An extra hubdred for OAPS?

[RaggedRocks]

The government wants us to keep cash at home for emergencies. Many pensioners are struggling to pay their bills and don't have a spare 100 quid.

AIBU to think that they should add an extra hundred onto the WFA in the budget, so oldies can have some spare cash to keep for the coming emergency. Also consider an extra hundred for UC recipients.

I never experienced shops popping up I do remember queuing in the sun outside shops.

But in a cyber attack, shops might not be able to afford to give stuff away

Absolutely no way. The vast majority of pensioners are, at the very least, comfortably well off. Less than 20% are classed as "living in relative poverty" and when you consider that "relative poverty" means a household income of up to £23,520 pa at a time in your life when you are unlikely to have a mortgage, I'd say most of the "relatively poor" are doing alright too. IMHO keeping the WFA as a benefit for all was a huge mistake (probably Keir's most stupid U-turn) and it should never have been introduced as such in the first place.

you speak for yourself!!

Old fashioned cash boxes.
And manually ringing things up on a calculator.

Shops will revert very quickly if they need to.

"The payment is automatic if you qualify, but if your total taxable income is over £35,000, the amount will be recovered by HMRC through the tax system. 1, 2, 3, 4]"

HMRC

If you are an older person who doesn't want it, you can opt out.

He can opt out.

I did.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/opt-out-of-winter-fuel-payment

It’s done this way because the administration is cheaper, but it’s still means testing.

Yeah. I’m mid sixties and not planning on going anywhere just yet.

Not every pensioner’s personal allowance is going up - it’s only those whose state pension alone will put them into the tax brackets. Anyone who has other income has the same tax allowances they always had.

My nan doesn't need any more money; she is comfortable (think working class, she worked in a shop). She finds it funny that she keeps getting more money from the government for energy bills and other things.

Just under 20% of pensioners rent. This is projected to be 33% by 2040.

It's a no from me on both counts. There are plenty of households on pensions and UC who have more disposable income than workers. It's time to end this culture of handouts full stop, but especially blanket handouts to those in specific groups with no means testing.

Free ice-cream for everyone while they are at it. Because why not.

Why OAP's. They are among the most wealthy people in the UK.

Yes, there are some who are just on a state pension. I know a few elderly people mainly women who havent ever worked. They relied totally on their husband.

I would love to have not worked and be looked after by a man (oh wait...)

Actually young adults (16-24) are the age group most likely to live in poverty. More than double the amount for 65+. Give the money to them

Not sure about the 16-24 year olds? A 16 year old is very likely to be still be living at home

Majority of people on UC are working.

I haven’t RTFT so apologies if this is the hundredth similar comment, but I’d rather give handouts to working adults under-25. We need to invest in our young.

No one has to put £100 or whatever, away, regardless of age. Do it off of your own bat, or don’t.. No need to involve more handouts for anyone. 🤷‍♀️

all the old people I know are better off than the young people.

No they are not, although it is always parroted on MN. About 38% of UC claimants work, so well under 50% and well, well under 'the majority'

The narrative pensioners are poor needs to stop.

I work solely with over 65's in a healthcare role. The vast majority of them live in lovely houses and are pretty well off. I can genuinely count on 1 hand the amount of elderly people I have seen living in poverty since starting this role. I live in an ex mining town in Midlands, so not a rich area either. A lot have enough funds to be considered self funding for care. My parents get the WFA, which is ridiculous. They are mortgage free in a 4 bed detached property, and go on 4 foreign holidays a year, and eat out weekly. They don't need it.

Agreed. We need to build resilience in everyone and stop holding out the begging bowl when something out-of-the ordinary comes along. The more handouts we give, the more people expect them. See £10 Covid uplift, food for children during school holidays etc

Pensioners are the group LEAST likely to be in poverty.

1st is families.
2nd is working aged people.

So absolutely no way that pensioners should be given even more money - they can use the rise in state pension that they're given.