We paid our taxes...

I am not 100% certain on this but I think in London each council pays a certain amount of money for each pensioner's freedom pass whether it is used or not. I think that it should be for each trip, that would be fairer and is possible in this technological age.

I also would like to to discover the definition of a "rich" pensioner.

I do not think that we should be means tested, they are rightfully mine.

The one thing I do not agree with and that is pensioners over 60 years, are still working full time and getting Freedom passes in London. This should be given after full retirement.

The Government may well lay off saying that we should be paying for prescriptions, bus and tube trips, + give up our fuel allowance etc nearer the general election in 2015 when they realise that we are the ones that make a real effort to vote.

Another thought - those of us who did our best to save for our old age are being penalised because of government actions which have drastically reduced savings rates. Anyone saving now is wasting their time and the government needs to think about the message it is sending out.

I don't have a bus pass. I can't use buses anyway.

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moved I agree with all your comments. When will politicians stop using pensioners as the scapegoat for the ills of the country? Not many, if any, of the bankers who caused a lot of the problem were of pension age.

Like most pensioners, I am on a limited income. The WFA barely made a dent in my last bill for heating oil (over £1,000). Those of us who were able to save for our later years are unable to claim many benefits in any event. You only need a very small "nest egg" to be ineligible.

Like a lot of pensioners I have certain medical conditions which mean I have to take pills for the rest of my life - if I had to pay for prescriptions, the chances are I would not take them and thereby shorten my life expectancy.

What a shame they never interview ordinary pensioners on these shows. Of course the audience wouldn't feel any sympathy for 2 celebs.

What seems to be forgotten is that the winter fuel allowance was originally a substitute for increasing the basic pension! If it were added to the pension all this silly fuss would stop. Anyone receiving it who doesn't need it can give it to charity and do so in a tax efficient way so the charity gains an extra £50. Some of us think the charities might do a better job with it than the government.

I don't use my bus pass very much so it doesn't cost anyone anything I think. Is it the case that the bus companies are only paid when we actually use the pass? If this is so then it is rediculous to say that all the rich pensioners are getting something they don't need as they probably don't use it. What about the Freedom Pass enjoyed only by Londoners and not the rest of us? A lot of people are using it to get to and from work.

I am very against means testing for the so called benefits. I think they are rights. Such a load of beaurocracy might create more public sector jobs but probably wouldn't save any money.

I do wish someone would define what they mean by rich pensioners.