Pensioner poverty

Yes I know that M0nica (I have just writes a report today based on this very thing based on NE manufacturing). My choice of words were crap as usual.

I’m sure you knew what I meant though. The company sitting in the middle is laughing compared with the one at the lowest end.

Written not writes..... oh I give up...it’s been a long day....

GabriellaG54
I don't know who supplies your energy, but you must have a fantastic deal or use hardly any gas or electricity- at latest prices, the standing charges alone charged by some companies can cost over 30% of what you are paying per month!

paddyann
Those figures don't, of course, include my rent and council tax which are £850pm and about 1.5k ct. per annum which are paid for out of the rent I receive from what was my marital home.
I drive a hard bargain and have just changed gas, BB and SIM providers in the past week.
I can honestly say that in 2013 I was paying £14 pm for gas from nPower and, two changes of provider since, I am still paying the same £14 DD, now to iSupply.
My BB is cheaper than 5 years ago. It's £17pm but with £75 cashback through Topcashback, it works out at £10.75pm.

Electric business rates are locked in for 3 or 5 years so no price rises.

GabriellaG54 I'm gobsmacked at the small amount you pay in outgoings. Are the figures you quote weekly or monthly? If you only pay around £30 a month for gas/electricity, please let me know who your provider is, I'll change tomorrow.

I'm on the State Pension with Pension Credit, which gives me around £663 a month, and by the time I pay my monthly outgoings, I assure you I have very little disposable income left. I do not own a car, mobile phone, TV or go on holiday as I cannot afford to. I worked until I was 60yrs. So, take it from the horses mouth -
living on a state pension/pension credit certainly aint all it's cracked up to be.

BGBusiness for electricity
iSupply for gas
Thames Water for...water.
I have gas central heating and gas hob (14-16 yr old combi boiler) and washing machine uses elec, gas and water plus a bath and shower but only use shower.

Monthly DDs for gas/water/BB.
Elec is paid by BACS to landlord when he sends the bill after I give reading (and I send screenshot)
I live in 2 bed privately rented flat.

When my mother was still with us (she died 5 years ago) she had few savings and was on Pension Credit. I can't recall figures but along with her pension her rent was almost all paid along with council tax and water rates. She also got a contribution towards the carers - (nothing fancy just 3 fifteen min calls a day). There were of course the free prescriptions, bus pass, TV licence etc. One day I sat down and worked out what her monthly ''salary'' would be had she got all her freebies as cash. It was not much short of what I received as a teacher each month.

I do have a smart phone. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge which I bought outright new (£300) from someone who had broken his, got an insurance replacement from Samsung with 2 yr warranty and sold it to me as he wanted the S8 version.
Samsung changed the name on the warranty after I rang them.
My SIM is from SMARTY. Unlimited texts/calls plus unused data costs are credited to your account when it rolls over every month, which means I pay £5 pm as I don't use data on my phone - I use my home Wi-Fi.

I think you might get a big shock if you had to pay today's prices for energy, GabriellaG54!

Even your water bill seems very low, though I know there can be a big difference between regions, depending on the supplier. I think our standing charge alone is not much lower than your total.

MamacCaz

They ARE the prices I PAY NOW.
I've just renegotiated thise terms with new provider's (except elec which is locked in at the quoted price for a further 4 years)

Sorry. thise those
provider's providers

Blimey my electric bill for the two worst quarters is nigh on £900 !! Nov to May.

Billions of pounds in benefits go unclaimed every year - much of this which could be going to alleviate pensioner poverty.

Perhaps more publicity is needed or help to access these benefits?

I think it's most tough on people that are just above the minimum income to qualify for pension credit. Let's face it, having your rent and council tax paid is a huge advantage. In the future these benefit bills will be huge, since so many younger people are now renting as they are unable to buy a home. We have tried to be self-reliant but it's totally a poisoned chalice - add in income tax and council tax, and I honestly do wonder who is better off. Having said that I have always worked so have occupational pensions but am a WASPI lady shafted, as many are, by the Government.

Greta8 I agree, when I mentioned this once before I got a very unfavourable reply from another poster (no longer on here). Some of my relatives found themselves in that position whereas their next door neighbours seemed very well off on almost twice their income because they were able to claim several benefits.

Hi Jalima, I know - it also seems extraordinary that given the very financially favourable times us 'baby boomers' have lived through, so many people do not seem to have been able to accumulate much in the way of savings or buy their own home. I can only go on my own experience of a couple who had always lived in subsided housing (in those days council housing). Whenever we met at a family event, his first question was always 'where are you going for your holidays?' and they seemed to have several each year!! They worked the system a treat - with the widow ending up in beautiful sheltered housing paid for by the public purse. Still I always ask myself - who would I prefer to be? and I know the answer is 'me' every time. Especially now that services for the elderly are being slashed. Having money and savings gives you choices. Some people claiming benefits are incredibly defensive and view it all as their 'right' not appreciating that it's other financially prudent people who pay the taxes to fund and subsidise their lifestyle.

My relatives (older than me and neither DH nor I are 'baby boomers!) managed very well indeed but it was rather irksome to hear their neighbours talking about their holidays in America, New Zealand, their new caravan and car etc and all the benefits they got! At least, I suppose, they appreciated their benefits.

The WASPI situation is a disgrace and needs to be sorted out.

GG54 your electricity is extraordinarily cheap. We have a very well insulated home, new efficient boiler, house rewired etc and we spend the £14 you pay in just 3 or 4 days! Lucky you.

Wow, Gabriella, I thought I managed my finances well but my bills are way more than yours! My gas and elec are over £90 a month, water £18, phone etc £35, council tax £140 and insurance £25 (annual cost divided by 12). Then on top is food, car, household repairs, clothes, socialising, presents for family etc.

I do not have my state pension yet ( got to wait until I am 66) but I am retired on my work pensions and some savings. I have worked had for many years to support my family both when married and divorced and am appreciative of the pensions and savings I am able to have now. I know that I would not enjoy the lifestyle I have on the basic state pension alone.

I empathise with people who have to manage on the state pension through no fault of their own but not with people who could have saved money or paid into a pension scheme years ago but chose to live a good life. I struggled financially at times but always tried to have an eye to the future and paid pension contributions while working and also saved when times were right.

I don't begrudge pension credits for people who are living under the poverty line, only for those people who made conscious decisions not to make provisions for their retirement.

Apologies if that upsets some folks!

If payments for rent and council tax come from a source other than state pension then we aren't comparing like with like are we?

My thoughts exactly mcem. If you live in your owned home you also have expenses such as maintenance, new boilers etc. Not knocking your figures GG4 but not really a true comparison with someone who only has state pension to pay for absolutely everything.