To feel mean thinking it's reasonable for the pension triple lock to be broken?

[BendyTrendy]

Tricky one because our state pensions are lower than the rest of the EU, but also the largest area of welfare spending (at about 42% of the welfare budget).

Still, on balance, I think it's reasonable to break the triple lock under the circumstances of both Brexit and Covid recovery.

Can the country justify an 8% rise to the state pension under the circumstances? Is the triple lock on pensions sustainable? I feel mean even asking the questions, but tough choices must be made.

Boris Johnson signals 'triple lock' on pensions could be broken amid estimates of 8% rise

State pension predicted to rise by 8%

Rishi Sunak hints at suspension to pension triple lock

Tough one.

I think pension credit for poorer pensioners should be higher generally, but the pension this year should just go up at an average rate of inflation, as a PP suggested, rather than this years's anomaly.

We will all be pensioners one day (hopefully), so it's a bit made to fight for it to be lowered. However, currently there are many, many very wealthy pensioners who don't rely on the state pension.

Also the pp saying rich pensioners pay tax - only on their income (not their assets). Also everyone pays tax - doesn’t mean they should receive state benefits as well or an 8% increase in them!

We should not be borrowing to give an 8% increase to a payment made to some of the richest in society. It is grossly unfair for the younger generation who will need to pay it back.

@didireallysaythat

fullfact.org/europe/pensioners-eu-uk/

we are not the worse when you take into account private pensions & subsidies.

@Starfleck

Do you really think that people suddenly turn to the DM when we reach the age of 60?
That's the same thinking that allows cuts to be pushed through without thought.
Because.........pensioners don't need the money, they all have multiple properties, they have private pensions, they're all old anyway why do they need a life etc etc

In your own words, life is not fair, being at home or working part time to spend more time with your children is a privilege.

I'm not sure why you're fixated on those working p/t or staying at home. Do you think those that do all receive benefits?

@Charley50 - I will be a pensioner one day indeed (not that long off in fact). But it’s not all about self interest to me. I have daughters too and don’t think it’s fair for one group to disproportionately benefit because they are more likely to vote Tory.

@Starfleck

Sure, DM comments can also be bots.

There are loads of platforms that they could have their voices heard. Comments sections in their most read papers seems the obvious platform. Writing to MPs. Starting petitions. There’s loads of ways.

Anyway, my point is that we can’t on one hand take £20 a week from those who need it on UC and the with the other hand give 8% rise in pensions. Both have needs. Why should the youth be required to be the only one to sacrifice here?

[quote talkingdeadscot]@Starfleck

Do you really think that people suddenly turn to the DM when we reach the age of 60?
That's the same thinking that allows cuts to be pushed through without thought.
Because.........pensioners don't need the money, they all have multiple properties, they have private pensions, they're all old anyway why do they need a life etc etc[/quote]
Did you mean to @ me? Because what you've posted doesn't seem to relate to anything I've posted, in fact the opposite

@talkingdeadscot - very many pensioners don’t need the money. It’s not means tested

I think an 8% rise is ridiculous. Never as a working person would I expect an 8% pay rise. In fact working in the public sector I have a pay freeze this year. Young people have been screwed over in favour of older people enough without having to cough up for a huge rise in pensions too.

@didireallysaythat commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn00290/

You can't expect to reward those who invest in their present and punish those who invest in their future, otherwise, you get everyone only caring about their present and so woking the fewest possible hours whilst claiming as much benefits as possible which clearly doesn't benefit the future of the country.

Right yes everyone will choose not to work & get benefits 🤦🏻‍♀️

Slightly off-topic, but global corporations really need to pay more tax. They don't have any duty of care, either to their own employees, or to the citizens of the countries they operate in. It's so wrong that they make so much profit while their employees need tax credits to top up their shit wages.

Plus, will Tory really get in again when we all know how corrupt they are? Yes probably as Labour are so useless at the moment.

Wow. So because pensioners may have struggled to pay a mortgage for 25 years they are now not allowed to benefit from that.
My husband is a pensioner I am not, if you break down his payment based on a 35 hour week he gets £4.80 an hour.
What you all need to remember is that when things like austerity measures and tax increases previously happened people who are pensioners now were the ones paying out then.
Pensions are not a benefit they have been worked for.

Slightly off-topic, but global corporations really need to pay more tax.

They do but unfortunately this requires global joined up policy which is difficult.

Young people have been screwed over in favour of older people enough without having to cough up for a huge rise in pensions too

How exactly?

[quote BendyTrendy]@Starfleck

Sure, DM comments can also be bots.

There are loads of platforms that they could have their voices heard. Comments sections in their most read papers seems the obvious platform. Writing to MPs. Starting petitions. There’s loads of ways.

Anyway, my point is that we can’t on one hand take £20 a week from those who need it on UC and the with the other hand give 8% rise in pensions. Both have needs. Why should the youth be required to be the only one to sacrifice here?[/quote]
It's almost as if you're against cuts to pensions you automatically feel its okay for those on UC, it doesn't have to be one or the other. And why does the burden of objecting to cuts fall to pensioners? I could see why you'd be annoyed if they were mobilising to actively push for things to be cut, but that's not the case is it. Glad to hear you have obviously been campaigning for years obviously to increase benefits.

This is an unpopular view, but it is factual that the elderly are also in the group most likely to die. They’ve had their time. Covid just speeded up the inevitable process. Maybe nature had a way of telling us that we can’t continue living unnaturally long lives anymore. It’s unsustainable for the planet, it’s resources and the welfare budget

Not an unpopular view, a vile one actually.

I'm a 'pensioner', do I need killing off because 'I've had my time'? Only just had my first old age pension payment but I better hurry along and die hadn't I?

You are talking like old people are disposable. Horrible.

@vivainsomnia

I appreciate it must feel unfair if pensions becomes means tested, but life is not fair. A lot of people are poor out of circumstances, not choice. Check your privileges. Indeed!

It’s insulting to think a partner working PT is just for choice. If they have children it is reasonable that those children get quality time with their parents
In your own words, life is not fair, being at home or working part time to spend more time with your children is a privilege.

You can't have your cake and eat it. You either invest in your present or invest in your future. You can't expect to reward those who invest in their present and punish those who invest in their future, otherwise, you get everyone only caring about their present and so woking the fewest possible hours whilst claiming as much benefits as possible which clearly doesn't benefit the future of the country.

But parents spending time with their children are working. They’re just not getting paid for it. Being a parent is still a form of work to benefit society. Raiding well-adjusted children to enter the workforce is important work.

For some families, it’s more expensive to have a childminder and work, than for one parent to be there for the children themselves.

Neglecting the youth will bite society in the bum. That’s inevitable.

Life is not fair, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try to make fairness happen. It’s just that we have to manage our expectations of fairness.

@CayrolBaaaskin exactly, I have dc and worry for them. Also why despite being a homeowner I realise ever increasing prices are not a good thing.

It's impossible to have a sensible debate though as a lot of older people (sorry to generalise) have blinkers on or just want to blame others. They've earned it, worked harder, etc.

*Raising not raiding

@Oldsu - I think pensioners should be subject to the same means testing as everyone else for prescriptions, etc

I don't agree. Pensioners have earnt their pensions and many would struggle to supplement their income now. It's true we can't afford the pensions but we have just thrown away BILLIONS on Brexit in order to be poorer and the government doesn't seem particularly worried about that.

We will all be pensioners one day (hopefully), so it's a bit made to fight for it to be lowered. However, currently there are many, many very wealthy pensioners who don't rely on the state pension.
There are also thousands of pensioners choosing between food and heating. It's not a race to the bottom.

This is an unpopular view, but it is factual that the elderly are also in the group most likely to die. They’ve had their time.

I missed that post & certainly don't think like that.