Off Topic Politics Thread

[San Tejón]

Atos and Maximus have had their contracts extended, so that they can continue to falsely accuse the sick and disabled of being fit to work. And all for the miserly sum of £631.1 million.
How much the price of a doctor’s fitness to work letter, based on their having used their years of training and experience to decide whether or not a person is REALLY fit to work?
How much the cost of legal fees trying to fight the very many wrong assessments in courts/tribunals?
This government really isn’t fit for purpose.

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[Beddy]

They don’t seem to think there will be many pensioners that can’t afford the £3 a week or so extra they need to find IMo it will mean a few more going to have to ask for credits. For pensioners who have little or no way of increasing their income with prices going up the way they are. It can be devastating. You may not think that £3 or so is a lot to some trust me.

 

[Brinkworth Saint]

Now I see Johnson is promising tax cuts for the richest of us........oh bloody hell....now I wonder how he will be able to do that? Cut more from the police and NHS?

That’s why he won’t get my vote in a week or two!!! Absolutely not a justifiable policy in any situation.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

They don’t seem to think there will be many pensioners that can’t afford the £3 a week or so extra they need to find IMo it will mean a few more going to have to ask for credits. For pensioners who have little or no way of increasing their income with prices going up the way they are. It can be devastating. You may not think that £3 or so is a lot to some trust me.

If £3 is a lot to some pensioners, the chances are that they get pension credits to supplement their pension, so would be exempt anyway.
I don't see that this change will adversely effect large numbers.

 

[Brinkworth Saint]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't it originally brought in as pensioners as a group were the least able to afford it?

That probably isn't the case anymore so is a good thing imo.

Agree and the BBC need to get to grips with their vast empire’s costs!

 

[Libby]

They don’t seem to think there will be many pensioners that can’t afford the £3 a week or so extra they need to find IMo it will mean a few more going to have to ask for credits. For pensioners who have little or no way of increasing their income with prices going up the way they are. It can be devastating. You may not think that £3 or so is a lot to some trust me.

A lot of people realise that Beddy although I assure you it's not just pensioners who can find themselves in that position.

I'm almost certain that anyone in your example will still get it as I believe it will be means tested, again as it should be imo.

 

[Libby]

Agree and the BBC need to get to grips with their vast empire’s costs!

Yeah as alluded to by Stu I suspect it will all change in the near future anyway and you'll pay for specific programs etc.

 

[Beddy]

If £3 is a lot to some pensioners, the chances are that they get pension credits to supplement their pension, so would be exempt anyway.
I don't see that this change will adversely effect large numbers.

Not necessary......... with the recent food price increases and other increases some pensioners struggle even now. Price increases on average are larger than pension increases. So each and every year more and more is taken from any spare you may have. However you have no way of putting that back, Not all, agreed, to an over 75 though it is a kick in the teeth.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Not necessary......... with the recent food price increases and other increases some pensioners struggle even now. Price increases on average are larger than pension increases. So each and every year more and more is taken from any spare you may have. However you have no way of putting that back, Not all, agreed, to an over 75 though it is a kick in the teeth.

I disagree, as long as the state pension continues to get triple lock protection, then most pensioners will keep pace with cost of living. Those that are on very low incomes can claim pension credits and so will continue to get the license paid for.

 

[ChilcoSaint]

Not necessary......... with the recent food price increases and other increases some pensioners struggle even now. Price increases on average are larger than pension increases. So each and every year more and more is taken from any spare you may have. However you have no way of putting that back, Not all, agreed, to an over 75 though it is a kick in the teeth.

Well I suppose when our only trade deal is with South Korea and we’re paying £10 for a loaf of bread the TV licence will be the least of our worries.

 

[Beddy]

I disagree, as long as the state pension continues to get triple lock protection, then most pensioners will keep pace with cost of living. Those that are on very low incomes can claim pension credits and so will continue to get the license paid for.

I think you forget most pensioners that are 75 or older will more and likely got there during the depression years so savings etc would likely not been possible or sparse. From the people I’ve spoken to today all have said it will hit them badly. Without exception all said they did not want to be a burden to the state and preferred not to ask for any hand outs All said they would find a way of paying it without asking for help. Some I know will handle it but at least two of the couple are already struggling. I have mentioned they should get help but they are too proud.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

I think you forget most pensioners that are 75 or older will more and likely got there during the depression years so savings etc would likely not been possible or sparse. From the people I’ve spoken to today all have said it will hit them badly. Without exception all said they did not want to be a burden to the state and preferred not to ask for any hand outs All said they would find a way of paying it without asking for help. Some I know will handle it but at least two of the couple are already struggling. I have mentioned they should get help but they are too proud.

By depression years, are you talking immediately post war? It's only the really old folk that ever had to deal with that as adults, and that's a shrinking number. I know plenty of pensioners with various incomes, and not many of them are worse off than me as far as disposable income goes.
I agree there are pensioners who may find it a struggle, but not pensioners as a group.
If pride is stopping people from claiming help that they are entitled to, then more fool them.

 

[Qwerty]

What's a "pension"?

 

[Libby]

What's a "pension"?

What do you reckon retirement age will be when we reach the time mate?

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

What do you reckon retirement age will be when we reach the time mate?

You'll never get there Libby. Its 67 for me, but for younger people than me that will soon get to 70, then 72 before being phased out completely and non working old people will have to perform in reality TV shows for food or fight over bin territories for scraps.

 

[San Tejón]

I disagree, as long as the state pension continues to get triple lock protection, then most pensioners will keep pace with cost of living. Those that are on very low incomes can claim pension credits and so will continue to get the license paid for.

Although this doesn’t affect the over 75s, who will already have access to pension credits, don’t forget the recent changes that the Tories made to pension credits rules.
The rules have changed so instead of a couple being eligible for pension credits when the oldest of the two becomes a pensioner, it has now changed to when the youngest becomes a pensioner.
This rule change could be the difference between a person being able to retire at pensionable age, or having to continue working until his or her younger partner reaches pensionable age.
And didn’t the Tories try to end the triple lock, not so long ago? These are the same people who said that they would guarantee keeping the free tv licence until the end of their term of office.

 

[Qwerty]

What do you reckon retirement age will be when we reach the time mate?

Old.

I dunno really, I'm not a big expert but every time I try and look at the numbers it's just awful. I guess by 2050 or so the whole concept of pensions/retirement will be a lot more fuzzy than it is at the moment. That doesn't mean we can't panic about it now though.

 

[Libby]

You'll never get there Libby. Its 67 for me, but for younger people than me that will soon get to 70, then 72 before being phased out completely and non working old people will have to perform in reality TV shows for food or fight over bin territories for scraps.

Sounds about right.


That's one reality show I might tune in to though.

 

[Libby]

Old.

I dunno really, I'm not a big expert but every time I try and look at the numbers it's just awful. I guess by 2050 or so the whole concept of pensions/retirement will be a lot more fuzzy than it is at the moment. That doesn't mean we can't panic about it now though.

I don't have a pension currently.

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Although this doesn’t affect the over 75s, who will already have access to pension credits, don’t forget the recent changes that the Tories made to pension credits rules.
The rules have changed so instead of a couple being eligible for pension credits when the oldest of the two becomes a pensioner, it has now changed to when the youngest becomes a pensioner.
This rule change could be the difference between a person being able to retire at pensionable age, or having to continue working until his or her younger partner reaches pensionable age.
And didn’t the Tories try to end the triple lock, not so long ago? These are the same people who said that they would guarantee keeping the free tv licence until the end of their term of office.

I don't deny that there are a small number of people who will be affected but I still think pensioners are already looked after far better than our country looks after working age poor.
My wife is 6 years younger than me so I'll probably have to continue earning a few quid for several years after I "retire".
I'm expecting it though so can plan ahead. Watch ebay become full of rustic furniture made out of scaffolding planks in about 10 years