Call You and Yours: Curbing pensioner benefits

FRANK.. re my last post, this included my occupational pension, I agree with ELEGRAN someone needs their backside kicking, is it any wonder younger people now assume we are the well off generation?

I think there probably are quite a lot of wealthy pensioners, both in terms of income and capital, as they may have huge equity tied up in their houses,and I know couples where both have good occupational pensions. I am not grudging them, after all, they worked and contributed, but they don't need any extra benefits. However, as had been remarked, means testing is expensive.

Matson Yes, in 2010-11 the 'welfare' bill was £202 billion.
That lumped pensions and benefits together.

eloethan I think that from 2016 the basic state pension is to be increased to £146 pw for new pensioners, presumably to reduce eligibility for things like pension credit.

Greatnan

These wealthy pensioners have paid higher taxes and are therefore entitled to the benefits.
Some pensioners pay more in tax than what they get in state pension.

Frank

jane

I think the £146 is ok as long as no other benefits are payable.
If this happens it means people with occupational pensions are not being penalised.
The £146 should be payable even if you have occupational pensions of £100,000 per year.

Frank

Hunter I can't believe the average pensioner gets £23k, if must be less than that. Are you sure? Could it have been pensioner households? Or was it pensioners in a particular sector?

What a dog in the manger attitude, Frank. You mean that you would restrict pensioners to £146per week and give no winter fuel allowance, no attendance allowance, no bus passes, no free TV licence for the over 75s? Bring back the almshouses. As far as I understand it, the state pension will be paid irrespective of one's occupational or other private pension. And you are right, jane. The reason for the flat rate pension is to make minimum guarantee credit unnecessary.

annodomini

I meant no benefits which are not payable to all pensioners.

Frank

Movedalot

I live on a large estate and most of the people are retired and the houses are 4 bedroom detached with double garages.
The estate is nicknamed Little Frinton by some of the locals.
I think most of the people around here would be getting more than £23k.

Frank

Just a matter of curiousity Hunterf why would a place in Birmingham , have the name Frinton on sea which is in Essex ?
I am puzzled .

Pardon , Little Frinton , NOT Frinton on Sea .

I think Frinton on Sea has a lot of pensioners similar to the estate I live on.

Frank

Hunter you didn't answer my question. What happens on your estate in SC is hardly representative of the UK.

Have you ever visited ? It is a really nice place . Well I think so .

Movedalot

I thought the majority of pensioners live on similar estates to mine.

Frank

Oh, yeah......

Movedalot

According to the speaker the average income of a pensioner from all sources is £23,000 per year/
It might have included things like equity release.

Frank

There you are. Ana has just confirmed my statement.

Frank

Frank, you're being deliberately obtuse. Of course the majority of pensioners don't live on estates like yours. I don't believe you really think that.

Nonu I've been to Sutton Coldfield many times. Some of it is very nice and some of it is pretty awful, just like most places really. There are quite a lot of new estates there. Some post codes carry a premium but not all of them

You're being naughty Frank. Go to the step.

I think all the extra benefits should be removed from those who's income exceeds say £50k. It could be recovered through tax with a bit of joined up thinking. I know several who laugh about their winter fuel allowance, surely it should go to those in need?

Of course, if you live in a house where house prices are high, and you have finally paid off your mortgage, it will look as though you are very well off. Which somebody may be when you sell up. In some of the endless coverage of Thatcher's demise, on the subject of selling off council houses one person said it was all very well and he'd bought his council house but now couldn't afford the upkeep. Every silver lining has a cloud.

Actually Move. I meant Frinton Sea x

If Hunterf ever wants to visit there we could meet him for a nice "cuppa".

Re Sutton Coldfield , when I was a mere strip of a girl , I used to live
there , actually a place called Mere Green . Spect F. knows it

Yes, I know it too. Its the train station for Four Oaks. Sort of between SC and FO. Of course Four Oaks is the really posh area.

OOHER , Missus !