Nick Robinson on the Today programme said that people affected by withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance were "the wartime generation". AIBU to think he's wrong?

[HauntedBungalow]

Also, I am genuinely bored of this British obsession with referencing World War II when talking about unrelated random subjects.

World War II ended 80 years ago. The "wartime generation" don't need a Winter Fuel Allowance because they're all already dead, barring the odd 97 year old who is still living at home and paying all bills themselves.

No they are not the wartime generation. They are largely the baby boomers. I struggle really to understand why there is such outrage over this issue. Always seemed a strange payment to me. If lower income pensioners - and others - are poor by all means increase the pension/minimum wage but this universal lump sum seems crazy.

they should allow the allowance for all those born before 1945 for example
so unfair for those who perhaps have a small pension which eliminates any pension credit application.
they are not ALL rich and many of them are very careful with their money due to longstanding memories of the war years and rations

What a nasty post.
It isn't the 'odd 97 year old still alive' . There will be people on here who were alive in the war, and some with parents, yes over 80, but not just '97', who experienced thexway.
What a disgusting and ignorant post

Your level of ignorance is stunningly phenomenal

My DM is furious that Labour are 'after the pensioners now'. My DM owns her own house outright, has over 150k in the bank and still works FT at the age of 70. When I look at my Uni age DC and how hard their generation have it in terms of debt, housing, jobs, COL I struggle to have any sympathy. Why shouldn't the WFA be means tested?

No doubt you were given money in some way or the other when you had your children? Non-means tested?
Why should people be paid for having children when they have £150k in the bank and are working?

You are completely spot on.

Exactly this!

I often think that those going into homes now will need to entertained by Elvis Presley, The Beatles etc and not Glen Miller. My mum was born in 1945 and has no recollection of war; rationing yes.
We do need to stop with the war analogy when referring to those who are of pensionable age...

Wrong on both counts. Yes there was conscription and yes there was an actual war in the early 50s in which UK soldiers fought. It was horrific

You would have to be late 80’s / 90’s to have any memories of the war now.

You would have to be 79 to have even been alive in part of the war.

Maths not Nick Robinson's strongpoint (or not that of who writes any scripts they use).

I think you are right about those growing up during the war tending towards economising and frugality - also saving 'for a rainy day', without realising that the 'rainy day' (their old age) had arrived.

DH and I both benefitted from decent inheritances when our parents passed away but it's a shame that they didn't spend a little more to make their lives comfortable in their last few years .

I heard Gemma Collins do a segment on WFA and use similar emotive war generation language.

Will we be using Covid generation in X years time? I suppose we would, if relevant about language development or education. Interesting thread.

My DF was in conflict in Ireland (with the British army) but apparently we aren't supposed to talk about "the troubles" because all is forgiven and our armed forces also behaved appallingly (which many did). Doesn't take away from the fact during his time serving he was shot at, petrol bombed and had bricks thrown at his head daily though...

But apparently those service personnel weren't serving during times of conflict. 🙄

Why is there not more being done to get energy companies to offer loans/grants to pensioners who are just above the pension credit limit? They have hardship funds already and in April pensioners will be getting 3x the wfa because of the triple lock that will be baked in.
My MIL is also the 'wartime generation' as she was born in 1942 but she definitely doesn't need the wfa.

Yanbu. The youngest pensioners now are from the Punk generation.

YANBU. My oldest living relative was born in 1942, definitely doesn't remember the war, and she is 82 now.

A 95 year old would have been 16 when the war ended. Are they the wartime generation? And how many of them are still alive, living independently and paying their own bills?

What annoys me is this belief that state retirement benefits should be a ‘reward’ rather than a means to prevent destitution. This belief is so strong it is baked into our system.

If Nick hadn’t used the ‘wartime generation’ narrative (the assumption that past hardship means a reward is deserved now), there would be countless other similar narratives to deploy. Take your pick and simply add the phrase ‘therefore they deserve even more taxpayer money’

’They’ve paid taxes all their lives’

’They’ve suffered through COVID’

’They’ve lived through rationing’

Feel free to add more.

Though I can see the argument for giving the WFA to pensioners who get Attendance Allowance or other disability benefits, as they're more likely to be immobile and suffer from the cold. Someone should suggest this if they haven't already.

That makes sense .

I think we all know older people who do not need the additional fuel allowance , but likewise the cut off point is a very blunt tool and there will be people who will suffer .

They've just bought a £60k car and they're angry about the fuel allowance?

Just wow.

They honestly expect young people starting out their lives paying big mortgages and hugely expensive childcare to pay more tax to fund the fuel allowance they don't need. It's absolutely ridiculous and so entitled.

My parents were massive Tory voters but somehow had the cognitive dissonance to want to claim every benefit going despite having passive income and generous pensions. They left millions and would also probably complain about the fuel allowance.

Benefits should be for those people in need.

so many horrible ignorant posters
so your relative is well off and likes elvis presley
doesnt mean that all pensioners are well off
there are a huge amount of pensioners and many unclaimed pensions as well!
it is a huge age group

Some people alive during the war are still alive now but at the time of the war they'd have all still been in nappies and would very much have been a hindrance to the war effort rather than a help!

I thought you had to be over 75 to get winter fuel payment, ie born in 1949 or before?

no you dont but that would be a good idea @BananaFrogDooby