Restoration of the age related allowance

teajug

atush wrote: »

I won't be signing.

One larger personal allowance for all. It is normal and expected in most western countries.

I also expect winter fuel allowance to be restricted to those who need it only.

What is your definition of NEED....

margaretclare

atush wrote: »

I won't be signing.

One larger personal allowance for all. It is normal and expected in most western countries.

I also expect winter fuel allowance to be restricted to those who need it only.

Me too.

Definition of 'need'? It makes a real difference to warmth in the winter i.e. wouldn't be warm without it.

hugheskevi

I also expect winter fuel allowance to be restricted to those who need it only.

I'd prefer it to either be incorporated within the proposed £140 p/w pension if it is universal, or within Pension Credit if it is means-tested. The entire State Pension system is ripe for simplification.

Off the top of my head, here are the things a pensioner might be entitled to:

Basic State Pension, Graduated Retirement Benefit, SERPS, State Second Pension, free eyesight tests, Winter Fuel Allowance, Free TV Licence, £120 annual discount on energy bills, over 80s 25p addition to Basic State Pension, age allowances within income tax, council tax benefit, housing benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit, Pension Credit - Savings Credit, Disability premium, Carer's Allowance, deferral increments, deferral lump sum payment, no National Insurance payments, free dental treatment, free bus travel, Christmas Bonus, industrial injuries benefit, Warm Front, support for mortgage interest, free prescriptions, Legal Help, and Social Fund.

Quite aside from how any pensioner is expected to understand that maze of benefits, anything that complicated will also come with higher than necessary administrative charges to operate.

A good example is the £120 off energy bills which providers give to those receiving Pension Credit Guarantee component - the Govt. sends the information to the providers, who in turn run it through their systems, when the same outcome could be achieved by simply increasing the Guarantee Component by £120 and cutting out a lot of middlemen.

I'd much prefer a vastly simplified system that was much easier to run and understand - means-testing is fine, but means-test once and do it properly, not doing it multiple times across multiple different products.

teajug

hugheskevi wrote: »

I'd prefer it to either be incorporated within the proposed £140 p/w pension if it is universal, or within Pension Credit if it is means-tested. The entire State Pension system is ripe for simplification.

Off the top of my head, here are the things a pensioner might be entitled to:

Basic State Pension, Graduated Retirement Benefit, SERPS, State Second Pension, free eyesight tests, Winter Fuel Allowance, Free TV Licence, £120 annual discount on energy bills, over 80s 25p addition to Basic State Pension, age allowances within income tax, council tax benefit, housing benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit, Pension Credit - Savings Credit, Disability premium, Carer's Allowance, deferral increments, deferral lump sum payment, no National Insurance payments, free dental treatment, free bus travel, Christmas Bonus, industrial injuries benefit, Warm Front, support for mortgage interest, free prescriptions, Legal Help, and Social Fund.

Quite aside from how any pensioner is expected to understand that maze of benefits, anything that complicated will also come with higher than necessary administrative charges to operate.

A good example is the £120 off energy bills which providers give to those receiving Pension Credit Guarantee component - the Govt. sends the information to the providers, who in turn run it through their systems, when the same outcome could be achieved by simply increasing the Guarantee Component by £120 and cutting out a lot of middlemen.

I'd much prefer a vastly simplified system that was much easier to run and understand - means-testing is fine, but means-test once and do it properly, not doing it multiple times across multiple different products.

I still think it should be based on income surely that would be simple as the dwp knows what people pay in taxes.

As for having one assessment that would not work as peoples circumstances change all the time with age related conditions vulnerable disabled people are more susceptible to these changes in their health.
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]The Christmas bonus of £10 that one made me laugh, some EU countries pays pensioners one month extra pension as a Christmas bonus. As for free travel this has been restricted and it is not taken up by some pensions because may be too ill to use it, or there is not much public transport where they are living also it is only for busses not trains unless you live in a city.

As for free prescription these are already free for everyone in the Wales and I think Scotland as well. Consider we are lowest paid state pensions in EU, (until some proves me otherwise) some EU countries pays all of what you mentions above but is far more generous payments to pensioners as well as a much better state pensions.

bryanb

hugheskevi wrote: »

I'd prefer it to either be incorporated within the proposed £140 p/w pension if it is universal, or within Pension Credit if it is means-tested. The entire State Pension system is ripe for simplification.

Off the top of my head, here are the things a pensioner might be entitled to:

Basic State Pension, Graduated Retirement Benefit, SERPS, State Second Pension, free eyesight tests, Winter Fuel Allowance, Free TV Licence, £120 annual discount on energy bills, over 80s 25p addition to Basic State Pension, age allowances within income tax, council tax benefit, housing benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit, Pension Credit - Savings Credit, Disability premium, Carer's Allowance, deferral increments, deferral lump sum payment, no National Insurance payments, free dental treatment, free bus travel, Christmas Bonus, industrial injuries benefit, Warm Front, support for mortgage interest, free prescriptions, Legal Help, and Social Fund.

Quite aside from how any pensioner is expected to understand that maze of benefits, anything that complicated will also come with higher than necessary administrative charges to operate.

A good example is the £120 off energy bills which providers give to those receiving Pension Credit Guarantee component - the Govt. sends the information to the providers, who in turn run it through their systems, when the same outcome could be achieved by simply increasing the Guarantee Component by £120 and cutting out a lot of middlemen.

I'd much prefer a vastly simplified system that was much easier to run and understand - means-testing is fine, but means-test once and do it properly, not doing it multiple times across multiple different products.

Off the top of MY head DLA is for under 65s
The AGE related allowance is nothing to do with pensioners, it is for those over 65. They could be still workers.
I won't go on, perhaps I'm being pedantic!

harz99

harz99 wrote: »

Very few things are ever a "complete and utter waste of time", and as someone said "its not over until the fat lady sings".

So please sign the e-petition at

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31778

thanks.

Back to the point of the thread.

Epetitions site currently down for "improvements", please sign when back up and running tomorrow.

By the way; thanks to all those opposed to signing for putting your view and in doing so helping keep this thread running.;)

teajug

hugheskevi wrote: »

I'd prefer it to either be incorporated within the proposed £140 p/w pension if it is universal, or within Pension Credit if it is means-tested. The entire State Pension system is ripe for simplification.

Off the top of my head, here are the things a pensioner might be entitled to:

Basic State Pension, Graduated Retirement Benefit, SERPS, State Second Pension, free eyesight tests, Winter Fuel Allowance, Free TV Licence, £120 annual discount on energy bills, over 80s 25p addition to Basic State Pension, age allowances within income tax, council tax benefit, housing benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit, Pension Credit - Savings Credit, Disability premium, Carer's Allowance, deferral increments, deferral lump sum payment, no National Insurance payments, free dental treatment, free bus travel, Christmas Bonus, industrial injuries benefit, Warm Front, support for mortgage interest, free prescriptions, Legal Help, and Social Fund.

Quite aside from how any pensioner is expected to understand that maze of benefits, anything that complicated will also come with higher than necessary administrative charges to operate.

A good example is the £120 off energy bills which providers give to those receiving Pension Credit Guarantee component - the Govt. sends the information to the providers, who in turn run it through their systems, when the same outcome could be achieved by simply increasing the Guarantee Component by £120 and cutting out a lot of middlemen.

I'd much prefer a vastly simplified system that was much easier to run and understand - means-testing is fine, but means-test once and do it properly, not doing it multiple times across multiple different products.

Also, eye test are free for some people that family has certain eye conditions

I should have put NI has free prescriptions as well.

Free dental treatment for women that are pregnant and for people in full time education over the age of 19, so you see, it is not only pensioners that is accruing admin costs. I am sure there are more...but cannot think of more just now.

Also should have put there are 1 million young people unemployed therefore they are in receipt of all that you mentioned above save for disability allowance.

srcandas

harz99 wrote: »

By the way; thanks to all those opposed to signing for putting your view and in doing so helping keep this thread running.;)

I'm sure most here, for and against, wish for the case to be fully debated and if indeed you demonstrated any level of support I'm sure many would question their position, welcome further debate, and look for compromise.

But you have failed to show any worthwhile level of support and have exposed a great deal of negative comment

harz99

srcandas wrote: »

I'm sure most here, for and against, wish for the case to be fully debated and if indeed you demonstrated any level of support I'm sure many would question their position, welcome further debate, and look for compromise.

Thank you for your viewpoint.;)

The OP was informing people there is an epetition on the subject and where to find it for those who may be interested, not asking for debate which is not required, that will be done later by the politicians - if you or anyone else don't want to sign, simply don't do so.

As far as I am concerned, my updates demonstrate my support, and as I keep saying please sign the petition.

roddydogs

Ah, means test the winter fuel allowance ,in other word if you've been ****less, you still get it, if you've been thrifty, you dont, great idea.