Poverty in the UK - disappearing according to Boris

I didn't intend to mention my own personal circumstances, but I'm on Pension Credit and feel very guilty about it.

BEFORE anyone mentions education, British state schools are in chaos, thanks to the academy system. The children of the poor have VERY little chance of educating themselves out of poverty these days.

No one minds them enjoying their wealth. At least I don't. BUT those that are wealthy are no more likely to have worked very hard than the poor. Hard work is no guarantee of wealth. I only have to look at my mother for that. She slogged day, and night at times and is still living in a council flat, in poverty.

By all means, enjoy the wealth. But pay into your country. STOP tax avoiding. And also do not bitch about the poor being lazy or feckless.

Being wealthy is down to luck.

To be fair, there is resentment and ignorance about those claiming benefits.
Faces full of make up, playing bingo, and so on.

This thread has been quite an eye-opener.
There seems to be a lot of resentment towards the wealthy, even when their wealth has been acquired through hard work, good investments or personal talent.
Even though they pay high taxes and provide employment, you still think they have no right to enjoy the rewards of their hard work?

I so agree with your point Growstuff on correlation of amounts of NI paid and pension received especially now with the new pension.

My DH retired at 65on the old pension plus some SERPS/SSP2 and I will receive almost as much as him when I get mine in 2021 at 66. This in spite of him paying in a darn sight more than me as I only worked part time - a little unfair I feel.

Indeed they should annepl. But that doesn't seem to be their main driver does it, sadly.

GracesGran, They should all obey the rules when making their decisions.
But I do think tribunals listen more sympathetically to a claimant and believe them. Assessors are often very abrupt and uncaring and tell lies.

MadeInYorkshire I'm truly horrified to read about your situation. I expect you've done this already, but I hope you have the CAB and any local disability rights people on your side. It makes my blood boil to know that there are people in your situation and to know that there are others who would dismiss you as somehow being responsible for your own situation.

In fact Pantglas some of them don't pay any NI. NI is only paid on earned income and if people are clever they don't take their pay as income, but as dividends.

Even those who do pay NI don't pay the same proportion as others further down the pay scale because there's a cap.

The state pension does have a means-tested element via Pension Credit, which cost £5.1 billion in 2018/19. £96.6 billion was spent on state pensions. In addition, those eligible for Pension Credit often receive other benefits, such as Housing Benefit, free dentistry and glasses, council tax rebates and help with fuel bills.

Not only that, but the actual amount paid in state pension has a poor correlation with the amount actually paid in because it depends on the number of contributions rather than the actual amount.

I know tribunals are generally more sympathetic

I don't think it about sympathy annep1, more about sticking to the rules.

We're all entitled to voice our opinions. Doesn't make them all valid.

How true. Opinions are simply gossip if you just voice what is in your head. You can validate them if you can provide evidence.

GGMK3 I wouldn't have a problem with "means testing" State Pension, but would that lead on to NI rebates for those who have Private Health Care (which is a taxable in work benefit) and for those who pay for their children's education?

I doubt it. I think it would be the same way of treating you as you use on those with so very little. If you have enough you not only don't get any more but you continue to pay.

MadeinYorkshire, I am so sorry that you find yourself and your daughter, in this dreadful situation
I would echo annpl's advice and seek further advice
It shouldn't have to be this hard, it really shouldn't
You have my very best wishes ?

I can't understand how you lost out MadeinYorkshire. Seems very unfair. I hope you got help with your claim. If not and you are turned down perhaps get help from CAB with tribunal.
I know tribunals are generally more sympathetic. Hope all goes well for you.

Susiewoozie I do apologise. I am pretty pathetic at picking up on things.....as you've guessed.

Thank you annepl I am claiming all my entitlements, but I lost quite a huge chunk of income when my severely mentally ill adult daughter came to live with me a year ago - why that made me less disabled I cannot imagine? We are now trawling through the benefits system in her own right but it takes forever to get anywhere - I think we applied at the end of August last year and she attended a PIP Assessment last Monday - the questions are designed to trip you up and I have to say thinking about it words were put in her mouth somewhat - I am not holding my breath but we will take it to Tribunal as the decisions of 75% of those who go to tribunal are overturned .... of course they make it very difficult as are hoping everyone will give in and drop the claim, which a lot do as the process is so harrowing .....

I’m sick to death of the parroted rubbish that all opinions are equally valid - it generally comes from posters who have a passing acquaintance with the concept of a fact and hate being called out when corrected. Sorry you didn’t ‘get it’ annepl

annepl I was being sarcastic

MadeinYorkshire I'm sorry you're having such a very bad time. Perhaps you should speak to Social Services and make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to. I have no idea but it's worth checking.

Private dentist because my NHS one retired. NHS because there are no GPs to be had and it takes 3 plus weeks to get an appointment.

I could make a sarky comment a la Urm about comparisons of tax you and I have paid, but honestly, I don't resent paying it. At least, not until nasty people who haven't contributed a lot personally, bitch about other people being scroungers.

On GN there are opinions all of which are equally valid.

No they're not Suziewoozie. We're all entitled to voice our opinions. Doesn't make them all valid.
Knowing how a system works before giving your opinion on it is kinda important.

I've been here 2 weeks Urm. Don't get carried away.

If you are teaching in Switzerland GagaJo is that why you posted you can’t access the NHS and have private dental care? Do you mean this is a temporary (work related) situation? Especially as you pay A LOT of tax...