More deprivations perhaps 😏

I would be quite happy to see the pension rise tied to the rises in wages only.

I felt very uncomfortable when wages were stagnant or fslling to get bigger rises because of inflation. I fht erst of the population suffer, why shouldn't we?

No evidence at all for "they're after our bus passes".

Money helper is good on explaining the triple lock, there are no current plans to end it but it it controversial.

www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/retirement/state-pension-triple-lock#:~:text=There%20are%20currently%20no%20plans,average%20wage%20increases%20before%201980.

"There are currently no plans to end the triple lock, but there are frequent debates on how affordable it is to continue. For example, State Pension increased 10.1% in 2023 and 8.5% in 2024, costing billions.

Legally, the government is only required to increase State Pension in line with the average increase in wages.

This means they could decide to scrap the triple lock in the future.

But, as this would be a very political decision, it’s unlikely be an overnight change"

@ NanKate - does your friend have insider information? How does she "know"?
I think Wyllow 's response is both measured and reasonable.
Let's not all panic!

Does your friend know the lottery numbers for Saturday please?

MOnica, the state pension, especially the old one, is less than very many earn and as pensioners what can we do to improve our situation? Many of us are unwell and immobile so need to spend more on heating than younger people who are out at work all day. You must be reasonably well off and not solely dependent on the state pension or you wouldn’t make the comment you have made.

I have no idea where my friend got this information. Maybe it is just supposition on her part. I am only relating what she said.

I suspect it’s only gossip NanKate. The bus passes rumour was doing the rounds some months ago. Having said that though, I don’t trust her one inch given the promises already broken.

One thing that’s not often mentioned is that bus passes do keep quite a few cars off the road, including mine. Admittedly we are in an area with very good public transport, so for short journeys the bus is easier and cheaper than finding a place to park.
I do use the car for longer journeys, though. e.g. the 60 miles each way to a dd. Public transport takes twice as long, and even more in the rush hour.

It must be wonderful to have public transport and a bus pass. No public transport here. If there were I would apply for a bus pass.

The Government can afford to pay triple lock increases.

There was £86 billion* in excess funds sitting in the National Insurance Fund at 31 March 2024.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts/great-britain-national-insurance-fund-account-for-the-year-ended-31-march-2024

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) just yesterday published the 2025 Up-rating Report.

The report sets out how the Fund balance is projected to reduce to £76 billion* at the end of the 2024/2025 financial year, before increasing each year thereafter up to 2029 to 2030 as the new rates take effect.

(Jeremy Hunt's cut to NIC cost £10 billion.)

Contribution income is now estimated to exceed benefit expenditure in every subsequent year of the projection period, resulting in an increasing fund balance.

www.gov.uk/government/news/up-rating-report-2025-report-on-the-national-insurance-fund

Latest numbers I can find about bus passes for year ended 31 March 2023.

• 8.7 million older and disabled concessionary travel passes, no change
• 567 million concessionary bus journeys, up 15%
• £715 million reimbursed to bus operators by TCAs, down 17% (constant prices)
• £877 million in net current expenditure on concessionary travel, down 19% (constant prices)

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2023/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2023#headline-figures:~:text=17%25%20(constant%20prices)-,%C2%A3877%20million,-in%20net%20current

In November 2024, the Government put an extra billion into boosting bus services.

www.gov.uk/government/news/1-billion-government-funding-boost-for-bus-services-across-england-to-help-end-postcode-lottery

What would be the point of doing that and then puting up a barrier that would deter people from using them?

M0nica

I would be quite happy to see the pension rise tied to the rises in wages only.

I felt very uncomfortable when wages were stagnant or fslling to get bigger rises because of inflation. I fht erst of the population suffer, why shouldn't we?

I'm guessing you have a private pension and your own property in addition to state pension ??......I don't know how any one survives on state pension alone and not be miserable .....UK state pension is one of the lowest in first world countries .....the working population are generally fitter than those of pension age...they are generally able to get promotions or work overtime to boost their income....I can't understand why you feel uncomfortable, unless you have a good amount of private pension.....but many don't....there are charities you can donate to to help struggling pensioners

I think a more sensible thing to do with bus passes is to charge a small, annual fee for one.

The LBC presenter last night was loudly very anti the triple lock, whipping up people. I don`t think triple lock will last, also Kemi is thinking it should be closed down and/or means tested

It won`t affect the old state pension much as we get very little in the way of increases.

Good idea Kitty

I only got my pension last year and able to get a bit of pension credit plus I get my PIP both parts . I own my own bungalow but haven't much in savings . But I have always been careful with money . So I mange on my 4 weekly payments.

I live in the north west and here men and women once 60 get a free bus / local train pass. I was 61 when I moved here and has given me the freedom without worrying about cost . Changed it to a disabled one when I was 66 so I can use in anytime day or night all week. But outside my county it is subject to the rules of free bus pass for pensioners in England and Wales .

I don't know about paying yearly for my bus pass . It took me 35 years to get disability benefits and was still turned down even when finally had my diagnosis at 63 but the rotters at PIP gave me zero on everything but got it at tribunal. Took over a year to get there but had back pay.

I pay for my blue badge and have had one since 1988 when it was orange . I don't drive . Plus I pay for my Access card and my train travel pass which gives my third off rail fares. So I think I pay enough for things .

I don't smoke or drink or holiday abroad . Last year finally able to have my first holiday for 19 years infact had 2 just Monday to Friday.

LOUISA1523

M0nica

I would be quite happy to see the pension rise tied to the rises in wages only.

I felt very uncomfortable when wages were stagnant or fslling to get bigger rises because of inflation. I fht erst of the population suffer, why shouldn't we?

I'm guessing you have a private pension and your own property in addition to state pension ??......I don't know how any one survives on state pension alone and not be miserable .....UK state pension is one of the lowest in first world countries .....the working population are generally fitter than those of pension age...they are generally able to get promotions or work overtime to boost their income....I can't understand why you feel uncomfortable, unless you have a good amount of private pension.....but many don't....there are charities you can donate to to help struggling pensioners

LOUISA1523 You are reading into my post far more than was in it. I talked merely about increases in the pension. I said nothing about Pension Credit. The way to make sure that poorer pensioners get the full rise they need to live comfortably is through increasing Pension Credit.

But like it or not the number of old people in this country - and every other country is growing rapidly and the birth rate is declining - and has been for decades and the number of people in the working population available to pay the taxes needed to fund our pensions - andthe NHS - and the care we may need is growing less and less and they have their own old age to save for, like it or not, sooner or later, adjustments will have to be made

If those adjustments mean that those with occupational pensions like me receive less state pension, but the living standards of those who are dependent on the state pension are protected. I really cannot see the problem.

Not everyone who has an occupational pension has a large occupational pension, though.

They certainly don’t. They can be a pittance. I imagine the occupational pensions of those who have worked in local government, teaching and the NHS their whole careers can be very good. Others are much less fortunate.

The bus passes rumour was going around here a couple of years ago - the Tories were going to do it, apparently. Whenever there's a change in the ruling party, the new blokes can rush the painful stuff through that the outgoing mob were contemplating - that way, the old mob can be blamed. It's all about money and finger-pointing.

news.sky.com/story/tories-will-consider-means-testing-pensions-triple-lock-kemi-badenoch-says-13290398
Kemi Badenoch is also after the triple lock and she is considering means testing it.
She went on to say that although the the triple lock was a Conservative policy, "we've got to give something to the next generation".

Does she not understand how many pensioners vote Conservative?

NanKate

I have no idea where my friend got this information. Maybe it is just supposition on her part. I am only relating what she said.

It might have been a good idea to find out where your friend got her “information” before starting a thread on here?

kittylester

I think a more sensible thing to do with bus passes is to charge a small, annual fee for one.

More sensible for who?
It’s how older pensioners like my Mum get about so much to browse shops and meet friends.It’s designed for just that reason, for older people to stay mobile and out of their houses.

NonGrannyMoll

The bus passes rumour was going around here a couple of years ago - the Tories were going to do it, apparently. Whenever there's a change in the ruling party, the new blokes can rush the painful stuff through that the outgoing mob were contemplating - that way, the old mob can be blamed. It's all about money and finger-pointing.

You’re just as cynical as me😁