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.

Why should children of wealthy parents get free education? Free prescriptions? Free glasses? There are far more children in this demographic than pensioners.

All the pensioners that I know do need the extra money, including my husband. It will mean that we can put he central heating on.
Our energy bills are already higher than normal because of my disabilities but because our income is a few pounds over the limit, we are not entitled to means tested benefits.
My pip is fully used up paying for care, incontinence supplies and other help that I need etc so I cannot contribute more. And before anyone says that the continence service will supply free, there is only one brand that I don't have a skin reaction to and they cannot provide them.
Many pensioners may be property rich, I but not cash rich.

I'm a pensioner. Trust me, I need it. We aren't all rich.

The ignorant, ageist comments on this thread make me embarrassed to be here!

How can you know ‘most pensioners?’

Means testing doesn’t cost more than it saves - that’s why working age benefits are means tested.

the answer op, is that the elderly vote (and often vote Tory). That’s why they as the richest group of people get generous universal benefits

Would you consider a person with an income if over £50k a year, mortgage and child free, with no additional debt, needing that 300 quid?

@TheThinkingGoblin

why isn’t it right? Those wealthy pensioners are still paying tax, whereas those that survive on state pension only won’t be. So the ‘wealthy’ are still paying hundreds, if not thousands of tax each year, so get a return of £300

No but many pensioners are extremely wealthy. Why should they get it

Nore do I know any pensioners who vote tory

They pay less tax on their income than working age people and get generous universal benefits unlike working age people

So you would be OK with it costing 1 billion to means test it to give out less than that? (Those are made up figures). When you add in all the admin ti means test these things its just not worth it to do. It would probably cost half of what they give out so the tax payer ends up paying nice. Where is the logic in that? What pensioners should do if they had any morals is if they don't need the £300 donate it to a food bank or a fuel poverty charity so they can help others.

whether or not you know them personally, pension age people are statistically more likely to vote conservative than any other demographic. That’s why the tories are keen to keep them happy.

This

Exactly this. Means testing would cost more than giving this relatively small payment to everyone. I'd rather give it to all of them than deny it to people in need.

When people use the word demographic they’re referring to a collective, a group of people. Not an individual MN poster. It is clear from statistics that the demographic of pensioners is Tory-voting. That doesn’t mean all pensioners vote Tory.

It is not ageist to point out who demographic groups vote for. Nor is it ageist to question whether a particular benefit is justifiable - any more than it would be ageist to question whether child benefits need to be adjusted.

This so economically and financially illiterate that I am honestly at a loss for words.

Pensioners are a MASSIVE sunk cost to the taxpayer due to the cost of their pensions and healthcare.

They pay in £x tax and get back 2x in benefits already (via pensions and specially healthcare)

So no, they do not deserve those universal benefits in any way, shape, or form.

If you have even one child who has been state educated, you’ve already had more than you’ve put in.

Can I have some back? I’ve paid for them, and I don’t have any children of my own, so I think I’m owed. Ta.

Same here, some people are ignorant though and believe what the media tells them. I'm glad elderly people get this even if it means some who could cope without it get it. Just as I wasn't salty that those on benefits got cost of living payments when we didn't even though if you take into account the childcare and housing elements some have more money at the end of the month than we do.

Aren't pensioners the least likely group to live in poverty in the UK? They all (mostly) vote and tend to vote Tory, so that might be why. No political party dare piss them off.

OP some points to consider.

Firstly its cheaper to get it to all pensioners than to means test it. Whilst universal provision means wealthy people benefit its the most cost effective way of getting money to those who need it.

20% of pensioners live below the poverty line and more than half of pensioners rely on benefits for their income.

Yes that means some well off pensioners will get it. But more importantly it means that those who need it will get it.

Pensioners incomes tend to be fixed. They can't run out and get a second job or work more hours to bring in more money.

Pensioners are more at risk from hypothermia and are more likely to switch off the heating to save money. The £300 is literally to to stop older people freezing to death.

There are lots of other benefits available to low income families with children. Rather than trying to kill off older people you would be better campaigning for a rise in benefits for low income families.

Why would means testing for this cost more than it saved, but means testing for eg child benefit is worth it?

That would explain why everyone was upset at the previous election when May wanted to means test the £300, scrap the triple lock and Corbyn and from what I remember a lot of the vocal left on here where vastly against.

Oh, goody. Another pensioner bashing thread.

Millions of pensioners live in relative poverty. They need the £300. It would cost a lot of time and resources to means test it. DWP struggles as it is.