MSE News: Inflation soars, but means higher state benefits

fermi

Hmmm.......

Benefits-inflation link reviewed?

NevGeorge

fermi wrote: »

Hmmm.......

Benefits-inflation link reviewed?

Why is it when a politician opens their mouth all that comes out is verbal diarrhoea? Unfortunately this coalition has done nothing but backtrack on it's manifesto and announcements, I don't trust or have any faith in them or any other party be it Labour, Lefty Liberals or Tory.

This is a wait and see spectacle IMO;)

moose1982

NevGeorge wrote: »

As for switching to get the best price I haven't a hope in hells chance being unemployed.

I've unemployed since early 2009 and switched twice, employment status doesn't matter when switching energy companies, even if it may seem it, it really doesn't.

poppasmurf_bewdley

JezR wrote: »

I guess you have forgotten about the government that decided not to pay the Christmas bonus to pensioners for 2 years.

Which Government was that then that didn't pay the £10 Christmas Bonus for two years, thereby robbing pensioners of £20 in total? (Less than three weeks worth of robbery of this Government).

Morlock

moose1982 wrote: »

I've unemployed since early 2009 and switched twice, employment status doesn't matter when switching energy companies, even if it may seem it, it really doesn't.

It depends upon circumstances, being unemployed may well be an obstacle that prevents switching to cheaper tariffs. For example, a lot of unemployed people move into properties with a prepayment meter already fitted. And are, therefore, restricted to a small selection of prepayment tariffs even if they have no previous record of bad debt!

bomechina

NevGeorge wrote: »

I think you need to think how you would manage on £67.50 per week;)

After paying rent/ mortgage and council tax most working people on minimum wage don't even have £67.50 a week left. I know I certainly don't.

Oldernotwiser

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Interesting to note that the change of method of calculation is robbing pensioners of £1 per week, which is typical of the Tories. The £5 increase will go some way to helping pay for the £7 a week the change to Housing Benefits is taking away from those pensioners who rent their homes on the private market.
.

I doubt that there are all that many pensioners who rent privately and paying less benefit is hardly taking away. Anyway, for a couple who've worked, the pension increases will be rather more than £7.

Oldernotwiser

NevGeorge wrote: »

I'm on JSA and am struggling to make ends meet, my savings are dwindling fast just paying bills and mortgage but get some relief by not having to pay Council tax. I don't get housing benefit so paying my mortgage is the priority at the moment so my £67.50 goes into the DD account for paying bills and my wife and I live off her state pension for the time being.

I have had two temporary jobs since being made redundant that really haven't helped us out because of the outlay I had to pay out just for fuel to get to the place I was working. Shortly the same place want me back for another 3 months taking me into the new year. It's not that I don't want to work but it's the cost to me and my family when I start work as you get no help from the benefits agency. BTW I don't have any debt as I paid all this off when I was made redundant except for a small mortgage of just over £100

Soon I won't have the money to pay for energy as my savings will have run out, what then? All I can forsee is threats from these greedy people if I don't pay up, worse still fitting a PAYG metre that extorts money from the poor:mad:

As for switching to get the best price I haven't a hope in hells chance being unemployed.

The government think they are doing you a favour but if the calculations were on the original RPI then there would be a better rise for pensioners and the rest, as usual the 'have nots' get kicked in the teeth via government policy.

I have two years before I take my small army pension and a further 5 years after that before I get my State pension. I have worked since I was 15 1/2 when I joined the army as a boy soldier so in all have worked non stop until last year for 42 years paid my taxes and now I get treated like a kid in the JC that really naffs me off.

Don't you get help with mortgage interest payments?

bobajob_1966

greyraccoon wrote: »

What about stipends paid to research students? (rates set by the Government) - these are not increasing by a single penny this year.

Shocking - no increase on your tax free allowance for being a student, I bet you'll get lots of sympathy about that!

Oldernotwiser

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Shocking - no increase on your tax free allowance for being a student, I bet you'll get lots of sympathy about that!

Paid to be a post graduate - I could only dream!