To think those OAPs that have just lost their WFA should commit a crime? get released early into a budget heated hotel

[WhatShallIdo11]

i voted labour - very sorry now - I can’t get over that some OAPs will really suffer this winter whilst we are releasing prisoners, some of whom will be put up in hotels at the state payers expense

Funny how the Tory-Bots seemingly take no responsibility for the last 14 years, and how people ended up in poverty in the first place

i agree with the policy btw

It's not a surprise but outside pro Labour mn threads at least people are talking about it.

Energy companies made massive profits after the price hikes. Why do we allow that ? What these payments actually do is subsidise energy company profits.

So ban energy company profits with a 100% windfall tax on all fossil fuel extraction / import.

Same.

The only pensioners I know that are complaining about the WFA are loaded.

ILs own a large uk house, and holiday homes in Spain and Ireland and are allegedly going to be forced to freeze to death this winter. Perhaps they should sell one of their 3 vintage cars.

For the last few years they would have had WFA and extra energy payments.

It's a pretty big chunk to lose in one go for this winter

It's based on pension entitlement which is based on NI stamps, so basically, the more you have worked and the more NI you have paid, the better pension you get. If you haven't worked or haven't worked enough, then your pension is lower because you haven't paid as much NI. So people get rewarded for working less?

As I said, it would make more sense to be based on contributions. You get out what you pay in. That's a fairer system and encourages responsibility.

The state pension is a state benefit nothing more, nothing less. Your NI contributions are just a tax, paying for the current generation's pensions.

DB pensions are linked to the rate of inflation

Well that's people you know. You must be limiting what you listen to and read

It sounds like you haven't heard from anyone just about the threshold

It was a Labour govt who brought in the WFA in the first place. Much has changed since then but in general, living standards for pensioners improved under Labour and started to fall again under the Conservatives.

Personally I think this is a sensible move by Labour as they have provided for the poorest pensioners.

Criticism of the policy, specifically the incredibly low threshold is a pretty socialist position. The idea that everyone who opposes what Labour have done is a 'Torybot' is laughable.

I think the anecdotes on here about loaded pensioner parents is reflective of the MN demographic and not the general population.

I don't know any of these cruising, car buying pensioners, the ones I know have very small private pensions and state pension. Can't claim pension credit as just above thresholds. My neighbours fall into this group. I live in a mainly pensioner cul de sac. Two voted Labour and had boards outside during the election. They feel cheated. The other neighbour, who voted reform, is crowing at their stupidity has been vocal in saying how he blames them.

Putting aside the fact that both of these decisions had to be made as a result of 14 years of Tory incompetence...

Prisoners are not put in hotels. If they have nowhere to go, they'll be put in a hostel. They're not the most desirable of places. If there are no spaces, they'll be given a tent and left to sleep rough.

Millions of pensioners are far better off than most of us. Like my parents, they own their homes outright and have final salary pensions. Some will be worse off and will struggle, but that's no different to other groups in society on low incomes. Help needs to be given where it's needed, not just in the basis of someone's age.

Labour's own research opposed it in 2017. 4000 deaths predicted

I guess they are 'torybots' too, why not. Anyone not lauding Starmer and co is these days on any pro Labour thread

Thankfully reading anywhere else is more realistic

Exactly. I suspect the people who voted for labour conveniently overlook this and just tell themselves all pensioners are rich champagne drinking jet setters.

Completely agree.

Any criticism of Labour on here and you're immediately a Torybot.

Meh.
Pensioners around here are pretty well off as a rule, as are many of my friends' parents ‐decent pensions and mortgage free, often with considerable savings, investments and / or property. Some are still picking up occasional contracts in their professional capacity (architect, builder, solicitor, local authority adviser, lecturer, podiatrist and accountant to mention a few in our acquaintance). They play golf, holiday abroad, go out for lunch and contribute to grandchildren's school fees. They'll be OK without the WFA payments.
My mum and MIL get pension credit and will continue to get WFA.

What’s the difference between that and most other benefits that have a cut off though?

I support the fact it's means tested but I am very concerned about the mechanism chosen and how low that threshold is.

I suspect that implementation of this policy with a reasonable threshold was considered too expensive in itself (which is also what the previous policy was a universal benefit).

The problem is means testing negates the savings and Labour is in a big hurry to find money pronto.

It will absolutely have a negative impact on some pensioners, but we also can't argue that many (my parents and in laws included) have never needed it.

I think we will see many such measures as the new Govt seeks to find cost savings where the principle is not wrong but the implementation of it requires a very blunt instrument that will have a social impact on vulnerable people.

Put down the daily mail & scroll past those silly memes on Facebook - they've gone to your head!

Ridiculous post. Prisons are not 'warm & cosy' & when prisoners are released they don't automatically get housed. If they do it's to grotty hostels & b&bs full of drugs & violence. Definitely not the 'hotels' you are thinking of.

Yes it's unfair as there has to be a cut off somewhere but pensions have otherwise been triple locked protected. No one else has their pay or benefits increased by as much. Working people have been bled dry by previous government. If you've got cash to spare then there's charities & food banks you can donate to.

Why should we (taxpaying pensioners) pay a blanket untested benefit for kids and childcare to ALL people who've had children they can't afford to pay for?

Blanket statements are ridiculous no matter who makes them. Who cares if you know pensioners with money, not all of them are well off. Just as plenty of people with child benefit don't need it. For example, I know one lone parent who lives for the child benefit coming in so she can give the kids their lunch money. Her sister, married, self employed, well off, saves her child benefit up for holidays. Should we take the child benefit off both of them and only give it to the ones who qualify for means tested benefits? Stupid attitudes on show here.

But that's the problem though they haven't. If a person hasn't paid enough NI contributions over their working life they don't qualify for the full state pension of £220 a week. However because of this they are then entitled to pension credit which puts their weekly income up to £218 a week. This means they then qualify for WFA plus other benefits.

So for some pensioners who only get the full state pension of £220 a week the difference of a measly £2 means they now won't get the WFA.

This is what people are angry about. Tell me why a pensioner on £218 a week is poor but a pensioner on £220 a week isn't.

Rachel Reeves doing this and then claiming for fuel expenses on a second home is disgusting. She should have made the cut off point higher.

Not all pensioners have lost it...its just means tested now. About time imo. You are being ridiculous.

Another one?

Can't you start threads about something we haven't heard about from 'Labour voters feeling betrayed' before?

I hear there's some consternation about VAT being applied to private school fees, you know. Maybe you could look into that and tell us all about it?

The problem is when people think of OAPs they think of little old ladies shivering in their freezing cold house.

The reality is most pensioners are loaded and many can afford to retire to the Mediterranean if they're too cold.