Freezing this Christmas. Keir Starmer Christmas song

The Government does not donate money to overseas aid because of altruism.

I say Well Done! to the writer and the singer.
I watched on you tube. It is brilliant but did make me cry.
For you cynics, there are definately people in this country who will struggle . Everybody's circumstamces are different.
I hope every politician listens to it and hang their heads in shame that someone felt the need to make this recording. As for being number one, it just shows what the majority of people think. I can afford my heating bills but many can't so I donated to the charity they are supporting. I hope it makes a lot of money for Age UK

Farzanah

The Government does not donate money to overseas aid because of altruism.

Well, it's a mixture. But check out the Assad thread in terms of the aid western countries have been and are giving to Syria (and what growstuff said above, would you rather they end up in boats on the Kent coast)

Imagine having to grovel, and then seeing your parents insulted for being too stupid or wasteful to have taught you to manage.
imafine being referred to as "so-called" parents, feckless, lazy, and all the rest of it.

Not at all nice.

As populations age and the ratio of working-age individuals to retirees decreases, many countries, including ours, face significant fiscal pressures to sustain pension systems

Universal benefits do have the advantage of reducing stigma and promoting social solidarity, ensuring that everyone receives support without the need for complex means-testing Farzanah and I would also generally be in favour of taking that route.

However, the increasing number of pensioners, particularly those with greater needs, raises questions about the sustainability of such a system. Politicians on every side have been looking at this. It was, for example, the majority Conservative coalition government that introduced the Workplace Pension which was seen as the start towards an Australian style means-tested pension.

Farzanah

Starmer and Reeves will be haunted by the withdrawal of universal WFA for the rest of their careers.
Remember Thatcher Milk Snatcher?
They are bound to be parodied for this and so early on in a supposed Labour Government.

Actually it was the Labour Govt who first took milk away from Secondary school pupils.

We didn't get milk at secondary school long before that. Locally it was primary schools only.

I have just listened to it and thought is was fantastic. How shameful for a Labour Govt to pick on the elderly as their first victims in their effort to improve our country.

I have to keep the heating on as am still struggling to keep my body warm after having Covid badly quite a while ago. When I get cold I start to feel mentally confused and really unwell.

Thanks to whoever made that wonderful video.

I hope you have claimed all the benefits you are entitled to albertina? It sounds as if you might be entitled to something other, or in addition to WFA. No one should need to "freeze". It can be complicated but you can get help applying.

You sound as if you would be able to claim attendance allowance, or pip, Albertina
Pip takes account of people needing extra heating, or electricity, if they fill that part of the form in.

Many primary school children were thrilled to lose the milk. My husband was in a very rough school in Huyton. They were very pleased that the luke warm milk was no more.

I don't suppose the parents who were struggling felt the same, but now there will apparently be breakfast clubs, which a much better idea for everyone,whatever their reasons,across the board.

My fingers are writing all sorts wrong today.
Maybe my head.

So, people will have to excuse. Me

There's two government bashing Christmas songs at the moment. I forget the other one now

MissA you cant normally get PIP after pensionable age, it stops at that age unless you were awarded PIP before retirement age.

You can try to get Attendance Allowance which is non means tested but definitely ring Age Concern/Help the Aged to check if you are eligible.

I thought that was the case, but I'm not sure of the criteria for claiming, or the age.
We need Pammie back here, as she is A) helpful. B) knowledgeable and C) Just a really nice lady/woman.

If I couldn't afford the heating I would just run it anyway and worry about paying later. I'm pretty sure the utility company can't cut off gas and don't think they are allowed to cut off electricity for elderly or vulnerable people. But I'm not 100% certain on this.
When my mum couldn't pay her gas and electricity bills as she was in the forces an organisation called SAFFA paid it for her. This was in the 70s though so don't know if they are still around.
Anyone elderly can ring social services who may help as they don't just deal with children.
If you can't pay the bill what can the utility company do? Take you to court yes but if you have no money and are in rented accommodation the court will just make an order for a few pounds a month off the arrears. So my advise is just use it anyway.
If it's a matter of debt over fatal hypothermia I would choose debt every time. HTH someone.

Galton

Even to day Lammy has given 50 billion to Syria. How come there was money for pensioners. Plenty of money to send abroad.

Panic not, it's only £50 million, not billion.

I've looked it up and people of state pension age living alone or with children under 5 can't be disconnected between 1st October and 31st March HTH

SSAFA will help the children of Forces parents too sazz1.