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

Good link.

Casdon

This makes an interesting read, from a reputable source.
www.jrf.org.uk/savings-debt-and-assets/how-do-we-defuse-the-pensioner-poverty-time-bomb

Thank you for posting that link.

This makes an interesting read, from a reputable source.
www.jrf.org.uk/savings-debt-and-assets/how-do-we-defuse-the-pensioner-poverty-time-bomb

GardenofEngland

karmalady

It is very possible to insulate a single skinned cold house. Either external insulation or internal insulation ie insulation board on battens. We have done both in the past. It is so easy to bleat about being in a cold house and expect someone else to provide the solution. The solution is not difficult and down to you Rosie51

What if you rent? not all pensioners are home owners.

Yes, I mentioned that too. Rental could take a sizeable proportion of income, especially if a single person is just above the limit to receive any extra help.

I realise that high rents prevent younger people from saving up for the deposit for their own home too.

It's just not possible to start making structural alterations to rental property and putting up insulation boards on battens could cause a huge amount of disruption, not to mention cost.

This scheme might be worth investigating:
freeinsulationscheme.org.uk/great-british-insulation-scheme-centre/?utm_source=ppc&utm_medium=165415144798&utm_campaign=21455733540&utm_id=1092&utm_term=loft&utm_content=loft%20insulation%20near%20me&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6Pwdjn_9MqaeBc3cdut8xDYvEk3tfVzWcCTRUJmI2ILFdvgK6IOulUaAiKmEALw_wcB

Not exactly 10 million, then?

The number of pensioners in poverty in this country is 2 million. So out of the 10 million, 80% will be alright but 20% will struggle. 2 million is still a sizeable number.

One of my friends lives in a traditional stone house in a lovely village. The walls are so thick but the house is so cold. She only found out that the house is so cold after living in it.
Not something you think about when viewing a house. She is now considering moving to a brand new house.

I personally feel that the government should not scrape the WFA for people on attendance allowance. 50% of them are over 80s and they have all sorts of health issues, stroke, parkinson, dementia , cancer.

I am glad that the junior doctors received their pay rise since they will be at the sharp end this coming winter dealing with the elderly pensioners with pneumonia or malnutrition in hospitals.

Rosie51, there are those on here who do jump on others very harshly indeed.

It isn't true that more pensioner's vote Conservative than Labour if the information I have read is correct.
It is sad if any elderly person will be cold this winter as it will be if anyone, young or old is. Full fact says that one in five people. over 65 have assets of a million pound. No-one,surely would think those people should receive heating allowance,

karmalady

It is very possible to insulate a single skinned cold house. Either external insulation or internal insulation ie insulation board on battens. We have done both in the past. It is so easy to bleat about being in a cold house and expect someone else to provide the solution. The solution is not difficult and down to you Rosie51

Do you always jump on people so quickly without comprehending what they've actually written? Number one, I'm not bleating, merely used my own house as an example of a more expensive type to heat, that is relevant to some other people. We aren't allowed to externally insulate, we're in a conservation area. Internal insulating via battens and insulation board would reduce already tiny rooms even further and be expensive to do. I do not expect to be subsidised and have not complained about losing the WFA. The fact that you can't envision anybody not being in a position to alter their housing situation shows that it's never been a problem for you. Perhaps you can tell my 90 year old neighbour she should stop bleating about her cold house?

growstuff

Rosie51

growstuff

Rosie51

When it comes to pensioners heating their homes it's as well to remember not all homes are created equal. I live in a very old, very small house, but it's a cold house. It takes a lot more to heat than my friend's much larger, modern, well insulated house. I have single skin walls so no possibility of cavity insulation, my loft is insulated, I have double glazing, there's nothing else I can do. I won't freeze, and I'm not complaining about my loss of WFA, I'll manage to heat my home but I do spend a bigger proportion of my income on heating than many others have to. For two pensioners on the same state pension there could be very marked differences between their fuel needs. Just something to consider when people are saying they manage why can't others.

That's something people should consider when they buy or rent a property.

My goodness you're all heart aren't you? Ever thought that if they've lived in the house for donkey's years it wasn't a consideration then. When I was a lot younger I wasn't so aware this is a very cold house, and fuel bills were never an issue. I could sell my house, but then couldn't afford anything better locally. Should I move 200 miles from my family and friends because then I could afford a newer house built to higher insulating standards?

Why should anybody be expected to subsidise you because you don't want to move? Have you ever thought about the people who have never had a home to call their own?

Have you even bothered to read what I posted? I do not expect to be subsidised, and I haven't complained about losing the WFA. As I said I won't go cold, I'll manage. But there are people living in houses exactly the same as mine in this area who will go cold. It's not as easy as clicking your fingers to move to a new bought or rented home. Are you're one of those who thinks social housing tenants should have to move once they can manage with a smaller property, put single pensioners into little more than bedsits? Have you ever thought of moving somewhere cheaper?
Yes I give a lot of thought to people who have never had a home to call their own, it's fairly relevant when you've worked in a place where homeless people come. How about you?

karmalady

It is very possible to insulate a single skinned cold house. Either external insulation or internal insulation ie insulation board on battens. We have done both in the past. It is so easy to bleat about being in a cold house and expect someone else to provide the solution. The solution is not difficult and down to you Rosie51

What if you rent? not all pensioners are home owners.

I am in a fortunate position to not have to claim PC and none of my retired friends, bar one, does so. Therefore the WFA is not required by a large number of pensioners, many of them used it for other treats, not fuel costs.
This new ruling could have and, should have, been handled in a better way. Maybe reduced it this year before the pension rise promised in April. This would have alleviated some worries.
The number 10 million is a totally inaccurate, scaremongering headline. I do wish people were not sucked into this falsehood

It is very possible to insulate a single skinned cold house. Either external insulation or internal insulation ie insulation board on battens. We have done both in the past. It is so easy to bleat about being in a cold house and expect someone else to provide the solution. The solution is not difficult and down to you Rosie51

Doodledog

GardenofEngland

This labour lot are determined to cull the pensioners. Some now having to pay tax on their meagre pension and now they want to get rid of the 25% council tax reduction for single households and our bus passes. I never voted them in nor did I vote conservative but of the 2 I think I would be better off under the conservatives!

Can you point to the source of the announcements that CT reduction and bus passes are being cut, please?

My guess is Conservative (or Reform) Propaganda unit.

Rosie51

growstuff

Rosie51

When it comes to pensioners heating their homes it's as well to remember not all homes are created equal. I live in a very old, very small house, but it's a cold house. It takes a lot more to heat than my friend's much larger, modern, well insulated house. I have single skin walls so no possibility of cavity insulation, my loft is insulated, I have double glazing, there's nothing else I can do. I won't freeze, and I'm not complaining about my loss of WFA, I'll manage to heat my home but I do spend a bigger proportion of my income on heating than many others have to. For two pensioners on the same state pension there could be very marked differences between their fuel needs. Just something to consider when people are saying they manage why can't others.

That's something people should consider when they buy or rent a property.

My goodness you're all heart aren't you? Ever thought that if they've lived in the house for donkey's years it wasn't a consideration then. When I was a lot younger I wasn't so aware this is a very cold house, and fuel bills were never an issue. I could sell my house, but then couldn't afford anything better locally. Should I move 200 miles from my family and friends because then I could afford a newer house built to higher insulating standards?

Why should anybody be expected to subsidise you because you don't want to move? Have you ever thought about the people who have never had a home to call their own?

POVERTY is all around us, it doesn't sound like many on gransnet have ever been hungry or cold! We've elected this government to look after the welfare of all it's citizens. It doesn't mean we have to agree with everything they say or do. I've never been keen on KS but the Conservatives needed a rest. Luckily we have a democracy! But it seems whoever is at the top, those who are not in need! are very forthcoming in telling it's citizens to be ready for hard times. Wrap-up warm and prepare to suffer for the good of the country. Breakfast clubs if well organised are brilliant. But letting those at the other end of the spectrum suffer is not a good way forward. There are those who have lived hand to mouth all their lives, no fault of their own. So easy to say 'Just get on with it'

Totally agree! Fine if you're a couple with 2 pensions coming in but if you're on your own not so easy.

LizzieDrip

Excellent conference speech by Sir Keir Starmer👏👏👏 This country will be fine under a Labour government

It was very good. Housing for veterans, more apprenticeships, help for those suffering from domestic violence, an obligation for public bodies to tell the truth (it's a disgrace that that is needed, but still), and more.

I also thought his comments about the populist name-calling not getting in the way were excellent. It must be so difficult to stay on track when people repeat facile slurs and criticise everything he does, but I believed him when he said he could rise above that.

growstuff

Rosie51

When it comes to pensioners heating their homes it's as well to remember not all homes are created equal. I live in a very old, very small house, but it's a cold house. It takes a lot more to heat than my friend's much larger, modern, well insulated house. I have single skin walls so no possibility of cavity insulation, my loft is insulated, I have double glazing, there's nothing else I can do. I won't freeze, and I'm not complaining about my loss of WFA, I'll manage to heat my home but I do spend a bigger proportion of my income on heating than many others have to. For two pensioners on the same state pension there could be very marked differences between their fuel needs. Just something to consider when people are saying they manage why can't others.

That's something people should consider when they buy or rent a property.

My goodness you're all heart aren't you? Ever thought that if they've lived in the house for donkey's years it wasn't a consideration then. When I was a lot younger I wasn't so aware this is a very cold house, and fuel bills were never an issue. I could sell my house, but then couldn't afford anything better locally. Should I move 200 miles from my family and friends because then I could afford a newer house built to higher insulating standards?

growstuff

I would like to see energy companies' being forced to reduce the standing charges. Over the summer months about a third of my charges were made up of the standing charges. No matter how little fuel low users use, they will always be disproportionately affected because everybody pays the same, however much fuel they actually use.

Just checked. I'm currently paying 77.06p a day for standing charges (and I expect most people are paying about the same). That's £281.27 a year, which is almost as much as the WFA would have been.

I agree, growstuff. The standing charges are very unfair.

GardenofEngland

This labour lot are determined to cull the pensioners. Some now having to pay tax on their meagre pension and now they want to get rid of the 25% council tax reduction for single households and our bus passes. I never voted them in nor did I vote conservative but of the 2 I think I would be better off under the conservatives!

Can you point to the source of the announcements that CT reduction and bus passes are being cut, please?

Rosie51

When it comes to pensioners heating their homes it's as well to remember not all homes are created equal. I live in a very old, very small house, but it's a cold house. It takes a lot more to heat than my friend's much larger, modern, well insulated house. I have single skin walls so no possibility of cavity insulation, my loft is insulated, I have double glazing, there's nothing else I can do. I won't freeze, and I'm not complaining about my loss of WFA, I'll manage to heat my home but I do spend a bigger proportion of my income on heating than many others have to. For two pensioners on the same state pension there could be very marked differences between their fuel needs. Just something to consider when people are saying they manage why can't others.

That's something people should consider when they buy or rent a property.

LizzieDrip

Excellent conference speech by Sir Keir Starmer👏👏👏 This country will be fine under a Labour government

Yes. It was good wasn’t it.

BevSec

Susz it certainly does beggar belief but try getting some on here to see it that way!

Who?

Thegrandmarniter

WASPI women are all pensioners, if we were compensated for our lost years before we all die then none of us would be cold this winter. There might be a few cold men though.

Glad you mentioned men!