Tories claims single pensioners are £110 worse off after Budget

Define "well off" for pensioners ?

I think this is smart electioneering from Cameron. Pensioners are the group most likely to vote and in many of the key marginals there are high proportions of pensioners. I also believe that pensioners who have contributed into the system deserve to get something out of it.

I have over 10 years experience in advice. I have worked with young people, working age people, and pensioners.

The only group to have significantly benefitted from the benefits system in recent years is the over 60's. No exceptions. These "heat or eat" programmes are a complete nonsense. The rules are so generous, that it is quite unlikely that anyone over 60 will not qualify for at least 1 welfare benefit.

There are some people who don't, & the reason for that, is generally that they have an extremely large amount of savings. I saw a person not too long ago. He was 67. He was moaning about the fact that he has to pay his council tax, whereas his neighbour doesn't. Apparently it isn't fair.

Now, I would dare to suggest 2 things:

1) the neighbour didn't have £110k in 1 bank account, & £48k in a second bank account, in addition to 3 private pensions.
2) the person I was seeing doesn't need any help with a council tax bill of £1100 a year when they are sitting on a nest egg in excess of £150k.

The "entitled to" brigade covers all ages in society. A welfare system is supposed to help those in genuine need, not those who have the means to support themselves!

Really makes me :mad:

lemonjelly wrote: »

I
There are some people who don't, & the reason for that, is generally that they have an extremely large amount of savings. I saw a person not too long ago. He was 67. He was moaning about the fact that he has to pay his council tax, whereas his neighbour doesn't. Apparently it isn't fair.

Now, I would dare to suggest 2 things:

1) the neighbour didn't have £110k in 1 bank account, & £48k in a second bank account, in addition to 3 private pensions.
2) the person I was seeing doesn't need any help with a council tax bill of £1100 a year when they are sitting on a nest egg in excess of £150k.

The "entitled to" brigade covers all ages in society. A welfare system is supposed to help those in genuine need, not those who have the means to support themselves!

Really makes me :mad:

So where is the incentive to save and provide for yourself if the state is going to dole money out to others. Labour is very happy to reward the !!!!less and punish the thrifty. I daresay he is annoyed he made provision for himself when others did not bother.

What really makes me :mad: is the whole benefit dependency culture that has grown up under labour. Where spongers are paid to sit on their a$$es and raise an army of children while we hard workers pay for it and then they, like that Chavvy Liverpudlian on the BBC reality show after the 10 o'clock news last night, moan that they do not have enough.

You should get out proportionate to what you have put in.

ninky wrote: »

lj interesting what you say about pensioners and financial comfort.

you certainly see fewer of the can of cat food, econo bread and pint of milk in the basket OAPs than you used to when the tories were in power.

I think there are a number of factors.

Pensioners generally are a little more savvy, & only spend when they need to.
Pensioners tend to avoid wasting anything where possible.
They already have lots of clothes, & don';t tend to dress up as much, therefore need less clothing.
They have concessionary travel.
They have more free time, therefore are (in theory) able to take advantage of off-peak reductions & the like.
Mortgage is likely to be paid in full.
Less financial commitments.

I actually believe that the reason you see a lot of pensioners buying v little, is that they shop almost every day, to avoid waste.

However over my life I have seen the lot of pensioners improved every budget. There are still those who complain, but they are the most likely to vote, so parties won't upset them. However, they are disproportionately looked after by the benefits system, & that burden will increase as baby boomers retire.

But any notion that pensioners have a struggle nowadays is a myth. Any pensioner who is struggling, will either:

have tons of cash in a bank they don't want to spend

or

have not claimed the welfare benefits they are entitled to.

& believe me, the first option is far & away the most likely. In 10-11 years, very few pensioners have seen me as they are experiencing real hardship. I could count the amount on my fingers I'd expect.

What gets me, is the constant trotting out of this myth...