MSE News: Inflation soars, but means higher state benefits

Oldernotwiser

Samsaragirl wrote: »

Fair enough, guess I'm in a fortunate position re timing in that I can stay here and look after them

Means my life is on hold though, and that's difficult at times

I'm a carer for my husband but I would never say (or think) that my life was on hold. This is my life and I hope that it continues to be so for as long as possible.

Oldernotwiser

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

I take it all back. Oldnotwiser and Bobajob 1966 aren't having an affair - I think they're married!!!

Hi Poppasmurf!

How are you getting on looking up those statistics so I can thank you for correcting me?

neverdespairgirl

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The generation of people who are pensioners now ( I'm one of them) is generally considered to be one of the most fortunate that have ever existed. I don't think you'll find much agreement from anyone of your description of them.

(And, by the way, only a very small percentage of pensioners actually go into residential care.)

The benefits system for those over 60 is insane. Whatever a person's income, he gets things such as the free travel pass (in London, anyway) winter fuel payment, free prescriptions, etc. Even if he's earning half a million pounds a year.

im-lost

Samsaragirl wrote: »

So if I have to comment , do I first ask for it to be moved over?

Nope.. its where threads such as this get moved when it gets a life of its own :rotfl:

There be some quite interesting but weird folk lurking at the bottom of this here site
They never venture out of the safety net that is discussion time..

Simon7685

Think I might add my ten peneth to this, then no doubt get lambasted for my views and opinions.

To be fair I think pensioners are better off now than they have ever been. If they don't have large amounts of savings they get the pension credit guarantee. My Mother is 80, she gets this around £140 a week. She gets her rent paid, her council tax paid, gets the winter fuel allowance, free bus pass, free prescriptions and from this winter the extra £120 fuel rebate from her supplier.

By her own admittance she is the best off she has ever been (and she worked all her life). She never worries about turning the heating on, eats well buys things she needs and still manages to save and have a holiday. Now I appreciate that it isn't the same for everyone but there are more pensioners in her position on the pension income guarantee than not, so the majority of pensioners I don't think can complain that much.

I guess we would all like to think that we all had thousands of pounds of surplus income every year and be given everything on a silver salver but it doesn't and never has worked that way. If you don't have savings as a pensioner, then I think you get looked after pretty well by the state now, compared to say 30 years ago. If you do have large amounts of savings, well you can't expect to be given everything, that is not what the welfare state was meant to do but even those pensioners with savings still get something after all the minimum income guarantee is there to make sure that every pensioner with or without savings has at least that minimum amount.

I think a lot of the time with the welfare system it boils down to those that have money object to those that don't have money getting something that they don't. i.e - a benefit payment. It has always been that way and I think it will always be that way, you see and hear it all the time, "why should I go out to work 60 hours a week while xxxx sits on his a**e all day long and gets it given on a plate". "How can they afford to get a new TV - they don't work".

It's never going to alter, those that have it don't want those that haven't to get anything. However they are the trials and tribulations of having a welfare state.

Now, where's my tin hat!

bobmccluckie

at yesterday's briefing Downing Street said that whilst committed to upping pensions using Sept CPI there was no guarantee that they would up benefits by the same process.
You have been warned!
Full briefing here
http://www.politicshome.com/uk/article/37670/benefits_inflation_link_reviewed%3F.html

leannaf2721

bomechina wrote: »

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.

yes true but i found when i was working on a minimum wage that its easier to budget getting paid monthly e.g i could bulk buy saving me a lot of money i could take advantage of direct debits monthly buy a monthly bus pass saving me more money i could go on , and when on benefits you get paid weekly and its frustrating that they have to pay more they cant bulk buy as they dont have enough so have to pay more than if they bought the small packet even gas and electric you pay more if you pay weekly.. but i do also agree that the minimum wage needs to go up more than what it did

Heartache_2

wiltslass wrote: »

I suppose this is good news of a sort for pensioners!

It sounds good for pensioners! but we have worked all our lives, paid into private pensions but now because we have a little bit of housing benefit they will take it off us, so if we had never worked we would be getting everything now. I'm glad I'm older, God knows what will happen to all the younger people in the future I worry for my grandchildren.

Heartache_2

Simon7685 wrote: »

Think I might add my ten peneth to this, then no doubt get lambasted for my views and opinions.

To be fair I think pensioners are better off now than they have ever been. If they don't have large amounts of savings they get the pension credit guarantee. My Mother is 80, she gets this around £140 a week. She gets her rent paid, her council tax paid, gets the winter fuel allowance, free bus pass, free prescriptions and from this winter the extra £120 fuel rebate from her supplier.

By her own admittance she is the best off she has ever been (and she worked all her life). She never worries about turning the heating on, eats well buys things she needs and still manages to save and have a holiday. Now I appreciate that it isn't the same for everyone but there are more pensioners in her position on the pension income guarantee than not, so the majority of pensioners I don't think can complain that much.

I guess we would all like to think that we all had thousands of pounds of surplus income every year and be given everything on a silver salver but it doesn't and never has worked that way. If you don't have savings as a pensioner, then I think you get looked after pretty well by the state now, compared to say 30 years ago. If you do have large amounts of savings, well you can't expect to be given everything, that is not what the welfare state was meant to do but even those pensioners with savings still get something after all the minimum income guarantee is there to make sure that every pensioner with or without savings has at least that minimum amount.

I think a lot of the time with the welfare system it boils down to those that have money object to those that don't have money getting something that they don't. i.e - a benefit payment. It has always been that way and I think it will always be that way, you see and hear it all the time, "why should I go out to work 60 hours a week while xxxx sits on his a**e all day long and gets it given on a plate". "How can they afford to get a new TV - they don't work".

It's never going to alter, those that have it don't want those that haven't to get anything. However they are the trials and tribulations of having a welfare state.

Now, where's my tin hat!

I beg to differ I do not have any savings and I do not get pension credit guarantee I get pension credit savings which is £13.00 per week and because of this I will not get the £120 fuel although we do get the £200 but that only pays one bill If I was on Pension Guarantee I agree I would get everything. I pay rent and council tax with a little bit of help from the council. I have brought up four children so have never had the opportunity to save having only worked for low wages and they help us when they can but eveybody is struggling. Your mother is very lucky to be on PC guarantee I think it should go to people who have no savings but have still worked all their lives

frank_begbie

Simon7685 wrote: »

Think I might add my ten peneth to this, then no doubt get lambasted for my views and opinions.

To be fair I think pensioners are better off now than they have ever been. If they don't have large amounts of savings they get the pension credit guarantee. My Mother is 80, she gets this around £140 a week. She gets her rent paid, her council tax paid, gets the winter fuel allowance, free bus pass, free prescriptions and from this winter the extra £120 fuel rebate from her supplier.

By her own admittance she is the best off she has ever been (and she worked all her life). She never worries about turning the heating on, eats well buys things she needs and still manages to save and have a holiday. Now I appreciate that it isn't the same for everyone but there are more pensioners in her position on the pension income guarantee than not, so the majority of pensioners I don't think can complain that much.

I guess we would all like to think that we all had thousands of pounds of surplus income every year and be given everything on a silver salver but it doesn't and never has worked that way. If you don't have savings as a pensioner, then I think you get looked after pretty well by the state now, compared to say 30 years ago. If you do have large amounts of savings, well you can't expect to be given everything, that is not what the welfare state was meant to do but even those pensioners with savings still get something after all the minimum income guarantee is there to make sure that every pensioner with or without savings has at least that minimum amount.

I think a lot of the time with the welfare system it boils down to those that have money object to those that don't have money getting something that they don't. i.e - a benefit payment. It has always been that way and I think it will always be that way, you see and hear it all the time, "why should I go out to work 60 hours a week while xxxx sits on his a**e all day long and gets it given on a plate". "How can they afford to get a new TV - they don't work".

It's never going to alter, those that have it don't want those that haven't to get anything. However they are the trials and tribulations of having a welfare state.

Now, where's my tin hat!

Good post mate.

I'm on ESA at the moment, £67 a week.

In a few months I will be going over to Pension Credit, where my money will double, and will get other benefits such as Bus Pass and the Fuel payment.

I really don't see what some pensioners have to moan about.
Of course we'd all like a bit more money but they do ok when compared to people on minimum wage or JSA.

What people should be more concerned about is the Gold Plated pensions all the MPs are getting.
They never seem to suffer, no matter how bad the economy is doing.