Aiming to be Christmas No.1

In case you haven't already heard it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrvmY5s2mo&ab_channel=SirStarmerandtheGrannyHarmers

I don't know why anyone has to freeze.

I am just above the pension credit threshold (not by much!) and can still afford to heat my home more cheaply that I did last winter... I really don't know what the fuss is about.

I don’t agree with the way, or the speed, of the removal BUT I do agree it should be means tested, the threshold needs to be higher and we do need to take into account the amount of pensioners still not claiming Pension Credit.

I truly hope no one will die of hypothermia.

If we know we have very vulnerable neighbours, friends or relatives in the slightest danger of this we should try our best to help them in some way.

keeping quiet, of the `I am alright Jack` mentality. Where is the empathy for those who cannot afford heat?

Thank you Cressida and Grannygravy

Cossy I also do not agree with the speed of removal or the level it was set at.

keepingquiet I am pleased that you are able to heat your home and eat however, I am mindful that 1,000’s of pensioners are not as fortunate.

GrannyGravy13

Cossy I also do not agree with the speed of removal or the level it was set at.

keepingquiet I am pleased that you are able to heat your home and eat however, I am mindful that 1,000’s of pensioners are not as fortunate.

I am in a similar position to keepingquiet and I won't be starving or freezing either. If I had £13 less a week, I could claim Pension Credit, so I am certainly not an 'I'm alright Jack'.

How will the profit from this song be distributed and to whom?

growstuff the creators of the single Sir Starmer and the Granny Harmers are raising funds for Age U.K.

Keepingquiet - Maybe you should do exactly that.

It is a brilliant, well written and thought provoking song. Well it is to those amongst us who understand the meaning of 'empathy'.

Keepingquiet I m with you all the way I m just above getting pension credit but I m neither going to starve or freeze
It’s just another stick to beat the government with

Grannygravy you say keepingquiet I am pleased that you are able to heat your home and eat however, I am mindful that 1,000’s of pensioners are not as fortunate , then GrannyGravey then they will get pension credit and many many extras that those of us just above won’t get so they won’t freeze or starve either .
This is a publicity stunt

BlueBelle are you not aware of the 1,000’s of pensioners who are just £1 over the pension credit limit?

Age U.K. and many other charities are concerned about this, are they just after publicity ?

karmalady

keeping quiet, of the `I am alright Jack` mentality. Where is the empathy for those who cannot afford heat?

Thank you Cressida and Grannygravy

Well said, karmalady.

Yes grannygravy I am just over myself as I said before
I don’t agree with how it’s been done at all but then I often don’t agree with governments policies but it’s been done and so we make our own adjustments wherever they draw the line someone is going to be just over
I certainly don’t have an I m alright Jack attitude but I think people that are in need will get pension credit If you’re a pound over as said on here then they will manage to lose that pound and apply for the help

I am frequently shocked at the attitude of some GNers towards fellow less fortunate pensioners.
I was a civil servant of over 35 years and many of my friends also retired and single through marriage breakups etc are finding life very hard and can really only just manage ,one of my lovely friends daughter has to help out with her bills and she is the most hardworking capable thrifty lady so while I am pleased that the majority on this site do not have these problems a little more empathy would not go amiss.

BlueBelle

Yes grannygravy I am just over myself as I said before
I don’t agree with how it’s been done at all but then I often don’t agree with governments policies but it’s been done and so we make our own adjustments wherever they draw the line someone is going to be just over
I certainly don’t have an I m alright Jack attitude but I think people that are in need will get pension credit If you’re a pound over as said on here then they will manage to lose that pound and apply for the help

How can you lose a £ from your pension?

These people cannot afford accountants.

If you know BlueBelle perhaps you can let Age UK, Age Concern, Citizens Advice and the plethora of charities/charitable organisations who are concerned and advising worried pensioners…

I hope the people who are going to really suffer have taken advantage of any insulation grants available.. and I would really recommend getting a heated throw or electric blanket..

I really hope too many libraries don't close.. a cold house is not a pleasant place to spend time..

Allira

karmalady

keeping quiet, of the `I am alright Jack` mentality. Where is the empathy for those who cannot afford heat?

Thank you Cressida and Grannygravy

Well said, karmalady.

What a shocking lack of empathy. I despair.

Many factors impact on heating homes and how people feel the cold: medical conditions, lack of money, poor insulation, old and draughty homes and where in the country you live.
It has been -3 C here all day. I can afford to heat my home, but am still cold.

keepingquiet

I don't know why anyone has to freeze.

I am just above the pension credit threshold (not by much!) and can still afford to heat my home more cheaply that I did last winter... I really don't know what the fuss is about.

I can't wrap my head around this tbh. People who are whining about paying inheritance tax because they are millionaires are suddenly all sad about cold pensioners.

It was an ill thought out move to take away WFA but surely years and years of so called austerity have a part to play here.

pascal30

I hope the people who are going to really suffer have taken advantage of any insulation grants available.. and I would really recommend getting a heated throw or electric blanket..

I really hope too many libraries don't close.. a cold house is not a pleasant place to spend time..

I don't know whether OVO is still giving them away, but last year I clicked on a link on the OVO website, filled out a short online form and OVO sent me a heated throw in the post - for free.

Marydoll

Allira

karmalady

keeping quiet, of the `I am alright Jack` mentality. Where is the empathy for those who cannot afford heat?

Thank you Cressida and Grannygravy

Well said, karmalady.

What a shocking lack of empathy. I despair.

Many factors impact on heating homes and how people feel the cold: medical conditions, lack of money, poor insulation, old and draughty homes and where in the country you live.
It has been -3 C here all day. I can afford to heat my home, but am still cold.

If that's aimed at me, I'm not lacking in empathy. I'm one of the people affected, for goodness' sake. My point is that anybody living above the threshold for Pension Credit shouldn't be freezing to death or starving, if they manage their money well. I live fairly frugally, but I prioritise. £6 a week wouldn't make much difference to somebody just over the threshold. It might mean they would have to eat cheaper food or turn the thermostat down, but I find talk about freezing emotional hyperbole. Quite frankly, I think it's virtual signalling by people who want to have a go at the Labour Party, who generally couldn't give two hoots about inequality and are often the first to dismiss issues of genuine poverty in the population as a whole.

Jeanathome

keepingquiet

I don't know why anyone has to freeze.

I am just above the pension credit threshold (not by much!) and can still afford to heat my home more cheaply that I did last winter... I really don't know what the fuss is about.

I can't wrap my head around this tbh. People who are whining about paying inheritance tax because they are millionaires are suddenly all sad about cold pensioners.

It was an ill thought out move to take away WFA but surely years and years of so called austerity have a part to play here.

I agree with you.

People who are whining about paying inheritance tax because they are millionaires are suddenly all sad about cold pensioners.

I don't understand that statement, sorry.

Who are the whining millionaires? Do you mean Gransnetters? On this thread? How do you know about their finances?

Many of us have been concerned since this was announced about those pensioners just above the cut-off point for any help at all.
We realise not all are in the fortunate position of those posting on here who are just above this threshold and whose circumstances are different so that they can afford to keep warm.

Pudding123

I am frequently shocked at the attitude of some GNers towards fellow less fortunate pensioners.
I was a civil servant of over 35 years and many of my friends also retired and single through marriage breakups etc are finding life very hard and can really only just manage ,one of my lovely friends daughter has to help out with her bills and she is the most hardworking capable thrifty lady so while I am pleased that the majority on this site do not have these problems a little more empathy would not go amiss.

Excuse me! I'm one of the people affected! Why should I have empathy for people in the same boat as I am, but somehow can't seem to manage? Almost everybody with less income than I have is eligible for Pension Credit and won't lose the WFT.

Allira

^People who are whining about paying inheritance tax because they are millionaires are suddenly all sad about cold pensioners.^

I don't understand that statement, sorry.

Who are the whining millionaires? Do you mean Gransnetters? On this thread? How do you know about their finances?

Many of us have been concerned since this was announced about those pensioners just above the cut-off point for any help at all.
We realise not all are in the fortunate position of those posting on here who are just above this threshold and whose circumstances are different so that they can afford to keep warm.

My circumstances aren't different. I can afford to keep warm because my heating bills and food are a priority and I make sure I can pay for them.