Kay Burley on State pension

Iam64

I struggle with substance and alcohol dependant people get more benefits than John and Jane next door who are unemployed because their employer closed

I think people would be horrified if they knew how much addicts receive.

Then why are the numbers increasing year after year?
Obviously I realise that the welfare state is there to help those in genuine need, and quite rightly so, but there are far too many who would be capable of work but choose not to.

It’s interesting that as far as I can see no one on here is in favour of abolishing the triple lock.
If the government went ahead with the plan, they would certainly suffer at the ballot box.

I think there are a lot of challenges in doing this. It might encourage middle income people to retire earlier, because as their private pension arrangements result in a higher pension, they will calculate the best time to leave to still maintain their state pension.

Also, people on higher incomes have contributed more in their working life through taxes, and many will feel hard done by if they receive nothing in retirement whilst those who for whatever reason have not earned so much do get a state pension - that could create a wider divide.

Something more akin to the French system might be a better option.

I’ve never forgiven her her for her ghoulish reporting on the Zeebrugger disaster. Horrible woman.
And she obviously thought she was immune from covid restrictions. Celebrating her 60th with all her friends.

I struggle with substance and alcohol dependant people get more benefits than John and Jane next door who are unemployed because their employer closed

JenniferEccles

No! It’s been muted before but I am not in favour of it at all.
Cut back on the welfare budget certainly, but target the layabouts who refuse to work, claiming something dubious excuse like ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’
Heaven knows there are enough of them milking the welfare state for all it’s worth.
Then of course there are the billions wasted on the illegal immigrants arriving here daily on bigger and bigger boats.

As pensioners we are perfectly capable of distributing any surplus funds to help family members, maybe by paying into an ISA to help a grandchild get on the housing ladder.

I don’t trust the government to spend any money saved wisely.

Leave the triple lock alone!

I agree with most of your statement.

However I utterly disagree with your comments re people on benefits. Most people are on benefits because they have no choice, they are unwell, disabled, caring for others full time, they might have severe learning disabilities, they might be addicts.

There are definitely a few people claiming benefits to which they are not entitled, but believe me they are a very small percentage.

43% of people claiming Universal Credit are in work, many of them full time.

No! It’s been muted before but I am not in favour of it at all.
Cut back on the welfare budget certainly, but target the layabouts who refuse to work, claiming something dubious excuse like ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’
Heaven knows there are enough of them milking the welfare state for all it’s worth.
Then of course there are the billions wasted on the illegal immigrants arriving here daily on bigger and bigger boats.

As pensioners we are perfectly capable of distributing any surplus funds to help family members, maybe by paying into an ISA to help a grandchild get on the housing ladder.

I don’t trust the government to spend any money saved wisely.

Leave the triple lock alone!

Ziplok

Who is this woman? Maybe she doesn’t need her state pension, (isn’t she the lucky one), but most of us do, even those with small work place pensions. If she’s got millions in the bank then no, she probably doesn’t need it. The vast majority of us do not fall into that category.

In that case she could/should have declined claiming it!

MT62

I wish she would keep her nose out.
She’s one of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

I agree with you and I think it really depends on where that “line” is drawn and actually if that’s the case, surely the proportion high earners in via NI earmarked for pensions, which I’m aware isn’t ring-fenced nor personalised, should be refunded to those deemed to longer be eligible?

I, personally, don’t think state pensions should be means tested!

Good reasoned post Doodledog rather than a knee- jerk reaction.

In a stable economy here should be little difference between earnings growth and CPI (which is sometimes higher than earnings growth anyway).

It’s only the basic element of the pension which is triple locked not additional state pension (SERPS) which is only increased by CPI even if earnings growth is higher.

The most any pensioner could receive this year because earnings growth in 2025 was 1% higher than CPI was an extra £2.30 a week. After tax that is £1.84. Most would not have received that.

Are millionaire broadcasters really begrudging pensioners a rise that wouldn’t pay for a decent loaf of bread?

Are they saying that pensioners shouldn’t be protected from inflation?

I’m a bit worried as I’ve only recently retired and keep reading the well off know it alls especially in the media saying scrap the triple lock. Ok do it but don’t leave us behind that’s all I’ll say. They’re quite prepared to give money for other causes and other countries but as my old dad used to say. ‘ look after your family first’

I can't imagine that happening. I know it's the Australian system, but the mindset is different here, and we've been used to free NHS and education to secondary level, so it would be very unpopular. Pensioners already pay a lot for care if we need it - singling out pensions to be cut would be very unpopular, and when younger people realised the impact on their likely inheritance, some of their prejudices might dissipate, too.

Further, whilst most of us are fully aware that money doesn't go into a personal 'pot', it is also the case that most of us have paid 8% of our income into NI contributions that we were told decades ago would mean we would get a state pension when the time came. It would be politically ruinous to take the pension from those who'd paid in and give it to those who didn't. People have planned their retirement based on getting a SP, so removing it on the basis that people have also paid into occupational pensions or have saved would make a huge difference to their lives - there would be massive repercussions for anyone trying to do that, particularly as the raise in women's pension age is still a hot potato.

I think the triple lock will go, but I also think that before it does there will be a sweetener of some sort - maybe a link to wages, so the pension sits at a percentage of the average wage.

Exactly, she can defer claiming it indefinitely if she feels so strongly that she doesn’t need it. I’ve listened to the interview and feel she is yet another one with plenty of money trying to dictate how the rest should get by.

I get heartily sick of the amount of press coverage which seems to blame the countries financial woes on the title lock pension. It seems pensioners are a soft target and we are all living the high life on our wonderfully huge pensions.

Well I need mine and they better not stop the triple lock either. I suppose plenty very rich people don't need it but they have probably paid thousands in tax over the years.

Burley was on BBC Politics Live saying this.

She has the option not to claim it.

The problem with any means-testing where the means test is set.

There is always a cliff edge and there is always unfairness.

It happened when government decided to means test the Winter Fuel Payment. That’s now been tweaked but is now unfair to single householders - of which there are an increasing number - once people reach SP age.

Means testing child benefit is unfair to single parents.

Who is this woman? Maybe she doesn’t need her state pension, (isn’t she the lucky one), but most of us do, even those with small work place pensions. If she’s got millions in the bank then no, she probably doesn’t need it. The vast majority of us do not fall into that category.

I must admit I don’t watch many news programmes and don’t know who she is but in the clip I saw she came across as opinionated and very sure of herself.

MT62

I wish she would keep her nose out.
She’s one of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

Well said completely agree

I wish she would keep her nose out.
She’s one of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

Of course she doesn’t need it. I’m sure she’s very comfortable.…🤔

That should be Burley.
I am looking for the item now .