We paid our taxes...

I am looking after a granddaughter in my home under a Residence Order from the court. She spends a night or two each week with her parents. I pay for all her food while she is with me, home clothes, pocket money, school uniform etc. her Mum recently transferred her Child Allowance over to me which helps but I am spending a great deal more than that. Its a financial burden, much as I love her, which I would otherwise not have taken on. The parents cannot afford to contribute more. Can I claim her as a dependent for tax purposes. Would like to hear from grands in similar position.

If they just added the winter fuel allowance to pensions it would be taxed in the normal way, and we would not get such vitriol every time the fuel allowance is mentioned.

The state pension is paid out of the Department of Social Security budget and classified as a social security benefit. So whavever you call it, it's a state benefit.

Why not just call them pensions?

I feel pensioners should all receive a return on their contributions at an amount that nobody would need all these extras. We should not be described as reveiving BENIFITS we have paid in for the whole of our working life. It gives the young the impression we are spongers. "Its not what you say its the way you say it"
We should lobby to have our pensions described to demonstrate the loyal service we have given to our economy.

Frank - I pay tax on my two government pensions but I get no benefits because I don't live in England. I am not complaining - I love living in France and I am very happy for my taxes to help support others.

Frank- Just think of the amount of money that you would have in your pocket if you downsized from a band G council tax to maybe a D. Untold riches. I live in a band D rated house with 3 bedrooms so you will not be living in a shed.

Andie could still have his own room.

As Frank feels he ought to have more heating allowance paid to him because he has a four bedroom house to heat (I think it's just Frank and Andy living there...do they share a bedroom?) why hasn't it been suggested that he downsize?

Oh I am now poor. I no longer pay 40% tax and I don't think I will when I get my state pension.

Frank

Although it wasn't you personally I was defending Frank against...

Glad to have given you such fun, absent!

Ana "Others have given their reasons for not wanting certain benefits taken away, why shouldn't Frank?"

Apart from telling us that he is practically single-handedly supporting all the benefit scroungers, he wants his benefits increased. That's why I found your leaping to Frank's defence, even though I had not attacked him, so amusing.

I don't understand you, absent. Isn't that the question posed in the OP?

Ana Not wanting benefits taken away????????????????

Ana

I have said before I was a 40% taxpayer when I was working and I am paying a substantial amount of tax now.
In view of this I should get a higher heating allowance than what is paid now.
I have got a 4 bedroom detached house to heat.

Frank

I think most people's immediate reaction the OP subject is to consider their own situation. Others have given their reasons for not wanting to have certain benefits taken away, why shouldn't Frank?

HUNTERF Nobody has accused you of not paying your way and it is also quite clear that many others are too.

Ariadne

Why does it boil down to me?.
I am paying more than the state pension rate in income tax now and when I get my state pension I will possibly pay enough to cover my so called free bus pass which I will probably hardly use and my so called free prescriptions.
In addition I pay band G council tax as well as the usual taxes on fuel etc.
Nobody can say I am not paying my way.

Frank

It always boils down to you, Frank!!

Well, married in Registry office because church wedding too expensive, made my own wedding dress, we paid 35% basic income tax plus NI, 10-15% mortgage rates, no nurseries, equal pay unheard of in the 1960s, no flexitime, never claimed benefits, one small telly, one landline phone, a few cheap holidays, 6 year waiting list and had to be married with children to get a Council house, so we moved 200 miles north to buy a house, my husband paid all my university fees via OU, for 7 years, overdrawn for years, then when qualified and family were at school clawed our way back to being comfortable. Always paid into a pension, saved for retirement and now get a miserly 1.5% interest on our savings with no prospect of a pay rise or promotion!

How much more are they going to deprive us of? Like Maggiemaybe I too have got to wait much longer for my pension. It just seems my age group is being penalised for people living longer. I am fed up with everybody else getting everything and just when we are nearly there the goalposts are moved again!

Thank you. Whatever would we all do without you?

Thankyou so much Frank, it is much appreciated

And when you get your state pension you'll be paying even more in tax

And thank you from me too