How about thinking of the elderly for a change ?

[ivanhoe]

The middle classes have managed to put their case on the media map because of Child Benefit reductions.

Wheras the pensioners cause has never found a media voice.

So middle England are moaning about losing their Child benefit, and the media are picking up on it and discussing it as a topical issue, because the middle classes are making a fuss.

But hang on a minute ?, the poorest people in this country are not the middle classes, they are the working classes who in proportion to income are paying more taxes than the middle class, and the pensioners on a £5,000 a year State pension receiving a State pension which they have already paid for while working prior to their old age retirement are being ignored, even though the oldest pensioners fought for this country during the War years.

Our elderly people are the generation that government?s have run rough shod over for the past 30 years, this is the generation we should all be speaking up for, and this is the generation who have paid into the system all their working lives, but have to endure a basic State pension of £97 a week, and means tested handouts.

Many woman get less State pension due to lack of contributions while raising families.

Ivanhoe - Why is something not a handout if it's not means tested?

Child benefit and pensions are as much 'handouts' as anything else is.

/////She wasn't a moron - she paid into her company pension for the past 25 yrs. She also paid her mortgage and has savings. I have no idea about whether she will be means tested but she wouldn't have a problem with it. Why would she?/////

I didnt say your mum was a moron.

But we do have an acceptancer culture in this country and im curious to know if you mum is, or will be happy to be means tested for State handouts if she cannot manage on what she has saved up ect.

However if she is means tested because she has savings if I read you correctly, she maybe over the threshold for welfare benefits.

Ivanhoe - How is the state pension not a 'handout'?

don't think he gives a shit riv, or maybe it is too complicated

She would be more than happy to means tested - why wouldn't she be?

You have never been able to answer what is wrong with means testing.

I want to know what an acceptancer culture is.

//////Ivanhoe - Why is something not a handout if it's not means tested?

Child benefit and pensions are as much 'handouts' as anything else is./////

The State pension is a universial right for every pensioner in this country.

Child Benefit is also a Universial benefit paid to mothers with children of a certain age, and I agree with it.

I do not believe in Child Benefit being means tested, like the state pension, even millionaires should receive it.

My argument is that pensioners are on a lot less money than middle class woman, who receive Child Benefit.

Yet the pensioners on £97 a week, are means tested for more money, and this is just not right.

But I dont hear middle England mums standing up for pensioners.

/////I want to know what an acceptancer culture is./////

How old are you ?

////stop typing those friggin lines///////

/////and stop only listening to your own POV/////

////its making for a very boring and annoying thread/////////

/////////////stop typing those friggin lines///////

/////and stop only listening to your own POV/////

////its making for a very boring and annoying thread//////////////////

Well stop reading them then.

"I do not believe in Child Benefit being means tested, like the state pension, even millionaires should receive it."

In 2 years time anyone earning £40k+ will not receive child benefit - it is being means tested.

"But I dont hear middle England mums standing up for pensioners."

And I don't hear pensioners standing up for Middle England (whatever that actually means) mums.

Again, I ask, because you seem to have a problem answering, is what is actually wrong with means testing?

Why should a millionaire pensioner receive more money from the state?

////thanks think I will/////////////

//////Why should a millionaire pensioner receive more money from the state?////

Here we go with the "why should" brigade again.

Ivanhoe - I am 36.

This is the fist time I've ever seen the word acceptancer.

None of the ways it's being used on the first two pages of Google results seem to apply. So I'm in the dark I'm afraid.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

My mum cant believe herluck, getting her winter heating bill paid. meanwhile her disabled grand-daughter is cold as we cannot afford to heat the house.

There's your answer Riven, send her to stay with Granny 3 months of the year and you can catch up your kip too

"The State pension is a universial right for every pensioner in this country."

Says who? What do you mean by universal right? What determines what level it should be set at?

Yet again, not answering perfectly reasonable questions.

Please answer - what is wrong with means testing?

Personally, I'm in favour of getting rid of all means testing and as Xenia often advocates moving towards one payment to every adult regardless of wealth or age. (Though with further assistance available for those in need of further assistance)

Of course, under this system Pensioners would be no better off than anyone else - would that work for you?