What are all pensioners getting another £300 this winter??

[F0RBIDDENFRUIT]

They are amongst the richest people in the country, yes there are poor pensioners but a lot of them are way richer than anyone else.

£300 more for energy, none of the old people I know need this, they all have more money than their children.

Just because they vote, that is the only reason they can be doing this.

Who do you think it is that will suffer if universal pensioner benefits are scrapped?
Sure, it won’t be the ones living in poverty. But it won’t be the ones with £600k in the bank and two homes either. It will be, as it always is, the people just about managing in the middle, and for whom it will make a huge difference to lose it. One of the main reasons Beveridge’s original vision for the welfare state eschewed the means testing that was so divisive during the 1930s.

Also, let’s be generous and assume that the administration costs don’t use all of the savings made. Where is it you think that money is going? Did some other benefit or group of people have a massive financial uplift when Child Benefit was means tested? No.

And the assertion that the UK is in a financial mess because of universal pensioner benefits is laughable.

@TheThinkingGoblin

I'm afraid you just come over as a total knob. And your 'claims' of an education.

That sum it up for you.

Oh. Another one.

This ignored the fact that pensions are very substantially the largest component of the welfare budget, around 45%.

Until DM moved locally to me in her 70s, then had a cancer diagnosis. I had no idea how much more older people need the heating on, earlier in the year, longer in the day, warmer.

This hatred is actually worrying, the venom spewing from posts like this makes me feel sick.

£300 on a luxury holiday? Bullshit.
Are they eligible for this benefit? Yes. Mazel Tov to them.
Means testing costs more than the actual benefit output.
Nothing wrong with blanket outputs that will benefit the majority.
You enjoy your days counting down to your inheritance, which you've already costed out.

One of the reasons is that child poverty in the UK right now is 27%

Pensioner poverty is far lower at 15%

Do you agree that we should be focusing more on that 27% (child benefit) and 15% (means tested pensioner benefit for pensioners in poverty)?

https://www.jrf.org.uk/data/overall-uk-poverty-rates

It will ultimately be cheaper to give it to everyone over a certain age than it will be to pay the cost of administering means testing

Ageism is increasingly common on MN .and deeply unpleasant. All generations have problems . My parents lived through WW2, I struggled through 15% mortgage rates in the late 80s/ 90s working 2 jobs and barely seeing my DC and now my DC are dealing with increasing mortgage rates . In 20 years time another generation will think THEY have it worse .

It is worrying. MN has become so full of hate.

I am afraid your "opinions" are about as relevant to me as my pet ostrich.

Educate yourself before commenting is my suggestion.

My parents give it to my sibling who is a teacher. We all agree this is the right thing to do as we feel so strongly that teachers are poorly paid

So how do you explain the fact that millions of women born in the 1950's had six years of their pension taken from them?

Yes, they put it towards their holiday.

As previously stated not a page ago, I’m NC and will not be taking their money.

SueVeneer I know how much I (didn't) receive which is why I phoned to query it. The whole increase was taxed.
So you do you and fuck right off harbouring division between generations like this. Guess you have kids I am paying for but you don't see me grumbling that 'people shouldn't have children if they can't afford them!'

Ageism is increasingly common on MN .and deeply unpleasant. All generations have problems .

I don't know. My parents did the exact same jobs as my sibling & her spouse, but housing & cars are much less affordable now on the equivalent pay.

They didn't.

They told you with 20 YEARS of time left.

I have seen the "evidence" sent by you folks to the regulator and courts.

I am not even remotely surprised that you lost your case.

I know alot of pensioners who absolutely do need this and would severely struggle over winter without it. Pretty sure it only goes to the ones who only receive under a certain amount of pension, the richer pensioners aren't entitled to it as far as I'm aware

But the effect of large numbers of them coming onto the market or being equity released would alter the values.....

I dunno why wealth is taxed differently from income - presumably due to the wealthy setting it up that way.

Also I'd be interested to see the proportion of the rest of the population (non-pensioners) who are "millionaires" using the same criteria.

Of course ideally people should only live in houses/own cars/bikes etc that are as much as they need, but capitalism doesn't really work like that. (and nor does Communism in so far as it's been tried as it seems to still result in fancy palaces for a few)

If treating old people decently is so offensive it should be easy to find a party to vote for that will take away all the old people's benefits.

God, you're a nasty person op. There is
id guarantee way more pensioners on the breadline than pensioners who dont need help. What an absolutely disgusting attitude you have.

It was labour G Brown, who brought in this and the coalition, cons and Libs , in 2010 who brought in the triple lock - they all bribe for votes.

The only way your statement would make sense is if you were just below the tax free amount of £12.57k (mostly because of SP).

Because the tax thresholds have been frozen, your pay could have increased beyond the £12.57k, which would then be taxed.

Tax thresholds being frozen are a HUGE hidden tax increase.

I think the winter fuel allowance should be gone completely as a universal benefit, and the money saved should go to pension credits so that the poorest pensioners benefit.

This 100%