To say the £35k winter fuel threshold is way too high!

[chocolateismyweakness4]

The threshold needed to be raised, but £35k?! I wish I earned that and I have a mortgage and commuting costs. It also doesn’t take into account savings (so they could have millions in the bank) or household income.

We all know it’s a bribe, but they still won’t get pensioners to vote for them.

What do you mean we don't care? Of course we care! I have just started receiving my state pension, but my two DC will have to work until they are 68, and it will probably be at least age 70 by the time they retire. By the time you get to that age, most people have age-related health issues and, depending on what you do, will struggle to work full-time. Hopefully, they will have a good workplace pension, so can retire a bit earlier, but that isn't guaranteed. It will depend on their financial situation at the time.

I’m not sure you can use this as a way to ask the op not to post about poor policy.

The cut off is too high.

I agree that taxation should be more equal, I think it is unfair that passive income is somehow less tax worthy than tax on income from working. Just focus on income levels no matter their source, surely that would be fairer to everyone, no matter their age.

You did 😂

Well I started receiving my pension 18 months ago, but I can’t afford to retire and am likely to be working into my mid 70s, just the same as all the much younger people who are whingeing now.

It’s not really about pensioners being more deserving. Older people are more likely to experience adverse health effects from being cold so there’s an additional impact. They’re also more likely to be living with an existing medical condition or disability and to be socially isolated. I do agree with you that the cost of this should come from energy companies rather than taxpayers though, and that the overall impact of being in cold (or damp or mouldy) homes is not restricted to older people).

Is that your sole income. Or do you get maintenance, child benefit and other benefits.

So you have to look at sections of society who are paying less in tax on similar levels of income, which are pensioners, buy to let investors, etc

I presume you're including NI in with income tax here? I agree that all working pensioners should pay NI (and I don't understand why they don't). I was amazed when I carried on working for a further 2 years that my NI deductions stopped and, more importantly, so did my employers, all that money that could go in the coffers and yet I've not heard of it being suggested.

Yes, NIC is just another tax. ALL income should be taxed at the same levels. Penalising workers by charging them NIC is just wrong on so many levels. Especially when lots of people, young and old, are in receipt of healthy levels of income from investments, etc.

Employers still pay employers NIC on staff over state pension age, even though the employee doesn't pay employees NIC!

Employers still pay employers NIC on staff over state pension age, even though the employee doesn't pay employees NIC!
I didn't know that, apologies. But why wasn't I paying it for the 2 years extra I worked?

If you were the employee, you're employer pays it, not you.

Im willing to bet previous generations didnt slag off the generation or two above them and call them greedy and selfish BEFORE asking and expecting free childcare/while expecting free childcare.

See????? Not the gotcha you thought it was!!

What individual families do wrt to childcare is irrelevant. Many parents receive no free childcare from grandparents, remember, and I'm sure that most of those that do are grateful to the individuals who help them. They do not owe their gratitude to an entire generation.
A lot of the comments being made are comparing generations. Previous generations of pensioners were poor, often very poor as they no longer worked. They usually died within a few years of retirement too.The current generation is wealthy, the wealthiest generation of all generations. Their children and grandchildren will never be as wealthy. They are also living far, far longer than previous generations. Because of these two major differences compared to the past, it is clearly unfair for current pensioners to pay reduced rates of tax and be supported by much poorer, younger generations, who will have to work to much older ages than they have, when they do not need to be. Help should be for those in genuine need and wealthy pensioners and those with household of incomes of up to 70k are quite clearly not in need. It is only natural that there will be resentment from younger people, especially those on much lower wages with no hope of owning their own home or being able to support children. What do you expect? People who raise this massive unfairness are then bombarded with nasty and aggressive posts such as yours. You are just giving people an additional reason to criticise your generation. Try to show some understanding and empathy.

Pension credit is a drain on finances and should be abolished.

So you are working and receiving the state pension, but can’t afford to retire?

People who cant work because of caring full time for elderly/disabled relatives are classed as economically inactive. If they were all made to work tommorrow the NHS and social care WOULD collapse. Be very very careful what you wish for.

i would not run myself ragged working and caring. Its one or the other

Charming. So what happens to all the pensioners on Pension Credit?

Firstly Im Gen X not a boomer I was born in 73 And there IS a trend now with parents happy to have free childcare from people they despise.

Exibit A. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/stepparenting/4888934-caring-for-step-grandchild?page=1

Cool As long as we do the same with Child Benefit

Im a pensioner. I will now receive the wfp.
I do not need it. There's other things to spend money on in the country. I agree some pensioners with low income should receive some help, but 35k is ridiculous. I have no mortgage and no debts.
Most of the pensioners I know certainly don't need but they still complained when it was taken off them 🙄

A bit simplistic to assume that all pensioners pay no rent/mortgage - even service charges on owned property can be high.
However I agree that £35k is too high - especially given no commuting/being at work costs.
Given that the £35k isn't related to any key thresholds in the tax system, I'd have thought that the equivalent of f/t national living wage - around £22.5k - was more appropriate.

But you can see why when there exists so much inter-generational inequality!

I could do with it…my costs as a working person are sky high 🤣😅

"You need to update your payroll records when one of your employees reaches State Pension age so they stop paying National Insurance.
Change their National Insurance category letter to ‘C’ in your payroll software - this means you’ll stop deducting National Insurance from their pay. You still need to pay employer’s contributions for them."

But why shouldn't the employee still pay if they're earning?? Would put some more money in the pot.

Yeah same. I earn under £35k and I have a mortgage and 2 primary aged kids who need wraparound care. Can I have it?