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[Broomies Mate]

Agreed. But I'm afraid you won't get the general (older) population to agree with you, they're 'entitled'. Also, how far do you take it? Should the state pension be means tested?
I have that it would cost almost as much to do the means testing, for the benefits you mentioned, as the money saved. But, hey ho, it is what it is.

Sorry, missed this in the quote;

No, definitely no.  It's what we have paid in for.  It shouldn't be looked at, or relied upon as the sole means of income though, and I think that's where so many have gone wrong.

[Doctor Gollum]

We already paid for someone else's 
But they didn't cost anywhere near as much as the benefits you've been getting for the last 12 months 

Still paying Tax and NI on my 80% And is paid to me from my employer not the State. The company can claim it from the State. Incidentally, the cost of an 8 year old service bus is typically 1.5 times the maximum furlough scheme payments are £42k vs £30k (£2,500). New buses are north of £100k

Free bus passes falls into the same category as the free NHS. Although if services aren't used then they don't get subsidised, and then they get pulled although people don't appreciate that until they can no longer drive.

[STEMO]

We already paid for someone else's 
But they didn't cost anywhere near as much as the benefits you've been getting for the last 12 months 

Still paying Tax and NI on my 80% And is paid to me from my employer not the State. The company can claim it from the State. Incidentally, the cost of an 8 year old service bus is typically 1.5 times the maximum furlough scheme payments are £42k vs £30k (£2,500). New buses are north of £100k

Free bus passes falls into the same category as the free NHS. Although if services aren't used then they don't get subsidised, and then they get pulled although people don't appreciate that until they can no longer drive.

Shite, shite and even more shite. You're paying tax and insurance on the money the government give your employer to pay you...taxpayers money. And WTF has the price of a bus got to do with anything?
You make snide comments followed by the usual zippy ( doesn't that mean you're saying nowt?) or rolling eyes and, when you get it back you come out with, well, shite. Took you a long time to think of that load of old shite, too. 

[Varche]

This may divide opinion;

Prescriptions,
Bus Passes,
Winter Fuel Allowance,
Eye Tests (and vouches for Glasses, Contact Lenses),


Just because you are of 'an age' doesn't automatically mean you are destitute.  There are many, many pensioners who have a very healthy income (and kudos to them), so why are they entitled to 'free' or 'discounted' anything when there are people of a younger age (maybe just a year or two) who cannot afford those same things and are forced to pay for them by-hook-or-by-crook?

It's becoming more prevalent, and rightly so, but all concessions should be means tested, and only handed to those who genuinely need them.

Agreed. But I'm afraid you won't get the general (older) population to agree with you, they're 'entitled'. Also, how far do you take it? Should the state pension be means tested?
I have that it would cost almost as much to do the means testing, for the benefits you mentioned, as the money saved. But, hey ho, it is what it is.

Should the state pension be means tested? It is already the worst in Europe. That is probably why successive governments have added stuff like £10 xmas, winter fuel, free teleporter passes.....

[Doctor Gollum]

Bus prices are relevant because someone has to pay for them, whether that is ultimately the passengers or tax payers through subsidies.

Watching telly box, so I will take as long as I like to compose a post...

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

[Rangie]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

. 

Why not start by donating yours to charity if you are in receipt of it or making arrangements for the future ?

[STEMO]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

I think you'll find BM said "No, definitely not" as far as state pension is concerned.

[STEMO]

Bus prices are relevant because someone has to pay for them, whether that is ultimately the passengers or tax payers through subsidies.

Watching telly box, so I will take as long as I like to compost a post...

[Rangie]

Bus prices are relevant because someone has to pay for them, whether that is ultimately the passengers or tax payers through subsidies.

Watching telly box, so I will take as long as I like to compost a post...

. 


He does provide amusement with his utter shite though Steve.
😀😀😀

[Marks DTM Calib]

If state pension is to be means tested, I would like my percentage of NI/Tax that is currently considered to be going into the (non existent) pension pot, to go into my private one please.    (and hence why it wont get taken away as the whole thing will collapse!)

As for 'free' NHS, it isn't and never has been 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

. 

Why not start by donating yours to charity if you are in receipt of it or making arrangements for the future ?

I am not yet in receipt of it. Not old enough. Im happy for it to start being means tested before I am, as long as the means testing is reasonable. 

[STEMO]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

. 

Why not start by donating yours to charity if you are in receipt of it or making arrangements for the future ?

I am not yet in receipt of it. Not old enough. Im happy for it to start being means tested before I am, as long as the means testing is reasonable. 

Not old enough? You look old enough, Albs 

[STEMO]

I agree with Broomies Mate. All benefits, including state pension should be means tested.
There are plenty of wealthy older people around.The Welfare state was never set up to increase peoples wealth. It was set up to prevent abject poverty.
These benefits have been used by successive Govts. to buy peoples votes, which is why the whole thing has become so bloated and expensive.
It is possible it may cost more to means test  than would be saved, for a while at least, but it would break the destructive national mindset of the state having an endless supply of money and everyone having their own reason to feel entitled to have a share of it.

. 

Why not start by donating yours to charity if you are in receipt of it or making arrangements for the future ?

I am not yet in receipt of it. Not old enough. Im happy for it to start being means tested before I am, as long as the means testing is reasonable. 

Why should you be means tested, you've paid in a lot of money over the years. The trouble with a state funded system is that the f eckless will always be looked after, we can't let people starve, nor go back to workhouses. If means testing were introduced, people would deliberately spend up before retirement, thus ensuring they get the pension. A bit like people who sell, or release equity from, their house to avoid care home fees.
And believe me, Albs, you soon get used to it coming in every month, then realise your budget has grown to accommodate it.

[Rangie]

Funny how it's usually folk who haven't got something want it changed for folk that have, that's life however. Glad I was looking ahead when I was younger to have the foresight to end up with good pensions which I've paid in for & earned unlike the high percentage of no hoper scroungers that this country seems intent of  catering for.