Rachel Reeves has announced that winter fuel payments will only be paid to those on Pension Credit.nsion Credit

LOUISA1523

My DP would have been getting it this year....he's just turned 66 ....so guess he will never miss what he never had .....I've just got a 5.5 % payrise as a nurse...bit harsh tho ....especially for all those who only just tip over with teeny pensions .... my mum is 88 ....she will be raging .....I will hear it all tonight when she calls me

Am surprised my Mum hasn’t already rung me! It won’t be long now…
We don’t have much ourselves but will have to help her out with her bill now in Winter.

Ladyleftfieldlover

I honestly think Rachel Reeves is genuinely very annoyed at the state of the country’s finances. I don’t think you can say that Labour don’t like pensioners! I’m sorry that some GNs will suffer because of the decision on fuel allowance being limited to those on various benefits. Sadly there has to be a line drawn and there will always be people caught just in the wrong place. Don’t despise Labour yet.

Liam Byrne left that note: ‘I’m afraid there is no money’ and when this has been mentioned on GN posters have been told that the economy does not work like that, it is not like a household budget and that the Government can create money for the building of infrastructure which will in turn stimulate the economy. Tax does not fund spending, so we are told.

Now we've been told we're over-drawn (like having a huge over-draft on the household budget) and have to tighten our belts because the Government can't afford anything.

The chancellor laid blame for her decisions on the previous government, accusing the Conservatives of having "let people down" by making "commitment after commitment without knowing where the money was going to come from"

But if the Government can create money which in turn stimulates the economy, what is the problem?

What am I missing, please?

What can we do. just hope for the best and hope we don't die of cold or starve. What is annoying is that I have to pay to see a private dentist as there are no NHS ones anywhere. I pay for everything, gardeners, diy people, something will have to go. All because my wonderful late husband ensured I would have a portion of his private pension when he died, if I hadn't go that I could claim for everything going. I think I will get someone to take me to France and come back in a rubber boat.

Pension credit is awarded to those whose pension falls short of the new state pension to top it up. Those who are in receipt of full new state pension do not qualify for pension credit even if that is their sole income.

I do understand that this will be a big blow to those just above the Pension Credit threshold and are feeling very distressed. However there is only one cake and slicing it up is always going to mean some with a smaller slice than others. Money has to be spent on healthcare as the health service is on its knees. Education is screaming for more, our defences are very depleted and we have to help poorer nations not only for philanthropic reasons but for our economy too.

I have little knowledge of economics but do understand our government has to fill the big hole left in our financial situation and unfortunatelly unpopular decisions are necessary. We all look to our own circumstances and not the wider picture.

They didn’t know the state of the finances, and the OBR have just announced an enquiry into whether Sunak and Hunt ‘misled’ them about this.

There are some swingeing cuts in there, (including making sure that departments absorb at least £3.2 billion of the public sector pay pressure this year) which are (no matter how they are labelled ‘efficiency savings’ or ‘communications costs’ going to impact on services.

What is infuriating is that the type of cuts she’s announcing today are only necessary because of her self-imposed, pretend the country has to budget like a household, ‘rules’

And, of course, because the last government tried to buy their way to an election victory on top of years of fiscal incompetence and fraud. . I am angry with Labour, but incandescent with fury about the damn Tories.

Grannynannywanny

Pension credit is awarded to those whose pension falls short of the new state pension to top it up. Those who are in receipt of full new state pension do not qualify for pension credit even if that is their sole income.

That is what I understand.

I personally think that the Winter Fuel Payment should be paid to those on a low income. I agree with Rachel Reeves, and with the OP

Not to all and sundry

Gin

I do understand that this will be a big blow to those just above the Pension Credit threshold and are feeling very distressed. However there is only one cake and slicing it up is always going to mean some with a smaller slice than others. Money has to be spent on healthcare as the health service is on its knees. Education is screaming for more, our defences are very depleted and we have to help poorer nations not only for philanthropic reasons but for our economy too.

I have little knowledge of economics but do understand our government has to fill the big hole left in our financial situation and unfortunatelly unpopular decisions are necessary. We all look to our own circumstances and not the wider picture.

However there is only one cake and slicing it up is always going to mean some with a smaller slice than others

We are constantly told that that is not how it works.

crazyH

I personally think that the Winter Fuel Payment should be paid to those on a low income. I agree with Rachel Reeves, and with the OP

Unfortunately, there are a huge number of pensioners who are on a lower income than those on pension credit and they will no longer be eligible for the winter payment.

Gin

I do understand that this will be a big blow to those just above the Pension Credit threshold and are feeling very distressed. However there is only one cake and slicing it up is always going to mean some with a smaller slice than others. Money has to be spent on healthcare as the health service is on its knees. Education is screaming for more, our defences are very depleted and we have to help poorer nations not only for philanthropic reasons but for our economy too.

I have little knowledge of economics but do understand our government has to fill the big hole left in our financial situation and unfortunatelly unpopular decisions are necessary. We all look to our own circumstances and not the wider picture.

Not trying to be goady....but do you say this as someone who will be affected as you have just above the threshold? .....or are you quite comfortable and it won't make much of a difference to you?

crazyH

Not to all and sundry

Ah but who are all and sundry? ....some of these have just over the threshold but are then not eligible for free glasses and dental care ( amongst other things) ....and so end up with less than those who are entitled

LOUISA1523

Gin

I do understand that this will be a big blow to those just above the Pension Credit threshold and are feeling very distressed. However there is only one cake and slicing it up is always going to mean some with a smaller slice than others. Money has to be spent on healthcare as the health service is on its knees. Education is screaming for more, our defences are very depleted and we have to help poorer nations not only for philanthropic reasons but for our economy too.

I have little knowledge of economics but do understand our government has to fill the big hole left in our financial situation and unfortunatelly unpopular decisions are necessary. We all look to our own circumstances and not the wider picture.

Not trying to be goady....but do you say this as someone who will be affected as you have just above the threshold? .....or are you quite comfortable and it won't make much of a difference to you?

That is not how the economy works as far as I understand from explanations by those who know far more than me about it.

This, of course, does not apply to Scotland, as it’s devolved.

I’ve been to check read the Service Level Agreement for this (signed in January this year) and it can only be changed or cancelled by the mutual consent of Westminster and Holyrood.

I imagine, if Labour replace the SNP in two years time, they’ll amend it to level down with England and, I believe, Wales.

Well, I’ve lost mine (not in receipt of PC), which is a pain. I waited 6 extra years for my pension…☹️.

But, I’m sure I’ll survive one way or another. I just wish governments would stop wasting so much money.🙄

Tory scum stole all the money.

I understood that only people on benefits will keep it

Labour has been mocking and deriding the slowness of the Conservative new Hospitals building projects.

Labour have just cancelled them

New road infrastructure’s Labour have just cancelled them

These projects would have provided employment, people in employment pay taxes to Government and spend their earned income in the economy, ergo more money back to the government.

Labour have just made their own black hole in the economy grow as opposed to their election mantra of grow the economy 👏👏👏

Looking to the future, there is a substantial opportunity cost of the UK not investing properly in infrastructure even if the era of ultra-low borrowing costs has now come to an end.

..... local, regional and national infrastructure is perhaps the main driver of long-run economic growth. Tired and degraded infrastructure holds back productivity growth, drives business costs higher and ultimately raises prices for consumers.

www.tutor2u.net/economics/blog/the-uks-infrastructure-woes

Sorry, that was 20/9/33

HattieTopper

What can we do. just hope for the best and hope we don't die of cold or starve. What is annoying is that I have to pay to see a private dentist as there are no NHS ones anywhere. I pay for everything, gardeners, diy people, something will have to go. All because my wonderful late husband ensured I would have a portion of his private pension when he died, if I hadn't go that I could claim for everything going. I think I will get someone to take me to France and come back in a rubber boat.

And me. Private pensions often create more problems than they solve.🤷‍♀️

karmalady

I understood that only people on benefits will keep it

Only pensioners receiving pension credit will keep it. As with TV licenses.

“But if the Government can create money which in turn stimulates the economy, what is the problem?”

What am I missing, please?.

For over 20 years the economy has not been stimulated we have increased our borrowing/creation year by year, there have been too many give aways and too little growth.

Reeves does not want to increase borrowing if at all possible so it’s going to be benefit/service cuts AND tax rises.
In my opinion it’s long overdue but it’s going to be very unpopular

That’s nice of them can’t remember that being in their manifesto. This would have been the first year we would have received something as my DH reached retirement this January.