Old times

[TheFamousGrouse]

The problem is for older pensioners who are receiving the lower state pension . The cut-off date was for men born before 6th April 1951 and women born before 6th April 1953. There is about a £40 a week difference between full state pensions paid to people now aged 71 to 74. £40 a week less each week means those on the borderline, even if they are lucky enough to be receiving a paltry private pension, really need that extra money to make life bearable. They have worked for it. They deserve it.

Poor, often frail and vulnerable, older people are being used to divert money to the less deserving.

The me, me, me generation would do well to ponder this because it is age and gender discrimination at its basest. And our own caring government has seen fit to introduce it.

Older pensioners, the majority of whom started work several years in age before today's youngsters, were led to believe that their NI contributions would fund their old age pensions when the time came. It's clear now that those contributions were not ring-fenced for their alleged purpose. The pension has morphed into a "benefit", financed by the current workforce.
I've long advocated that George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" should be on every school curriculum.

 

[User 27140]

The problem is for older pensioners who are receiving the lower state pension . The cut-off date was for men born before 6th April 1951 and women born before 6th April 1953. There is about a £40 a week difference between full state pensions paid to people now aged 71 to 74. £40 a week less each week means those on the borderline, even if they are lucky enough to be receiving a paltry private pension, really need that extra money to make life bearable. They have worked for it. They deserve it.

Poor, often frail and vulnerable, older people are being used to divert money to the less deserving.

The me, me, me generation would do well to ponder this because it is age and gender discrimination at its basest. And our own caring government has seen fit to introduce it.

Those receiving pension credit will have the winter fuel allowance. Martin Lewis urges constantly for pensioners to look at applying for pension credit because it is the gateway to so many other benefits. It astonishes me that Martin Lewis claims there are hundreds of thousands of elderly entitled to pension credit, who do not apply for it. Please encourage anyone you know, to do so.

 

[donna255]

I read comments on forums and on tabloids and last year the outrage at pensioners still getting the triple lock on their pensions. Yes, the state pension is a benefit, and they are no different from others getting a benefit. The hate directed at pensioners was very shocking.

The thing with pension credit is if you get the £220.21 per week and no work pension etc you are not entitled to pension credit. You must have and this was on the BBC breakfast only get £218 over that the answer is no. So £4 more for the full state pension not getting it.

Oh, another right wing tabloid said it costs £4 billion a year to pay pensioner's rent.

 

[mina]

Those receiving pension credit will have the winter fuel allowance. Martin Lewis urges constantly for pensioners to look at applying for pension credit because it is the gateway to so many other benefits. It astonishes me that Martin Lewis claims there are hundreds of thousands of elderly entitled to pension credit, who do not apply for it. Please encourage anyone you know, to do so.

The problem with this is that those older and more vulnerable pensioners who are also receiving small works pensions which are being eroded with cost of living hikes are the ones who will suffer, because there are thousands of these borderline cases who aren't eligible for pension credit.

Definitely, see if you are eligible. But if you've been thrifty all your life and built up a savings pot over £16,000 to either live off or hopefully hand on to the next generation, you will be penalised. If you haven't got savings, you'll get more help. Basically, under this system, you can't win.

 

[Patsy]

The problem with this is that those older and more vulnerable pensioners who are also receiving small works pensions which are being eroded with cost of living hikes are the ones who will suffer, because there are thousands of these borderline cases who aren't eligible for pension credit.

Definitely, see if you are eligible. But if you've been thrifty all your life and built up a savings pot over £16,000 to either live off or hopefully hand on to the next generation, you will be penalised. If you haven't got savings, you'll get more help. Basically, under this system, you can't win.

My hubby has an NHS pension along with his state pension. His increase on his pension is wiped out with income tax. We have a friend who had to retire in his early 50's as he had a stroke. I won't mention which part of the Government he worked for but ended up with a £75,000.00 pa pension,he was told at first it was £36,000.00 pa but his wife told me "I don't know how they think we will manage on that"???? Goodness knows what it is now and he is going to get a state pension!!!!! The majority of civil service pensioners get huge pensions and shouldn't get a state pension or their state pension should be deducted from their civil service pension.

 

[donna255]

I get a civil service pension, but it is only £73 a month. Left the Passport Office for another job I thought would be better but wasn't.

So, not living the high live.

 

[Silver Fox]

I will not be getting the Fuel payment now but I cannot say it will be a problem.I never considered myself as being over careful with spending.However I must have done something right, worked & paid into a work pension, I also get my State Pension and managed to pay off my mortgage when I retired.I still pay Income Tax.As a single householder I get a 25% reduction on my Council Tax.No inheritances have ever come my way but I am proud of my independence as financially I am self sufficient.

 

[candycane]

Mr CC will lose the winter fuel payment and now he will also pay tax on his pensions as although they all went up (state and 2 works pensions), he's now over the personal allowance so is taxed and now worse off than before. Good job I'm still working

CC

 

[LV73]

I love my Prezerve case. I wish I'd bought another as mine is groaning with all the silver I've bought over the years (and keep meaning to sell for scrap as I no longer wear it). I have some sentimental bits and pieces that I won't get rid of that are like new thanks to it.

Does anyone know why they're no longer sold?

Ah, CC. I'm sorry to hear you've been hit by hard times. I suspect a lot of us 'older' members here are familiar with harder times even if they haven't been through a period of 'enforced' hard times. I went through a period like this and discovered that what (to quote AY) literally doesn't kill you will definitely make you stronger.

I hope no one here ever has to go through hard times but if they do, they get through it.

You can buy Lori Greiner jewellery boxes second hand on eBay which have an anti tarnish lining like Prezerve. They used to sell them on Q in UK but now only seem to do so on Q Germany and USA. They definitely work.

 

[donna255]

On the news this morning about the big increases in gas and electric prices coming this winter.

Labour pushing for pensioners to apply for pension credit.

 

[candycane]

I did a little survey within my own family/friends who are pensioners and not one of them qualified for pension credit. It would seem only those who rely solely on their state pension can get it. Some just won't apply as they are too proud to accept welfare. I've always found any kind of benefits really difficult to apply for and be awarded. It's not as easy as some would have you believe.

CC

 

[stratobuddy]

Older pensioners, the majority of whom started work several years in age before today's youngsters, were led to believe that their NI contributions would fund their old age pensions when the time came. It's clear now that those contributions were not ring-fenced for their alleged purpose. The pension has morphed into a "benefit", financed by the current workforce.
I've long advocated that George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" should be on every school curriculum.

A prime minister, even if for only a few days eg Liz Truss, will get a HUGE pension, and personal protection for the rest of theit lives.

 

[stratobuddy]

Endowment mortgages,we had one as we were told that, at the time, it was the only way we would get a mortgage. We were told that we may not get a large amount at the end of the term but it would cover our mortgage.
Well everything went tits up and we and thousands ended up with nothing to cover the mortgage. We ended up with barely anything and have no idea how the companies got away with it.

I had a colleague who left his IT job to sell endowment mortgages!

 

[historymystery]

A prime minister, even if for only a few days eg Liz Truss, will get a HUGE pension, and personal protection for the rest of theit lives.

Yes, isn't it strange how they can always find the money to fund those on the Gravy Train? I don't see anything changing anytime soon, they all have their feet firmly in the trough. Economising and going without is, of course, for the 'little people'...

 

[donna255]

Here in N.I. we don't only have CAB but independent advice centres.

They have trained staff who do nothing every day but fill out benefit forms for people. They ask questions to the person, then fill in using the correct terms and words. The hardest benefit to get is PIP, it seems. So they will be very busy filling in Pension Credit applications.

It seems if you are over the rate to claim Pension Credit if you can get PIP you can still claim it. The Mirror newspaper online had an article telling pensioners to claim PIP. Replies in comments saying it's very difficult to claim that.

 

[stratobuddy]

My OH is eligible to claim Attendance Allowance for a nunber of reasons,

I used to fill in loads of claim forms in the CAB, but she refuses to claim it out of pride.

I'm sure she would get it if I filled in the forms, being honest, but I know the wording to use.

 

[donna255]

I was told people give too much useless information and really need to stick to simple answers.

 

[candycane]

Yes, I believe there is a "way" to fill in forms in order to have a better chance of being awarded a benefit. I'm sure I read an article somewhere about a woman (who is on benefits) charging people a tidy sum to fill in their forms for them. She had a very high success rate and I'm sure her earnings were just under the personal tax allowance limit (of course). I think a huge number of people that should be getting help aren't because they don't know where to go to get support.

CC

 

[stratobuddy]

Yes, I believe there is a "way" to fill in forms in order to have a better chance of being awarded a benefit. I'm sure I read an article somewhere about a woman (who is on benefits) charging people a tidy sum to fill in their forms for them. She had a very high success rate and I'm sure her earnings were just under the personal tax allowance limit (of course). I think a huge number of people that should be getting help aren't because they don't know where to go to get support.

CC

I may have said this before, but a disabled woman came in to say she had been turned down for a disability benefit.

I obtained all the documentation from the DSS (or whatever it was called then) and one of the questions was "Do you have any difficulty going upstairs at home"?

She had answered NO, but it seemed obvious that she would have. So I asked her why, and she said it was because she lived in a bungalow!

Her answer implied that she had no problems with stairs, which was not the point of the question.

Anyway, we went through all the questions together, altered some answers (with her agreement) then she got the benefit when we appealed against their decision.

 

[Brissles]

I was born into a Labour party family - it meant something back in the day, for the working man. Would they have scrapped pensioners fuel payments back then? NO I have not voted Labour since Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

By the way, I think Equity Release will be the next big scandal.