The Guardian STILL using that stock photo to illustrate the Winter Fuel Payment row

I wish someone would post that Guardian pic - I have yet to see it.

Monica also free tv licence plus 35 euros a month towards either electricity or gas bills plus free travel in the country for 70 years and older. Free gp visits but don’t know about hospitals. A population of around 5 million people. Good longevity. Interesting exercise. Large population numbers don’t mean better pension benefits?

Figure seems to vary from source to source. I got three different figures from 3 different Irish government sources. sources.

£234 a week in Ireland plus benefits is shown on my Google search.

The cost of living in Ireland is over 12% higher than in the UK

ronib

paddyann54 let’s switch to the Irish model. - free tv licence, free electricity, free gp visits etc - for the 70 year olds plus. Maybe higher State pensions than here too? Cost of living?

But I do not want lots of freebies, as if I am a child that cannot be trusted to budget properly.

I would rather those freebies were monetised and added to my income.

The Irish state pension is, for a single person, maximum £130. In the UK it is £169.50 on basic pension and £221.20 on the new system. The cost of living is over 12% higher.

As if they need it

winterwhite

I have missed the point about Rachel Reeves having an energy allowance. How is it known that she claims it? Does it apply to KS as well?

It applies to them all who have second homes I believe

paddyann54 let’s switch to the Irish model. - free tv licence, free electricity, free gp visits etc - for the 70 year olds plus. Maybe higher State pensions than here too? Cost of living?

paddyann54

Meantime the Irish government has RAISED their winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.This year its 1000 euros.

Small country that doesn't have to give its income to Westminster!!!Unlike Scotland where there is already snow on the hills

If you want to compare, bear in mind that the state pension in Ireland is less than in the UK, and the cost of living is higher though.

Meantime the Irish government has RAISED their winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.This year its 1000 euros.

Small country that doesn't have to give its income to Westminster!!!Unlike Scotland where there is already snow on the hills

I do agree it is wrong that MPs get a fuel allowance while at the same time reducing the number of people eligible for winter fuel allowance.

However, I notice that older people seem to be very vociferous on this issue but often quite silent on the predicament of young people and families who often, at a huge financial cost and with no security of tenure, struggle with so many rising costs, especially child care.

In my road, several older people are spending huge amounts of money on home improvements so presumably people like that do not really need extra payments.

I believe many pensioners who are entitled to pension credit are not claiming it, and a concerted effort should be made to identify these people. I think there are also local council hardship payments available to people who are really struggling.

My mother always wore a shawl around her shoulders during colder weather. She said it was far warmer than thick cardigans and also kept draughts off. When she was in her 80s and her shawl was getting tatty she had me crocheting one for her which I did in nice colours.
When she died age 87 I inherited it and it is now on the back of my chair, and I admit I have used it many times since and I always think mother had the right idea.
I also still have a couple of the big scarves we wore over coats in I think the 70s perhaps be worth bringing those back this winter.

I like this one which has Mein Fuhrer Starmer and his moll as Dickensian villains.

Freya5

Well well well, even more horrendous news www.financialreporter.co.uk/over-270000-pensioners-denied-pension-credit.html

Only horrendous, if they did really qualify but were turned down. If the 27,000 were all in the upper income echelons, of pension income it is quite reasonable that they were turned down.

Arrangements should certainly have been made for those whose income was up to 10% above the PC rate. but there are plenty of us who can afford to heat our houses without the WFA and it seems utterly reasonable that we should not get it.

If we can go back to byline photos for a moment. The wife of someone I used to work with has a column in the Saturday Guardian. Her photo has not changed in 20 years or more!

Well well well, even more horrendous news www.financialreporter.co.uk/over-270000-pensioners-denied-pension-credit.html

BigBopper, that is so sad, and thanks for explaining about the importance of air being warm.
Complaining about GNs jumping on bandwagons? It happens on just about every thread. We have all done it at some time or another. Opens out the discussion. Wagons Ho!
Monica, your home sounds gorgeous.

maddyone

Whilst I agree that people need to wear appropriate clothing in the winter months, I believe that the real reason people become too cold is because the air they are breathing is too cold. Air temperature is the key to keeping warm and not becoming hypothermic. Obviously people should wear warm clothing and have hot drinks and heated blankets etc. But breathing warm air is key.

I like the cartoon GG13. Doris maybe old fashioned, but the point is clear.

Incidentally one of my grandmothers wore a knitted hat indoors during the winter time.

But breathing warm air is key.

That, is absolutely the point. Particularly for those with heart problems, or certain other medical conditions.

Undoubtedly, some pensioners will choose not to put the heating on 24/7 and become ill - or worse - as a result.

Dreadful!!

I do not like quibbling over bits of people's salaries. Most MPs need to have a home in London and in their constituency - and the constituency one is often their main home.

But I think the costs they get for that second home, rent apart should be based on what the avarage bill is.

We live in a large 4 bedroomed Listed house, over 550 years old, so not the most energy efficient, Our energy bill last year was just over £3,000. What on earth sort of house is Rachel Reeves living in that the energy bill is over £4,000?

The average monthly energy bill for a 3-bed semi-detached house with energy efficiency rating D is around £176, or £2,120 annually. I think MPs should be limited to claiming that and no more www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Average+energy+bill+uk

It's time images of elderly people were changed. All the old people I know are nothing like the way we are depicted. The ones round my area can be seen striding along with their dogs, cycling and some still running.

AGAA4

At least they have got rid of those traffic signs depicting old people with two bent elderly people leaning on walking sticks if I remember correctly.

There is still one three doors down from our friend’s house in Essex.

At least they have got rid of those traffic signs depicting old people with two bent elderly people leaning on walking sticks if I remember correctly.

How she has the audacity to take away from us and accepts such a huge wage is pure and utter greed!