To be glad triple lock going and hope they means test it too

[Randomamsi]

I have a multi millionaire senior relative who receives £1,400 from the state pension each month, in addition to 6k private pension.

He's not means tested and he's received that for 30 years. Yes, he paid into the system but he does not need it!!! He also had free uni, dirt cheap first house back in the 60s and retired aged 59.

Meanwhile the younger generation:

• thousands in student loan debt
• asset poor as can't get on the housing ladder
• means tested for child benefit, tax free childcare etc
• working until late 60s/ 70s

Why do pensioners have it easy while younger ones pay the price?

For vulnerable pensioners at risk of poverty, there should obviously be provision to help them, I'm not suggesting we let people starve. But multimillionaire pensioners or very asset rich pensioners do NOT need the state pension. It's about time things changed.

Nor is the fact our pensioners are waiting literally days in a corridor for care. And that they are often neglected and treated far worse than in other countries.
Do I have the right to steal something someone bought and paid for, just because I don't have it, OP? If you can afford expensive holidays and cosmetic surgery, should others get them? People who have never done any work can choose to have a dozen kids, and get everything paid for. We should respect older people who did pay into it. I agree that it's much harder for younger people to get work than it was in the past, but that's hardly the fault of our grandparents.

@Randomamsi For vulnerable pensioners at risk of poverty, there should obviously be provision to help them, I'm not suggesting we let people starve. But multimillionaire pensioners or very asset rich pensioners do NOT need the state pension.

One question,

If person A is diligent about their pension and ensures it is in a good state by the time they retire, whereas person B doesn't care, never checks their pension, and just puts away 10% each year without thinking about it...

... why should person A be deprived of the state pension for doing the right thing, whereas person B gets the state pension for doing the wrong thing?

I have worked full time for 44 years, no benefits, in a mediocre salaried job. I have no kids so no child benefit. I have paid a fuck ton in National insurance and tax. I have a small property. My private pension is small. I damn well deserve my pension. Sick of people who do all the right things like live within their means, putting into society, not taking anything out, being shat on. I deserve my pension.

This!

You chose to have a child - your relative didn't choose to get old? Could that be a reason?

My mil called on Sunday and was lauding Burnham's proposals to make social care free. She lives in a 1 million pound property and owns a second home so she certainly has the means to pay for her own social care if she ever had to but she doesnt think she should have to when others get it for free. Where does it end?!

Yes I know social care isnt just for older people but something has to give. Working people desperately need a respite and I despair for the younger generations.

Life isn't fair.
In the same way some people are better off not working.
The comparisons are endless. Not everyone of your relative's era had it easy. State pension being means tested is contraversial and would be very difficult to implement.
Try not to compare OP, it will eat you up.

Only if it's their only source of income.

we do have one of the lowest state pensions in Western Europe, and it’s totally unacceptable. Many people (like me) have factored in receiving a state pension into retirement plans. Whilst I’m unhappy I can accept the loss of the triple lock but to not get a pension because it’s means tested is very unfair. It’s a pension that I’ve paid into.

I can kind of see this point.

I would probably think it’s fine to keep it universal if things like child benefit were still universal. And legal aid if you’re charged with an imprisonable offence. And loads of other things that used to be universal.

And help with childcare - which never was universal as it didn’t used to exist, arguably should be.

But it is weird to keep the pension as the only universal benefit.

We could say we’ve all paid in to getting CB for example. Some don’t get it as they don’t have children, but not everyone lives to retirement age either!

"Why do pensioners have it easy...?"
Some live in abject poverty, at a level well below minimum wage.

If he started claiming years ago he'll be on the old pension and the figure will be even lower.

Can I get this straight :

Your relative has presumably paid NI for 30+ years to pay for his pension. He is now claiming that pension he has funded.

You have chosen to produce a child and are upset the government are not giving you free money.

I just don’t follow the logic…

They literally are!

I agree, OP. The nation is getting older and we need to balance that. I am fully accepting that the fact I've "paid in" (so far for 32 years) doesn't mean I'm entitled to something in the future.

I am happy to be means-tested. I'm also perpetually perplexed by the people who seem to think that the state pension is a savings account that they pay into and can, therefore, draw from.

What high powered well paid job were you doing then until you retired if you paid enough national insurance to cover your pension?
I'm sick to death of this argument from pensioners.
Will you sell your house that you bought for £20000 which is now worth £200000 back to the government for what you paid for it? Then one of the younger generations stuck paying high rents can buy your house for £20000 and take them out of poverty.
Meanwhile you can have your hard earned state pension every month to add to your savings.

Sorry, I should have said, if they did means test it, it should be a much higher threshold than many things currently are.

Yes totally unfair that someone who probably paid more in deductions and contributions in a week than I earn a month why shouldn’t they have returns there not cash cows

bear in mind with that income again they will be taxed on it

unlike my relative daughter had 1st child at 16 because she like babies all planned then another at 20still don’t think she’s finished works the absolute minimum to maximise benefits

being of an age where kids are adults and no mortgage we’re ploughing as much as we can into private pension to be comfortable in retirement
so if they means test what’s the point we might as well work less ,travel and be frivolous with our money and burn through it we’ll be not better of
having just worked 3 extra Sundays to boost my pension what was the point

don’t begrudge anybody anything they’ve work for and contributed to

Those pensioners were young once and had it way harder than today’s youngsters. You seem surprised that people have more money at the end of their working life, bit sad if they didn’t.

The state pension is a contributory benefit.

🎣 Good as it's getting responses but too obvious so it's only a 6/10.

A lot of people don’t live to be old though, sadly.

We don’t. You’re welcome.

It isn't going to make things better for younger people for them to pull the ladder up on pensions now. We have one of the worst pensions in Europe.

Envy won't get you far! I hope you will voice your opinion to your relative, be strong! Push your woke agenda with fortitude! Rob the pensioners to feed the lazy and foreign benefit shoppers. What is next on your wish list?

And with means testing they'd be the ones who benefit.