Bus pass and prescriptions?

Did you hear that on Twitter? Facebook? Or was it a verified source?

Well BevSec, I understand that you are opposed to public sector workers receiving pay rises.
How do you think that we should recruit and retain doctors, nurses, teachers, firefighters?

Chocolatelovinggran not against pay rises at all, i am a retired public sector worker. I had heard that Starmer was incandescent when the train drivers threatened further strikes in spite of their recent generous pay increases. Btw I dont go on twitter or facebook, so am not “influenced” by social medium platforms. Very condescending remark Doodledog.

Did I hear today that there is the intention to raise retirement age to 68?

Very condescending remark Doodledog.
It wasn't meant to be, but we are constantly hearing that people have 'heard' this and that, with no reference to sources. It seems reasonable to ask where you heard these things, IMO. How else are we supposed to evaluate their validity.

(This is a social media platform, incidentally).

We all get information from newspapers and TV news I suppose, and we tend to read the newspapers which support how we tend to think politically. I do feel that we are told only what the Government (of whichever hue) want us to know.

BevSec

We all get information from newspapers and TV news I suppose, and we tend to read the newspapers which support how we tend to think politically. I do feel that we are told only what the Government (of whichever hue) want us to know.

Which is why wondering if what you heard was online wasn't (IMO) condescending. There are things on SM that leak from original sources which aren't in the mainstream media. It's not always easy to know what to believe, but most things can be verified (or otherwise) if you know where to look.

My understanding is that the SPA will rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046. This is not a new development - it has been in the pipeline since 2014 and was brought in by Cameron.

The only place this has been reported today as far as I can find is the Daily Telegraph.

Generally, it's difficult to discuss something that when we don't have the source from where it came.

It's just that there is so much speculation and many sources.

So's to be able to read the article or the quote we can check ourselves makes discussion better.

Exactly, Wyllow.

I also thought it was going up to 68 and probably in the longer term to 70.

I think I will keep stressing until they announce this blooming budget and we know what's what. And yes all the rumours are creating the stress. Petrol costs mentioned as well. We could do with more buses here so we could actually use the bus pass!

The budget isn't until 30th October so that'll be cheerful just as the clocks change! Don't they usually have good as well as bad news normally?

gentleshores

I think I will keep stressing until they announce this blooming budget and we know what's what. And yes all the rumours are creating the stress. Petrol costs mentioned as well. We could do with more buses here so we could actually use the bus pass!

Worry is understandable, gentleshores. But we don't know what will happen yet, and we can't do anything about it anyway. The media will try to make the new government as unpopular as possible, so whatever it does will be met with howls of despair. All we can do is wait and see, and remind ourselves that at least this lot are trying to make things fairer, and have the interests of the not-rich at heart. Much of the moaning comes from people who have lots of money and don't want to lose it trying to persuade those with less that they stand to lose out too.

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. Or something

Exactly, Doodledog - with some help from some posters in GN who wish to spread this worry with often unsubstantiated statements.

BevSec just google - the last government in February 2024:

The government has legislated for an increase from 66 to 67 in 2026-28 and to 68 in 2044-46

Wyllow3, yes I am not blaming the Labour government for the increase in SP age, it was inevitable whichever party formed a Government.

BevSec

Wyllow3, yes I am not blaming the Labour government for the increase in SP age, it was inevitable whichever party formed a Government.

It hasn't been increased. It has been on the books since 2014 - ten years ago.

I think it is possible that the implementation date for the pension age to be raised to 68 will be brought forward. The previous government were already considering doing this, but delayed the decision until after the election.
www.theguardian.com/money/2023/mar/30/decision-on-bringing-forward-uk-pension-age-rise-to-68-delayed-until-after-election

Whiff

MOnica if I had to pay for my prescription a month it would cost me £99 . Before I was 60 I brought a yearly prepayment card. If I had to pay on the bus that would be £12 a week as a single journey is £2 at the moment . This year was the first year for 19 years I have been able afford to have a holiday in this country. If I have to pay for my prescriptions and bus and local train fares I would never beable to have a holiday again .

Those that can afford if you want opt out of getting free prescriptions and bus pass. But leave the rest of us who need them to enjoy getting them . I wasn't brought up with money and always had to be careful with it. Been widowed 20 years and even though I was born disabled I had to fight from 1988 until 2023 to get disability benefits Back in 1988 it was DLA but thanks to going to PIP tribunal and only because the Brain Charity got me a solicitor pro bono and the tribunal awarded enhanced PIP for living and enhanced PIP for mobility indefinitely and back dated until March 2022 when I asked for the forms. And the decision comes on crown court paper. The rotten PIP lot gave me 0 on everything . The judge apologised for the way I had been treated.

I had my full state pension this year and get pension credit. I had nothing but money worries since me husband died aged 47. Oh I get 48p a week from his state pension from his 30 years of paying a lot of NI contributions .

If I hadn't been awarded PIP last year my savings would have run out before I reached pension age.

Absolutely agree Whiff. I’m sick of people saying they didn’t need the WFA but took it anyway even though they could have donated it to a charity you can bet they didn’t. I live in a City in the NW and now not only are pensioners not getting WFA here they better hope they don’t become disabled because the Labour council has decided that Shopmobility will also close so people are stuck at home more not being able to heat their homes nor eat because they are isolated. Pensioners & Disabled are become persona non grata. Trust me the amount of money wasted on the DWP being taken to appeal and losing would pay for the WFA & the single council tax benefit.

All these issues mentioned, discussed, before soon to come elections

then "shelved" to, to until, "after the election".

So Labour get blamed for discussions and even decisions made well before.

Wyllow3

Exactly, Doodledog - with some help from some posters in GN who wish to spread this worry with often unsubstantiated statements.

BevSec just google - the last government in February 2024:

*The government has legislated for an increase from 66 to 67 in 2026-28 and to 68 in 2044-46*

Yes you're right - shouldn't spend time worrying :-) I need to stop reading things. I think it was just a bit of a shock after all the "Change" stuff, to find some things are changing for the worse!

Whiff You can buy a prescription season ticket to cover aall your prescriptions for a year for £114.50. No need to pay £99 a month.

I have suggested on another thread that the government give every pensioner a free season ticket for a year to give them the opportunity to save for the next one. Your PC would also go up by the weekly value of a season ticket, so you would have the extra money each week to save for your next season ticket. An increase in PC would mean that those on the edge of PC now would now get it, with all the other benefits that go with getting PC.

Many Labour supporters like me and my family and friends are so disappointed by the bad start they’re making.It’s no good posters on here saying ‘don’t worry, it’s all right wing media stuff’ errr, no it isn’t it’s what RR is saying.They will have to do some kind of U turn on the WFA at the budget even if they say they won’t now.It was a huge mistake to do it and even many Labour back benchers are saying so.
They need to do better.

M0nica if you’re a couple that’s £229 annually that you didn’t bargain for.

Also to be remembered is that many seniors live in rented accommodation and aren’t lucky enough to have paid for mortgages.