MSE News: Budget 2012 - £3.3 billion tax blow for pensioners

FATBALLZ

molley wrote: »

I'd forgotten that Public Sector workers get their Gold Plated Pensions for free don't they ?? :mad:

Public sector workers get all their wages and pension contributions from the government. The government gets all its funds from tax on private sector activity. Which part of this are you disputing?

Green_box

FATBALLZ wrote: »

Public sector workers get all their wages and pension contributions from the government. The government gets all its funds from tax on private sector activity. Which part of this are you disputing?

1. The majority of public sector pensions are contributory.
2. The public sector pays tax too.

molley

Green_box wrote: »

1. The majority of public sector pensions are contributory.
2. The public sector pays tax too.

Thanks Green box for saving me having to reply to that load of misinformation !!!:T

Eco_Miser

First rule of warfare: Divide and conquer.





First part successful, I wonder when the second part will be implemented.

molley

Eco_Miser wrote: »

First rule of warfare: Divide and conquer.





First part successful, I wonder when the second part will be implemented.

You forgot the sideways manoeuvre of dropping something else in to the mix to take folks attention away from the topic that's causing the bother ..lol

I_luv_cats

Why do Tory boyz keep saying "Pensioners" are doing well?

CPI now (not RPI) and with the cost of living (Food, Gas, Elec, VAT @ 20% etc.) and less % on their savings the £5.00 isn't going to stave them from poverty.

Some are helping the economy as unpaid child minders so their offspring can go to work as childcare is so expensive.

Why this tax simplification suggestion - clever how it makes the pensioners worse off with no inflation tax allowance rises for a while.

SandraScarlett

FATBALLZ wrote: »

Word of advice - if you think the state pension will exist in any meaningful form when 'we' (gen y?) are older you are living in a dreamland. The current system is fundamentally unsustainable and if you want to retire before your mid 70s you better bloody well get saving!

I don't know your age Andy, but I am absolutely positive that you are correct and you'll probably be nearer 80, if and when you get a pension.

But why do you think this is the "fault" of today's pensioners? You make a lot of sweeping statements about the post war generation, but believe me, we're not all living off the fat of the land, and putting 2 fingers up to the rest of society.

For example, my Dad, a window cleaner, couldn't afford for me to stay on to the 6th form, let alone university, as my wage was needed to help the family income, so I left school. It wasn't until 20 years later, that I was able to start training via a 3 year scheme, to be a teacher, whilst working full time.

And it was expected that most women would stay at home, bringing up their children, till secondary school age, so there were ample jobs for the husbands - we didn't have "partners" in those days!

But it's not our fault that we were born when we were, no more than it is your fault when you were born. But you know what? I am glad I was born when I was.:) Not because of the financial situation, but because of everything else.

We had it drummed into us to be polite and well behaved, for instance, if you got told off by the teacher, and complained to your Mum, you'd get "what for" from her as well! We were taught to respect others, especially older people.;) We were taught not to waste things, and if you couldn't afford something,you did without.

We were taught to be prudent and save, and not to bring "shame" on the family! But we had the best, the very best, of the music.:T I saw the Beatles in concert, and the Rolling Stones, Billy Fury, Cliff, Marty Wilde etc and I danced the night away in a dress with zillions of petticoats beneath, so it stuck out like a lampshade, and swapped this for a mini skirt, when they came into fashion. All this drinking lemonade, and able to walk home, alone, without fear.

Work was plentiful because so many things were manufactured, and we were encouraged to Buy British. It's not our fault that the mills closed, and people now buy foreign cars. And then once you reach old age, you have the joy of all the aches and pains - and worse - that age brings.

I know you won't change your opinion, but the pensioners all want for their children and grandchildren to have good lives, which is why so many of us help by looking after grandchildren after school, before school, during the holidays, on the Teachers Training Days etc, so the parents don't have to take time off work, and we help in so many other ways too.

Everyone on these boards will one day become old - because, believe me, the alternative isn't better!

xx

amiehall

I actually have a fairly strong ideological belief that people should be supported by the state when they have problems and am happy to pay tax at a level that sustains this.

However, I'm not sure I see why there should be a higher allowance for over 65s. I can't see that expenses would be different to a low earner on the same wage.

Inflation for pensioners is high. Anyone spending a high proportion of their earnings on fuel, energy, food is going to really feel it. However, this applies equally to a low earner. I honestly think it would be for the best to decide on a fair personal allowance and apply it to everyone regardless of their age.

thorsoak

The majority of us who are now the despised baby boomers left school at 15/16 - some made it through to 18. We started work then - no gap years then - we either went into apprenticeships, or trainees - with part-time day release at college plus evening classes - articled clerks in accountants' offices and solicitors' offices had to pay a premium first - and we worked/contributed to the family budget.

We had to have 44 years FULL NI contributions to enable us to achieve a full pension - no luxury of part-time work then.

This is the way it had been for generations - which is why the ARA was originally awarded, back in the 1920s - a small contribution to acknowledge thanks for a lifetime of work.

SandraScarlett

amiehall wrote: »

I have to say I'm a bit sad that no-one has even tried to answer my question. Until this week I'd never heard of the ARA and am really wondering what the original rationale behind it was?

Well I'm a bit sad that after giving you a detailed answer, to the best of my ability, you didn't feel it necessary to thank me!

xx