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.

They won't though.

You are talking about being selfless towards people they know and care about. I am talking about their general attitude towards people - there is a real pull the ladder up mindset among many of the generation

Well I don’t see how that’s likely unless you are looking at mean wealth so skewed by some very high earners. Pensions, home ownership, and savings are all down on previous generations. Meanwhile there is student debt which didn’t exist for previous generations, the middle getting taxed within an inch of its life and a crippling cost of living crisis

Surely if they brought in means testing it would be for future pensioners not the current cohort?

It's because of inheritance. Those with well off parents will inherit more than their parents did on average.

Doesn't exist in Scotland. The student debt.

I accept the point re. lead time for getting them.

I don’t think it’s fair to say some should get them that don’t. If they’ve been turned down then there’s avenues of appeal. If after appeal the answer is “no” then who are you to say they should get them when it’s been deemed they shouldn’t.

Better hope the independence loons don't prevail. Otherwise you'll lose your Barnett formula subsidy.

£2,400 to £2,700 higher per person than the UK average every single year!

Ohf course it does! Who pays for the living expenses? Halls are about £10k an academic year!

Student debt doesn’t exist in Scotland? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

The Student Loan company is literally based in Glasgow.

Scottish students are up to their ears in debt.

Who have I been paying all these years? Who loaned my kids all that money to go to uni? Who is sending us all the letters of balances and amounts still due?

Do you how much it would cost to means test it? Yet more expensive Civil Servants! But get ready for the backlash. People drawing a pension have already paid for it in their eyes - that's how it was sold to people.

Better to offer the option to 'richer' people to forego their pension.

Because the system fails people? There are people who are terminally unwell who have been refused disability benefits. I think I've got every right to say given that it was a 5 year fight for me to get them.

There isn’t. And even if there was it’d be entirely understandable given how much people like yourself want to them over!

The cost of halls / anccomidation are for us are well over the student loan amounts for this year and it will get worse.

Thats before any other costs.

No Student loans in Scotland? Can we get that through parliament quick??

You’re missing the point they’ll get the inheritances from all the wealthy older generations they’re complaining about…!

Not sure why calling people "independence loons" is going to get the point you are trying to get across any better

As usual with Labour, it’s all smoke and mirrors.

The abolition of the triple lock will see the savings allocated to social care, specifically for the elderly, i.e. this will be a fiscal transfer from the retired to the retired.

As the pension reform is small and the social care plan big, there is an implied tax rise, not a cut.

Just so we are all clear.

Not if it all ends up getting spent on care they won’t!

If they do, it shouldn’t be for anyone currently above the age of 16 ie people already in the system shouldn’t be impacted.

notwithstanding: it shouldn’t be introduced full stop. We need to stop penalising those that have prudent life choices.

That's got nothing to do with the Scottish government. They don't set the prices people pay for accommodation

Labour will never cut benefits!

They already have. Lcwra for new claimants has been cut in half

If he’s worked hard and made his contributions he should get a state pension plus many plan for it regardless of their own private pensions would be unfair to just remove it.

What is unfair is that some sit back and choose not to work or work very minimum hours don’t contribute but take. Why should they get to receive a state pension over your relative?

Then they should appeal. Clearly they won’t qualify if they don’t meet the criteria but if they do, they should get it. They should engage the support of a specialist solicitor if they need.

Or, which is what I’d likely do if I ever find myself in said situation: forget the battle and enjoy the remaining days in peace. Life sometimes too short to die on a mound, even if right to do so