I feel really old now!

NannyJan I was born a week too late to get £300 . It's for those born before 24th of September---mine was 3rd of October. My luck, I might have known

What is the criteria for the £10 Christmas bonus as sure I don’t get it. Is there a criteria ?

Teddy123

I remember being thrilled to get the winter fuel allowance. For the very first time to receive money from HMGov...... Wow! Every little helps though the fuel bill here currently stands at £174 per month.

Even more excited to receive free TV Licence when Oh was 75. That didn't last long ?

Wow that seems a lot! Ours is half that amount!

I worked for the then DHSS back in 1972. The Christmas bonus was £10 then, when it was more than some weekly pensions. I am afraid it hasn't quite kept up with inflation!!

Charleygirl5

Make the most of your fuel allowance and bus pass because I do not think we will have either this time next year. I noticed my £10 Christmas fuel allowance had slipped in. That amount must take a lot of money to administer and why it had not been added to the other amount is beyond me or is that too simple and trying to save some admin costs which must be considerable.

It might take too much paperwork to put the two together - I've had the £10 Christmas money for quite a few years now and only got the Winter fuel allowance about 2 years ago when I started getting my state pension. So the system would have to include some people but not all. Probably easier just to leave it as two separate payments.

I didn't know you get £300 when your 80. I will reach 80 in April this year. That will be fine to look forward to at the end of the year.

Goodness, @Esspee, I must ask my elder sister and BiL about that - they’re partial to Saga cruises!

Dh and I once saw a very weary and worn out looking party of Saga customers, sitting in a hotel foyer with their suitcases all clearly labelled. It was in Hermanus, on the S African Garden Route - we’d been looking for accommodation and had just turned down the only room they could offer, since its only view was over a car park.

I’d assumed that they just weren’t enjoying their holiday very much, but maybe they were exhausted from all the shenanigans!

First time I felt old was when we went out for a meal. We were both 50. The very young waitress asked if we wanted the pensioners menu! I was quite annoyed.

Do we all hate the term OAP!! I think we should be called Elderflowers! EF's for short. (grin)

I remember being thrilled to get the winter fuel allowance. For the very first time to receive money from HMGov...... Wow! Every little helps though the fuel bill here currently stands at £174 per month.

Even more excited to receive free TV Licence when Oh was 75. That didn't last long ?

Make the most of your fuel allowance and bus pass because I do not think we will have either this time next year. I noticed my £10 Christmas fuel allowance had slipped in. That amount must take a lot of money to administer and why it had not been added to the other amount is beyond me or is that too simple and trying to save some admin costs which must be considerable.

I got my first winter fuel allowance so long ago, I was still keeping my coal in t’bath.

Monica, for the first time ever I'm a little aware of my advanced years and grateful that I may be eligible for the vaccine soonish. Had to be an advantage somewhere along the line........... Otherwise consider myself very fortunate in general and age never enters my head.

My mum commented that now I could join her at the OAP lunch club - just for the bingo. Aaargh

My parents were informed by a porter transferring their luggage on a SAGA holiday that it stood for Sex And Games for the Aged.
My mother was rather prim and was quite shocked at this.

Witzend

I first felt ‘old’ after turning 50 (!) when my mother said (in a won’t-that-be-nice? tone) that I was now eligible to go on Saga holidays!

Cue aghast reaction from me, and an offended mother!

My Mum did that to me and followed it up with the suggestion I apply for a Saga credit card too as it was good for using abroad. She couldn't understand why I was horrified at the thought of going shopping with a Saga credit card.

That was hilarious on the News yesterday.... a lady celebrating her 105th birthday, then when she had a closer look at herself on the monitor, commenting on how old she looked ? just wonderful !

Gosh. I've been getting mine for 11 years!

For me being old is an ever moving horizon - ten years ahead of my actual age! There are still plenty of people 10 or more years older than me who are living healthy happy lives and as long as that is true, I don't think of myself as being old.

Yes I had mine this year! I remember mum getting hers many years back and £10 was a lot then and it paid for her Christmas stamps!

surely it only goes to very old vulnerable grannies, not me!

Why does everyone assume that just bcause we are old we are vulnerable? People become vulnerable at different ages for different reasons, My niece, now in her 40s, is vulnerable and always will be because she has a learning disability.

My father did not become vulnerable until his 90s and into his final illness. He was living independently, driving 90 miles to visit his children, and running several local organisations. When he became ill we had to issue bulletins to half a dozen organisations he was still involved with.

I am in my late 70s and have inherited my father's constitution. I get fed up with offers to put me on vulnerability registers merely because of my date of birth.

Should I reach a state where being on these registers would be a help, I will be on them in a flash. Meanwhile I leave them to those who really need help.

I’m eligible for my State Pension this year - now that does make me feel old! It’ll be very welcome, but I can’t believe i’m this old now!

You will have haD your £10 Christmas box too. Wow!!!

Witzend I read somewhere that SAGA is an acronym for Send a Granny Away

I remember when my ex turned 50. He rang Saga and said ' I would like a quote for car insurance for old gits'!

I received my winter fuel allowance in November, you are eligible once you are State Pension Age. When you are 80 you have £300!