Means testing State Pension

[CuriousMariette]

Do you think the time has come for this to be introduced? I don’t think the current system is sustainable as many people are living too long. I know it’s not fair and would be political suicide but Pensioner’s didn’t even suffer a 80% furlough during lockdowns. I say this from a place of having “paid in” as people say for 30 years plus already and would likely not receive a State Pension in this scenario.

@SquidMonkey

Oof unconscious bias right there *@FruitMelange*. I’m a woman. And I work this hard to provide for my children, one of whom needs additional support because he has ASD.

Sorry @Fr0thandBubble I didn't see you'd already responded to that post just dripping with misogyny. It's pathetic isn't it, how so many people still assume that only a man can earn a good salary. 🙄😆

Yes it’s depressing!

They've paid their share.

The point is it doesn't matter if there isn't any money

@monfuseds

It’s not logical, people can’t sell their home while they’re still living it.

of course. they would put a charge on it reclaimed after death.

And of course it wouldn't be popular but there is a huge social care crisis so again where do people think the money is going to come from?

Given the reception it was given in 2017 I can’t see it happening any time soon. It certainly won’t happen under a Tory government.

And of course it wouldn't be popular but there is a huge social care crisis so again where do people think the money is going to come from

The social care levy; that's what it's for.

There are finite resources. We can't have everything.

So why not let people smoke without massive crusade against it. Plus, legalise (and tax) all drugs. It's not as if living a long life is prized. Why not give people the option to exercise their personal responsibility and freedom and individual risk assessments (as they've been told to do for Covid) - to choose whichever source of pleasure or comfort they prefer during their (shorter) life?

The social care levy; that's what it's for.

You think that will touch the sides? 😆

Given the reception it was given in 2017 I can’t see it happening any time soon. It certainly won’t happen under a Tory government.

It will happen at some point, it's inevitable

@monfuseds

The social care levy; that's what it's for.

You think that will touch the sides? 😆

It's delusional isn't it? That people think this will make any difference. Has everybody already forgotten about the 1% NI increase "to fix the NHS once and for all"? 🤣🤣🤣

@Tealightsandd

There are finite resources. We can't have everything.

So why not let people smoke without massive crusade against it. Plus, legalise (and tax) all drugs. It's not as if living a long life is prized. Why not give people the option to exercise their personal responsibility and freedom and individual risk assessments (as they've been told to do for Covid) - to choose whichever source of pleasure or comfort they prefer during their (shorter) life?

Why do you keel going on about smoking?

@monfuseds

The social care levy; that's what it's for.

You think that will touch the sides? 😆

You do realise that anyone with assets of more than £23.5k apart from their home has to pay for their own care now?

It's delusional isn't it? That people think this will make any difference. Has everybody already forgotten about the 1% NI increase "to fix the NHS once and for all"? 🤣🤣🤣

I agree, actually. I also think that any levy will not go the NHS or social care, though we'll have to see.

A significant proportion of social care is for younger disabled. There'll likely be more demand soon, with Long Covid.

And again. The fastest growing group of private renters (so no home to sell for care) is the over 40s.

Solving the public health housing and homelessness emergency, with a massive social housing build, would longer term free up taxpayer money...which could then be used to properly fund decent social care, the NHS, and other public services.

It's delusional isn't it? That people think this will make any difference. Has everybody already forgotten about the 1% NI increase "to fix the NHS once and for all"

The majority of it is earmarked for the NHS initially to clear the backlog & not even social care.

Wasn't the VAT hike to 20% temporary

Anyway I'll leave you to it. In the end we probably don't need to worry too much about the future. If Covid or Long Covid doesn't take us, it will be WW3 (Russia/Ukraine) or the (hopefully friendly) robot takeover.

On that cheery note, goodnight to all of you 🤖

You do realise that anyone with assets of more than £23.5k apart from their home has to pay for their own care now?

Yes I know

Just seen The Sunday Telegraph. It looks as if Johnson is considering cancelling the H&SC levy to save his skin. God help anyone without any money who needs social care.

Any social care reform needs to tackle staffing which is already in crisis & we’ll need another 488,000 health staff and 627,000 social care workers to meet demand over the next decade, research from charity The Health Foundation suggests.

The point is it doesn't matter if there isn't any money

This video, while couched in an Australian perspective, substantially applies to the UK too:

Just seen The Sunday Telegraph. It looks as if Johnson is considering cancelling the H&SC levy to save his skin.

well it's certainly not a progressive tax & timing wise with rising energy & CT bills plus inflation it's not great.

@echt it only applies if that's the route the government wants to go down. They don't hence the austerity cuts after 08, the new levy, the state of the NHS & social care now.

The majority of the population "take" more than they give

In my own experience, quite a lot of my friends have died quite young. Before they even stopped working.surely it must balance out.

For changes to pensions - which people makes long term plans about, u need to make slow, well publicised changes. It would be fair to change it for those just starting to work now - but not people just about to retire (as they have paid in for years already and planned their future around it).

Yes it’s depressing

In the extreme. From another single mother also providing for mine with no help and ASD in the mix, I'd think you should be an inspiration to other women, not somebody to be attacked. Your child will be proud of what you've done.

@echt

It's delusional isn't it? That people think this will make any difference. Has everybody already forgotten about the 1% NI increase "to fix the NHS once and for all"? 🤣🤣🤣

I agree, actually. I also think that any levy will not go the NHS or social care, though we'll have to see.

So if you agree, why are you seeming to argue that the social care levy is the solution, if you know it isn't? What do you think would be the right way forward? We've all had enough of charlatans selling unicorns by now surely, a grown-up conversation about what is actually achievable and how is required, not ideological dreams that will never work in practice.

@monfuseds

It's delusional isn't it? That people think this will make any difference. Has everybody already forgotten about the 1% NI increase "to fix the NHS once and for all"

The majority of it is earmarked for the NHS initially to clear the backlog & not even social care.

Wasn't the VAT hike to 20% temporary

Hahahaaa yes. All tax hikes are temporary but mysteriously persist forever.

Wasn't income tax initially a "temporary" measure to fund the Napoleonic War? I think that finished a while back - happy to be corrected! 😂😂😂 - but I'm still getting the deductions from my payslip for it. A mystery.