Stop blaming Pensioners

We also had mortgage rates of 12% and over. With no help whatsoever

I thought the Winter Fuel Allowance had dropped back down again to £100 per person in a 2 person household? I believe the enhanced payment will be paid out automatically to those on pension credits etc.

Of course I stand to be corrected if I’m wrong!

Young people always resent the old and wonder what we did to deserve living. I think they think we were always old and forget, like them we were born, had a childhood, youth and middle age before we reach old age. It helps toremind them that they will go through the same ageing process and one day be as old as us and on pension.

They have no idea what vicissitudes we went through earlier in our lives to reach where we are now.

I was born during the war, lived through bombings V1 and V2s, we live in southe London, rationing, houses without insulation or central heating,

Even excluding all technology, we were far less well off than modern young people, fewer clothes, far less going out, limited food choices and in several flats I lived in in my 20s and when first married we shared the bathroom with other people not living in our accommodation.

Though I agree with what you say Jane43, I doubt many people are interested in prior problems of people older than themselves. Possibly we weren't when we were younger?
They are women with 50yrs NI payments btw, and will be plenty in the future, increasing more rapidly on 6 May 2026 when SPA goes up to 67.

A neighbour of mine in his mid 40's resents the fact I can live alone in my little house and run a small, ancient car. It may have escaped his notice I have not been on holiday for 20 years, rarely if ever go out in the evenings and live a quiet life- the highlight of the week meeting friends for a coffee.

He shares his house with his sister and forgets because she works for TFL in London he also receives free travel and I do not know what other perks.

I worked 40 years for my pension, and have never claimed benefits so I have no qualms about accepting £600 to keep me warm this winter.

There is a similar sentiment on Reddit, younger people using words like ‘selfish’ and ‘greedy’ to describe pensioners, there is a stereotype that we all live in detached four bedroomed homes which we got dirt cheap and are worth millions so we all go on multiple cruises each year. There is no recognition that some male pensioners will have paid NI for 50 years. There is also no recognition that my generation didn’t get any family allowance until a second child was born and there were no NI credits for staying at home to care for children until 1975, that was the year I returned to work so I never caught up with the 9 years of NI contributions I missed.

Another beef is about Brexit, most of the young people on Reddit say it is the fault of the pensioners because ‘they all voted leave’ when in fact it was 60% who voted leave and the main reason was the lies told by Cummings and Johnson about the potential benefit to the NHS. I also think many young people probably didn’t bother to vote although I don’t have the statistics.

Regarding the winter fuel payment, yes we could manage without it and this year we have decided to share the money amongst our family as there are health problems on both sides impacting their income. It is however a lifeline for many pensioners especially those with a limited income and/or health problems. I do expect it will eventually only be paid to those on pension credit and I wouldn’t argue with that decision.

I have never known such a divided society in all of my 80 years and it saddens me very much.

Best to ignore it. One day they'll be pensioners and may well find themselves being criticised by the younger generation, just as they're criticising us now.

Well said wheniwasyourage and Chardy.
Divide and rule is alive and well.

Unfortunately it seems to be a political tactic, endorsed by the right-wing media, to drive wedges between the older generation and the younger, the able-bodied and the disabled, those in work and those not in work, those born in UK and those born abroad etc.

B9exchange

Every generation has it tough times, and the need for help with fuel bills affects the majority of pensioners. The wealthy ones who don't need it can always give it to charity, but if you started means testing it, the admin costs would be horrendous, and the proud who 'don't accept charity' would never apply for what they needed.

Quite right, B9exchange. You've summed up the problem with means-testing, and I'm sure that a lot of GNers who are fortunate enough not to need the full payment in a particular year give some or all of it to charities.

It suits some in government to allow generations to vent their anger on each other. As far as I'm concerned, I resent the implication that I vote Tory or that I voted for Brexit, or indeed that I am responsible for climate change just because I am over 70!

Yes, I’ve been watching that thread and find it really upsetting. I’ve stopped looking at it to be honest. I don’t usually frequent mumsnet so it was a bit of an eye opener.

Well I paid for my training easybee through the OU. Only about 10% of my school class went to Uni. My mum was very happy I had the grammar school education that she missed out on, her dad didn't think girls need education, but she was adamant she couldn't support me going into the 6th form, she needed me to be earning to contribute to the family costs, and you didn't go on to Uni without A levels then.

I just ignore and let it all wash over - definitely don’t take it as a personal insult.

Some 'Young people' are resentful because they have the burden of paying for their training, which we did not.
That said, I worked full time from the age of 21 until 65, with 4 years at home for childbirth/care, so I do not feel guilty about accepting winter fuel allowance.

Absolutely agree with you . Started work at 16 still working part time at 70. Had a period in the middle at home with children whilst husband at the time worked all hours mostly away from home so don’t feel a bit guilty claiming my winter fuel payment as have worked hard all my life. And no I won’t be donating it to charity

Every generation has it tough times, and the need for help with fuel bills affects the majority of pensioners. The wealthy ones who don't need it can always give it to charity, but if you started means testing it, the admin costs would be horrendous, and the proud who 'don't accept charity' would never apply for what they needed.

Totally agree. Well said.