Cameron protects OAP benefits till 2015

moneylover

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cameron-protect-oap-benefits-150859375.html

Dunroamin

If he's issued a statement saying he's committed to them it's probably the kiss of death; a bit like a football manager getting a vote of confidence.

zygurat789

Or like George Osborne saying it twice

THE RED BOOK

Budget 2011

Page 35

1.128 As announced in the June Budget 2010, the Government has reviewed how the CPI can
be used for the indexation of taxes and duties while protecting revenues. Consistent with this,
the default indexation assumption for direct taxes will be the CPI from April 2012. To
ensure employers and older people do not lose out, for the duration of this Parliament the
annual increases in the employer NICs threshold, and the age related allowance and
other thresholds for older people, will be over-indexed compared to the CPI, and will
increase by the equivalent of the RPI. The Government will review the use of the CPI
for indirect taxes once its fiscal consolidation plans have been implemented and the
duty increases it inherited from the previous Government have come to an end.

Roger1

zygurat789 wrote: »

Or like George Osborne saying it twice

THE RED BOOK

Budget 2011 ...

What about Budget 2012, where Gideon Osborne announced the withdrawal of age-related tax benefits?

moneylover: The article assumes that call-me-Dave will still be PM in 2015. There are some who believe he will have been moved on by then. In that case, what price promises?

lilac_lady

Means testing for bus passes and winter fuel allowance are a certainty IMO.

Fred44

lilac_lady wrote: »

Means testing for bus passes and winter fuel allowance are a certainty IMO.

A sensible move IMO.

chesky369

Don't mind so much about the winter fuel allowance but I'd mourn the passing of the London Freedom pass - I use it all the time and would be lost without it.

krisskross

The easy way to do it would be just to give to people claiming pension credit.

Another kick in the teeth to those who provided themselves with some retirement income.

seven-day-weekend

krisskross wrote: »

The easy way to do it would be just to give to people claiming pension credit.

Another kick in the teeth to those who provided themselves with some retirement income.

Absolutely agree.

Like chesky, I ion 't mind so much about the WFA, but don't dare touch my bus pass!

Seriously, as you say, those who have provided for themselves lose out again.:(

chesky369

Perhaps one way around the bus pass issue would be to issue it free to those on benefits and make an annual charge for pensioners not on benefits - say £50. I wouldn't mind paying that for the absolute ability to nip on and off buses whenever and wherever I am in London.

margaretclare

chesky369 wrote: »

Perhaps one way around the bus pass issue would be to issue it free to those on benefits and make an annual charge for pensioners not on benefits - say £50. I wouldn't mind paying that for the absolute ability to nip on and off buses whenever and wherever I am in London.

We used to have a half-fare pass available here for £12 a year. You paid your £12 to get the pass and then could pay half-fare unlimited times. Even then, I used it maybe a dozen times in 10 years. I've never understood why that had to be replaced. Even on basic state pension that's pennies. If people on basic i.e. with pension credit got it free then they wouldn't lose out at all.