My *only* initial point was that WFP should be means-tested.
Not given to all pensioners, irrespective of income. As so many Pensioners don't need it. But a good 25% probably do!
Please tell me what the threshold should be? £125,140? £50,271? £25kp/a? £12,571 p/a?
The first 2 and latter are the additional, higher and lower rate tax bands.
PC threshold for WFP and TV licence is £218.15 * 52= £11,344
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Like I said, they could use the tax system to set a higher threshold more easily without a costly means test scheme.
I only replied to
@Professor Branestawm because of his unfair singling out of specific groups, as perceived attacks against them, when it is for all Pensioners, except the PC level.
There also seems to be a 'the government owes 'me'' attitude from the vox pop lady, who obviously doesn't need the WFP but thinks they should pay her "because I've been working all my life", this entitlement attitude.
I didn't accuse @ProfB of not working or doing enough ot anything!
Sorry he took it personally.
@Duke of Cheese Agreed, our NHS is creaking, Social, welfare, services are all stretched and underperforming.
My mother was on a corridor bed at A&E for 8 hours before a cubicle became available, but her care and staff were good.
What's your solution?
How do you put more money in while lowering the
annual deficit of £120billion. Yes billion.
And paying off the National Debt of £2.7trillion? Yes, trillion. £2,700Billion
And the £102billion interest annually on that debt.
But I still want my WFP.
And the NHS better.
And better schools, social care, defence, etc
So the WFP cut is a drop in the ocean. So best not to affect poorer pensioners, it's only £3bn saving. Fine.
"When the government spends more than it receives in tax and other revenues it borrows to cover the difference. This borrowing is known as ‘public sector net borrowing’ but is often referred to as the deficit.
In the financial year 2023/24, government revenue – from taxes and other receipts – was £1,096 billion (£1.1 trillion) while government spending was £1,217 billion (£1.2 trillion). The deficit was therefore £120 billion, equivalent to 4.4% of GDP.
At 4.4% of GDP, the deficit was the UK’s eighteenth largest since 1948."
Tax the billionaires and millionaires and higher rates tax payers only? Even more than the 40% and 50% already paid?
Not enough.
Source: BBC
BBC News - How does government borrowing work?
The government gets most of its money from tax but also borrows when it wants to boost spending.
www.bbc.com
How much interest does the government pay on its borrowing?
Interest payments on government’s past borrowing are a relatively big cost for government. In 2023/24, government’s net debt interest spending was £102 billion, which is equivalent to 3.8% of GDP or 8.4% of government spending
source:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06167/#:~:text=How much interest does the,or 8.4% of government spending.
I won't comment on this/WFP again here. Done.
Ok, Back to Pensioners/others and their IW buying habits...