Freezing this 🎄… by Sir Starmer and The Granny Harmers!

My OH and myself being affected by the "non payment" of the Winter Fuel Payment and not being eligible for Pension Credit, not that we have a mound of money stashed away, we just about get by on our State Pension, my NHS pension and a small (very small private one of OH). All the media getting worked up ( hopefully on our behalf ) and printing loads and loads about pensioners, we went to the shops just after the stopping of the WFP and came back to two brown envelopes behind the door, informing us that we were NOT getting the WFP this year ( ?and how many other years?)
How much did this cost the government? paper, printer ink, envelopes, postage, manpower......all that money could have gone towards the WFP going to everyone, I'm sure that the government will have more up their sleeves, we've already had the WASPI decision to NOT pay out anything.
I really don't believe that they have NO MONEY left in the pot. My MP is Angela Rayner, I've already sent her an email about the WASPI women ( because I'm one), not even an acknowledgment and why , because they have Closed Shop for the Christmas Holidays probably sunning themselves on a hot beach somewhere while we freeze over here.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit, but feel a bit better typing it out and getting it "off my chest" as the old saying goes.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL xx

It is good that many more are applying for pension credits.All governments should make it easier for pensioners to get what they are entitled to.There will be a welcome increase in the state pension in April.The NHS is being better funded , the junior doctors strike has been settled.Slowly things will improve but it will be tough.

Well as an older woman who has been conned by the pension age going up and up, paying what I think was called SERPS which took about a weeks wage in the year and I received a letter telling me it would put 6d on my pension . No that wasnt a mistake that was sixpence in £sd. which converts now to I think 2-1/2p . I am trying to decide whether I shall put that towards my missing winter fuel payment? I have a pension now which is just over the level to get any benefits, and doesnt get the wfp, yet when I tried to get a better bank account with a bit more interest I was told I dont put enough in a month to get it. !!! Cant make it up can you? Well women even more than men have been shafted by the lot of them, Tory or Labour. We are portrayed as the elderly blocking beds and taking up housing etc. But I dont see much news about the huge amount of voluntary work that pensioners do. Everything from running the libraries that they have axed the money from, meals on wheels. Now making hubs where we can all huddle over a warm space, unable to stay in our own homes as we cant put the heating on. Well I have already made my new years resolutions
1. To keep breathing , and stay alive for as long as possible to annoy the lot of them. It helps me fight against the cancer I have now. I plan to keep going until I am at least 103.
2. to fight the injustice of waspi women, and the winter fuel debacle. How dare they say that they havent the money to pay and most women were not affected!! As women often have mixed jobs and time out , they have had all our small bits of pension to pay to the men and we have been conned by all politicians. I paid full stamp for 11 years, went abroad and paid the highest level class 3 to keep me in the system for which obviously I got absolutely nothing as I wasnt here! Brought up my son, who is adopted , so never had maternity payments, have worked, done voluntary things ever since I retired. Well I call on women to join me in the new year and we will combine the general strike with the suffragettes example. We will choose ONE day, and try to make sure the people we help are given the least problems, but if every woman stopped what they normally did on that one day and we will put on social media pictures and lists of what we would have been doing that day and everyone come out to collect together in parks so that we will show them just what we do and make them acknowledge our presence and our worth. If there is not enough money, then that should be shared by the whole population of pensioners , not yet again using the system where we were paid less because we are women so consequently had less pension. Well enough is enough. Whose going to join me? Have a happy and peaceful christmas everyone and we will fight the good fight in the New Year

mae13

keepingquiet

More people getting pension credit than ever before.

Exactly how many? You sound as if you have authorised access to the required info and so you have a duty to back up your statement accordingly. I demand the numbers and your sources.

What a horrid tone, @mae13! Well, you clearly haven't been listening to the news. There was a big discussion about the fact that over 40,000 more pensioners are claiming credit but that charities were worried that a lot more that are in the pipeline and are going to miss out as the deadline for back payment which would include the Winter Fuel Payment was Saturday just gone.

heavenlyheath

More people applying for pension credit will hopefully cost more for Labour. Good luck to all those applying🍀

It will cost the tax payer more. It's quite right tax revenue is spent to help those that need it.

I am not a fan of Starmer but I think this song is silly and cringe worthy. I can’t stand the BBC but I don’t blame them for not playing it.

love0c

We stopped watching because of its obvious bias! Some really hateful bias. The media and other outlets including on here makes it plain it has not changed it's stance.

What hateful bias?

More people applying for pension credit will hopefully cost more for Labour. Good luck to all those applying🍀

I pity any government taking over from the complete shambles that the conservatives left behind. Things have to get tougher before they get better. Not a fan of Starmer or his policies but before he was elected that it would take years to sort out the mess. And yes I am a pensioner relying on benefits.

We stopped watching because of its obvious bias! Some really hateful bias. The media and other outlets including on here makes it plain it has not changed it's stance.

How can you be able to comment on the BBC if you haven't watched or read it for years? All you have is "news" that criticises it?

When Margaret Thatcher died we still watched BBC news. They most definitely played the first lines every time they spoke about the song on the news. We have not watched BBC news for years!. My conscience will not let me.

"I do not think the BBC should act as pro-government censor
which they do all the time"

Usual BBC bashing. The right think its based towards the left, the left think its biased towards the right, twas ever thus. I read I player everyday and believe me there is plenty of government criticism including on its "Verify" functions.

What is doesn't do is publish more the more speculative news that we see on some front pages of newspapers until a fuller story has come out, and thats how it should be.

It doesn't indulge in "shock horror politician denies claims that/won't confirm that" (speculative question to politician of either persuasion). Nor does it print stories derived from X posts unless they have been confirmed otherwise.

I am a life long labour voter but I'm not a supporter of New Labour Mark 2.
Winter Fuel Allowance should have been means tested from the start. Why should people like me who have a private pension as well as my stae pension get it when there are thousands of young families whose need is greater?

Oldwoman70

nanna8

To be fair I don’t think the BBC should play it because it is the ‘national’ broadcaster and relies to a certain extent on the government’s approval. I have listened to it and whilst it has a point of view it is a bit over the top.

Yet the BBC had no problem playing "Stand Down Margaret" - an anti-Thatcher song by The Beat. It was played on at least two programmes Old Grey Whistle test and Cheggers plays Pop

40 + years ago 😂

I do not think the BBC should act as pro-government censor
which they do all the time
Not the same as when Maggie died - that was personal and could have been hurtful to her family
Die-hard Labour supporters will never see anything wrong with this government
Until....

nanna8

To be fair I don’t think the BBC should play it because it is the ‘national’ broadcaster and relies to a certain extent on the government’s approval. I have listened to it and whilst it has a point of view it is a bit over the top.

Yet the BBC had no problem playing "Stand Down Margaret" - an anti-Thatcher song by The Beat. It was played on at least two programmes Old Grey Whistle test and Cheggers plays Pop

Lots of things the BBC haven’t done and don’t do!
That’s why we had pirate radio stations!
That’s why Savill & the likes got away with what they did for so many years!
We all know the BBC is antisemitic with reporters such as Bowens, Lutrec and the likes. Their anti Israel reporting is beyond a disgrace.
So never surprised with the rotten BBC

Have a friend who for years would not try to claim Pension Credit as she thought she would not get it! Now tried & got it! All the years of struggling when she did not need to is very annoying.

Nandalot

Although I think the Labour government shot itself in the foot with WFA cancellation, I am pleased that the move has prompted so many more people to claim pension credit. The furore about it caused more people to think about applying for pension credit. It is a more targeted way of providing help.

I completely agree.

Shinamae

I don’t think Starmer is arrogant or ignorant, he’s more than aware that his policies are unpopular, and he warned us all time and again things would be very tough.

I don’t agree with the way WFA was withdrawn but I also don’t think it should EVER have been universal.

I’m still prepared to give Starmer a chance, after 1-2 years I expect things to be more positive, or should I say I hope 🤞🤞

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Mind you ….

Daniel Martin
Deputy Political Editor, Telegraph
19 December 2024 8:52pm GMT
Sir Keir Starmer has said he has no regrets about the decisions he has made in the past six months and would do nothing differently.

The Prime Minister made the comments as he answered questions from the liaison committee of senior MPs from all parties for the first time.

I saw this. His arrogance and ignorance is astounding…. 🙄

Although I think the Labour government shot itself in the foot with WFA cancellation, I am pleased that the move has prompted so many more people to claim pension credit. The furore about it caused more people to think about applying for pension credit. It is a more targeted way of providing help.

Wyllow3

I read the report - in full - you have just given. It doesn't come to the conclusion you suggest at all

summary is
"While this means the change is unlikely to save the Treasury as much money as it hoped, it has meant a life changing boost in income for hundreds of thousands of pensioners living in poverty."

Those pensioners could have claimed it anyway, otherwise they would not have been given it now.

BTW, agree above with those who suggest is completely not suitable to play on the BBC, as FGT points out it can cut many ways and the BBC cannot be expected to play any strong party-political songs.

I read the report - in full - you have just given. It doesn't come to the conclusion you suggest at all

summary is
"While this means the change is unlikely to save the Treasury as much money as it hoped, it has meant a life changing boost in income for hundreds of thousands of pensioners living in poverty."