i PAID 11% OF MY SALARY FOR 25 YEARS TO PAY FOR A WORKS PENSION TO HELP ME LEAD A REASONABLY COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT. THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A MASSIVE CON TRICK. BECAUSE I CANT TICK ONE OF THE BOXES THAT STATES I RECEIVE ANY ONE OF A DOZEN BENEFITS I IMMEDIATELY LOSE A TOTAL OF AT LEAST £350 A MONTH VIA TAX, RATES, BOTH COUNCIL AND WATER ETC, THE LIST IS ENDLESS. AFTER SPENDING 3 DAYS IN INTENSIVE CARE, FIVE DAYS IN THE HIGH DEPENDANCE UNIT AND FOUR DAYS ON A CHEST WARD, PNEUMONIA BROUGHT ABOUT COS I COULDN'T AFFORD THE HIGH HEATING COST I AM TOLD I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE STAIR LIFT, WALK IN SHOWER AND A SUITABLE CHAIR RECOMMENDED AS URGENT BY A BONE IDLE AND USELESS L.A. OT COS I CANT TICK THE BOX THAT SAYS DO YOU RECEIVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS, IF SO DON'T CONTINUE COS YOU WILL GET IT FREE, PRESUMABLY OUT OF THE COUNCIL TAX, PAYE I PAY COS I GET A MODEST WORKS PENSION. 12 YEARS IN THE ARMY, INCLUDING 5 YEARS SITTING IN A TANK ON THE IRON CURTAIN BORDER TO ENSURE THE ETON MAFIA GOT THEIR FREE UNIVERSITY COURSE AND NON MEANS TESTED GRANT, 12 MONTHS ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN ADEN, 25 YEARS AS A PROBATION OFFICER WORKING IN THE MOST DEPRIVED AREA OF DURHAM AND MERSEYSIDE AND I HAD TO BUY MY OWN PAIN KILLERS IN HOSPITAL, WHY, COS THE NHS IS SAFE IN OUR HANDS. THE CAPITALS MIGHT REFLECT MY ANGER BUT ARE MAINLY THEIR COS I DESTROYED MY WRIST AND ON DAYS LIKE TODAY IT IS TOO PAINFUL TO ACCESS THE SHIFT KEY. AM I DISILLUSIONED, ER YOU BET YOUR LIFE I AM.
Peter