Bus Pass Rip Off

pollypenny

zygurat789 wrote: »

Especially as it is the English who are paying for it

Sure?


We pay tax in Wales, too, you know.

BTW: I think to give totally free prescriptions was a poor decision.

zygurat789

QUOTE POLLYPENNY

Quote:
Originally Posted by zygurat789
Especially as it is the English who are paying for it



Sure?


We pay tax in Wales, too, you know.

BTW: I think to give totally free prescriptions was a poor decision.END QUOTE

Prescriptions in Wales are free too - Guess who's paying for those too.

mumps

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Good post tanith, I absolutely agree. Although I still know some people who didn't know about the rise in womens' Pension age until recently. Have they been living on the moon or something? It's been planned for at least a decade!

As for those of us who 'got in' before the change (I'm one, being 60 in January this year), well we have had to pay our NI for 39/44 years to get our full State Pension; people now only have to pay for 30, so far more people (especially women) will qualify for it. Also a man who does not have enough NI can claim from his wife's if she has, that was not the case before the changes. Also people are living much longer after retirement, it is right that the age should be equalised/raised.

The new system is much fairer than the old one.



And bear in mind that many people won't actually have to actually work till that age, they will be able to retire earlier on a works or private pension or other income if they wish. It just means they won't be able to draw their State Pension until 65 (or later at 68).

I won't get my pension till I am about 63, can't remember exactly, but I have already paid my NI for 41 years, by the time I retire I will have paid for about 48 years. I do think it is unfair to change the rules, I had been paying NI for over 30 years when the rule changes were planned, I don't think that is fair. I can't imagine a private pension provider being allowed to change the rules like that. I do wish to retire earlier but unfortunately I can't afford it, the joys of a lifetime time raising children and caring for a disabled partner as well as earning a living.

I understand the economic reasons for the changes and I just wondered if you think it is such a good idea if you might like to donate your pension to the government for the next five years? Personally I feel I have done my bit and would welcome a rest.

Just edited to add I have checked and I can't retire until I am 63 years and 7 months, so I will have paid full NI for over 48 years. The change in retirement age wouldn't be such an insult if they let me stop paying NI now.

pollypenny

zygurat789 wrote: »

QUOTE POLLYPENNY

Quote:
Originally Posted by zygurat789
Especially as it is the English who are paying for it



Sure?


We pay tax in Wales, too, you know.

BTW: I think to give totally free prescriptions was a poor decision.END QUOTE

Prescriptions in Wales are free too - Guess who's paying for those too.

[/I]


MY post queried your previous comment - exactly the same.

We pay tax in Wales - which helps to pay for the free prescriptions.

zygurat789

You may pay tax in Wales but it is less than the budget of the assembly. The free prescriptions, in Wales are funded by English taxpayers

dzug1

margaretclare wrote: »

What's the rip off rule?

That any post on MSE (and many other forums) claiming something is a 'rip off' is virtually always wrong about it being a 'rip off'.

Whilst this thread has made many interesting and valid points, it's not shown that the bus pass system is a 'rip off'

margaretclare

dzug1 wrote: »

That any post on MSE (and many other forums) claiming something is a 'rip off' is virtually always wrong about it being a 'rip off'.

Whilst this thread has made many interesting and valid points, it's not shown that the bus pass system is a 'rip off'

Thank you for the explanation.