What Will You Do With 10 Million Frozen Pensioners, Rachel?

I think quite a lot of groups will feel they've been treated unfairly in terms of need. Or unmet needs. an obvious group is long term disability.

I still question that 10 million pensioners will freeze to death as the result of changes to WFA.

If we are discussing pension levels overall and heating, that may be another matter

It’s a shame when GN descend to Daily Mail levels of ‘statistics’. Is it not the case that a great number of Pensioners do not claim the extra benefits they are entitled to? This is for various reasons ranging from embarrassment to not knowing such benefits exist. Sadly there are always people on the borderline of benefit claims - elder son and his partner just missed out on Child Benefit.

The new government definitely have a big hole to fill and we have to trust that over the next few years things will become easier.

Octopus have recently been giving away electricity. You have been able to run your appliances between 1 and 2 pm for free. We have been charging and tumble drying with gay abandon.
Apparently, they have been producing too much electricity and needed to run it off. You can't help wondering if all this surplus energy could allow them to discount those in need?

Eagerly claiming £3,700 in energy bill expenses and £7,500 worth of free clothing, the unimaginative, robotic Rachel Reeves has no idea of the hardship facing some people, and thinks a few stern words about some uncomfortable times ahead will solve the problem.
Much more of this to come.

Ladylfl spelling out the sums involved - income over £11350 approx does not seem to qualify for pension credit for a single person. Between £60 and £80k per person seems to be quoted as threshold for tapering child benefits. I do believe that the qualifying figure for pension credit needs to be raised to at least £15k before pension credit is refused.

Boz, is that if you have a smart meter?

All MP's can claim housing expenses, they are a different matter entirely from gifts, you are conflating the two.

If we are going to suggest changes in MP expenses (fair enough) let's take that route. And also look at those claims are cross party issue, where it belongs, MP's generally.

loopyloo

Boz, is that if you have a smart meter?

Yes, Loopylou, you need a smart meter.

Wyllow3

Where do you get the 10 million figure from mae?

Reference?

In the UK there are 12 million who receive state pension, most who can afford to do without the heating allowance. For those on the margins, of course, more should get WFA, but this is just a plucked out the air figure propaganda for a typical "shock horror O/P.

*So I ask again, where is the reference for this figure of 10 million out of a total of 12 million?*

The Guardian dearie - but you sound wedded to the Daily Fail, sadly....

Oreo

True Monica but it still leaves a lot who will struggle.

I quite agree, but quoting alarmist figures that are just not true, do not help those that really need help.

I am looking forward to an increase in my state pension though, which makes much more sense

But thanks to the triple lock we’d have got that anyway and the WFA.

Well, if the money I’m not going to get as a WFP is going to allow the government to give free breakfasts to all primary school children it’s fine by me. But heaven forbid that some people on here can bring themselves to praise anything that Reeves is doing .

MayBee70 as usual not targeted as the children most in need and given to all primary school children even the wealthy ones.

Good news about the Breakfast clubs.I thought her speech at Conference sounded hopeful at least.

The breakfast clubs are an excellent move.

They make a real difference to working parents.

Parents need educating that if they are making babies then they need to provide for them. It’s not other peoples jobs to give their kids breakfasts. Some cereal and milk, a boiled egg and toast, yoghurt and fruit, porridge, these are cheap and easy.

It's the timing of having to be present at work, mostly.

Jobs don't tend to hold their day up until you've given your children breakfast.

I feel a batch cook coming on....

10 million frozen pensioners? The Guardian is going downhill with inaccurate shock tactics.

merlotgran

^I am looking forward to an increase in my state pension though, which makes much more sense^

But thanks to the triple lock we’d have got that anyway and the WFA.

But the triple lock could have been stopped, as the Conservatives did one year.

Lisaangel10

Parents need educating that if they are making babies then they need to provide for them. It’s not other peoples jobs to give their kids breakfasts. Some cereal and milk, a boiled egg and toast, yoghurt and fruit, porridge, these are cheap and easy.

And, if you’ve ever been a teacher you’ll know that some children arrive at school hungry. It isn’t their fault that their parents are failing them. It’s the first step towards improving the health of this country.

MissAdventure

It's the timing of having to be present at work, mostly.

Jobs don't tend to hold their day up until you've given your children breakfast.

Exactly! It's also a sociable start to the day and means that nobody arrives at the last minute.

AGAA4

10 million frozen pensioners? The Guardian is going downhill with inaccurate shock tactics.

Does anyone know who has bought The Guardian and The Observer?

May I suggest that anyone seriously worried about keeping warm this winter contact their local Age UK. There is something called Household Support Fund . This fund will help towards your heating costs . If eligible you can receive up to £200 . It's worth a phone call . I also know in certain areas there is a cut off date for claiming .

M0nica

Oreo

True Monica but it still leaves a lot who will struggle.

I quite agree, but quoting alarmist figures that are just not true, do not help those that really need help.

I agree with you MOnica. I struggle anyway, but I won't freeze.