are on a monthly payment plan.

If they aren't, they should be.

There are about 1.5 million people in the UK who are 80+. Not sure about percentages but that is a significant number of people.

What is interesting is that they talk about over 60s. I think 60 year olds should still be working and not claiming a pension. I'm shocked there hasn't been more of an incentive to keep people working for longer. Here in the US your social security increases a lot so people put off retiring until they are late 60s or 70. It's quite a smart policy move IMO.

What else do we get?

you want more? you've got a good list already. one more example is pensioners on HB are exempt from the bedroom tax.

but your list is already rather extensive.

I see absolutely no reason why pensioners should be exempt from the cuts other sectors face. I'm lucky in that I'm on a reasonable income, but I still feel the loss of child benefit, and I see many who are struggling. Two children in full-time childcare in London is a substantial chunk of our post-tax income. Against this I see lots of my parents' generation on their final salary pension schemes, with substantially more disposable income than me, mortgage-free properties worth much more than I can ever afford (yes, that's the over heated London property market), multiple glamorous holidays, many of them with second homes in the country, and their free bus passes and their winter fuel allowance etc. I even know many pensioners who are still working full-time but using the free travel! Obviously many (many) pensioners are not wealthy, but that's why if we have to be in an age of austerity (which is a different argument) all state benefits should be means-tested.

I think 60 year olds should still be working and not claiming a pension

The state pension isn't payable until 67 for people who are currently 50.

There is a group of pensioners that are absolutely shafted and that is those who care for their adult disabled children. They have had to give up their careers, their health has been affected, they have not been able to build up a private pension, they have to rely on the state pension and then despite often caring more than 50 hours a week they lose the pittance which is Carers Allowance because they receive the paltry state oension.
Some perks!!!!9

I think 60 year olds should still be working and not claiming a pension

are there enough jobs to go round?

I think 60 year olds should still be working and not claiming a pension

They already do!

I didn't get my pension until I was 64. Still working part time, still paying tax.

are there enough jobs to go round?

the number of jobs is not finite. earning 60 year olds create demand.

I didn't mean finite. I meant not a fixed number.

Well the tories have attacked the disabled with great glee, now having a go at the working poor - I guess the old folk are next on the hit list. Utter bastards. I hope every single tit who voted for them hangs their heads in shame. Even Thatcher drew the line somewhere. This current lot seem to have no decency whatsoever

^^ THIS!!!!!