Retired folks get too much benefit

[Deleted member 26818]

I see the point as being take from them what they worked for.

 

[sparksburnout]

Means testing, sounds simple but perhaps not so;
Means Testing - National Audit Office (NAO) - https://www.nao.org.uk/report/means-testing/

No way! How hard is it to check on the database that already exists and determine that Mrs G Rumpy owns a 2015 Vauxhall Meriva (Standard old folk issue) and therefore does NOT need a bus pass, for a start. Also, if they can run a car, they probably don't need a free TV licence or WFA either for that matter??

 

[sparksburnout]

I see the point as being take from them what they worked for.

They didn't work, in run of the mill jobs, to enjoy free everything when they don't actually need it, while young people have their backs to the wall trying to get on the housing ladder that has spiralled out of control while said retired people have mostly contributed to the very mess that we are in now?

 

[Midwest]

No way! How hard is it to check on the database that already exists and determine that Mrs G Rumpy owns a 2015 Vauxhall Meriva (Standard old folk issue) and therefore does NOT need a bus pass, for a start. Also, if they can run a car, they probably don't need a free TV licence or WFA either for that matter??

Well the National Audit Office thinks it need some consideration, after all it takes one person to means test, another person to approve the payment and another to send the cheque. OR just one person to send a cheque

 

[sparksburnout]

Well the National Audit Office thinks it need some consideration, after all it takes one person to means test, another person to approve the payment and another to send the cheque. OR just one person to send a cheque

That's cos its full of old nearly retired farts.

 

[Pete999]

This subject has started to get to me recently so I thought I would air my views. Might be the area in which I live, it is wall to wall in very well off folks who have retired and are living the life of riley, while most young people are really struggling with one thing or another. I have first hand knowledge of some of them, all they had was run of the mill jobs, basic teachers, civil servants, power station "operatives" for example, and now have pensions that my kids will only dream of. Thing is, most of the ones I have talked to seem to think it is their god given right. Where I live you can't park on the street, it's full of them, parking their new cars so they can jump on the bus from the stop at the end of the road to go into town cos they all have free bus passes. How can that be right? They can easily afford to run a (new) car, but they get a free bus pass? One bloke in the pub the other night was bragging about how he had negotiated an 30% OAP discount at the gym, when I know for a fact he has 3 properties and is minted. Another one was telling him how he spent his winter fuel allowance on a pair of £350 wheels for his ROAD BIKE. This is all a massive joke in my opinion and should be stopped, I would be ashamed of myself if I took this money when I didn't need it, its basically taking money from other hard up people so these old farts can just enjoy themselves and they don't give a monkeys. Typical selfish old gits. And before anyone says it, no they have not "earned" the right to it, their generation is mostly the one that has got this country in the ****k mess it's in. Why are these benefits not means tested? How hard would it be to check on the DVLA database and say "Sorry matey, you own a car so you don't NEED a free bus pass"? No wonder the country is struggling, bloody old timers.......

So someone who has paid into a pension scheme all their working life don't deserve to live comfortably in their retirement, is that what you are saying? Pete999 pensioner and I can't afford a new car, and I have given up my winter fuel allowance, I have my own house which is bought and payed for, so I'm not scrounging off the social. You may not be so critical when you have reached retirement.

 

[sparksburnout]

So someone who has paid into a pension scheme all their working life don't deserve to live comfortably in their retirement, is that what you are saying? Pete999 pensioner and I can't afford a new car, and I have given up my winter fuel allowance, I have my own house which is bought and payed for, so I'm not scrounging off the social. You may not be so critical when you have reached retirement.

Your missing my original point Pete, which is that a lot of pensioners that are very well off thank you very much and can afford a new car and 2 cruises a year are still taking everything they can get and then gloating about it because "it is their right". Well it ain't IMO. A lot of young people are struggling due to the mess that their generation have left behind, and to top it off they seem to think they are worthy of benefits they don't need. Of course there are some that do deserve it. Anyway well done for giving up the WFA, that's what I would do as well.

 

[Midwest]

Well that's what everyone does, with a few exceptions (and the likes Alan Sugar aside). As Pete says, if you spent 50 years of your life paying into a system you will gladly except what you are entitled to. A few examples;
Child Benefit, NHS dental treatment, sick pay, holiday pay, and if your self employed paying as little tax as possible (via your accountant), claiming expensives for dining 'business partners' etc etc. That's before you retire. Everyone's at it not just good old Joe Public, MP's, Doctors, even the Queen tax affairs are questionable.
So when I properly retire, I will claim my state pension, along with my other pension I bought and paid for. And if I want a new car. or go on a cruise. I won't feel guilty

 

[ruston]

Maybe if you had said privileged instead of old folks , you might have had a bit more agreement.

 

[Barry White]

So the OAPs who have worked all there lives most of them very hard. Paid there taxes,paid into pensions,bought there houses(instead of ----ing it up the wall) shouldent claim what they are entitled too?
I disagree,The young of today need to work and get on the property ladder forget about fancy new phones, games machines and fancy clothes. Buy a good pension or invest savings so they too can live it up.
Theres far too many not ever had a job claiming state pension and fuel allowance.Then there free bus pass. these are the folks I dont like.

 

[ruston]

So the OAPs who have worked all there lives most of them very hard. Paid there taxes,paid into pensions,bought there houses(instead of ****ing it up the wall) shouldent claim what they are entitled too?
I disagree,The young of today need to work and get on the property ladder forget about fancy new phones, games machines and fancy clothes. Buy a good pension or invest savings so they too can live it up.
Theres far too many not ever had a job claiming state pension and fuel allowance.Then there free bus pass. these are the folks I dont like.

You are correct again. No one is giving them anything , they have bought and paid for what they have got .
If they are going to means test , they need to find out where the super large tellies , phones and contracts , designer gear people on free rent and council tax are getting their bit from.
Before anyone starts , this is not a dig at genuine claimants , but we all know the abuse goes on.

 

[boardey]

I have a reasonable car, i also have a travel pass for the area i live in. Why do i use my pass because their are so many sausages at your age that drive like they are in a race everyday they get behind the wheel.

 

[sparksburnout]

I have a reasonable car, i also have a travel pass for the area i live in. Why do i use my pass because their are so many sausages at your age that drive like they are in a race everyday they get behind the wheel.

Not sure what age you think I am! (58) but I don't drive like like a sausage. But I do go back to my point, why do you think you should get free bus travel when you can afford to run a reasonable car? It doesn't make sense to me. At the end of the day, it is not "free", it is being paid for by everyone else isn't it? If a pensioner is unable to run a car due to financial constraints then fine, but an awful lot are just being plain greedy, and what wound me up in particular was the way they were gloating about it.

 

[Resu]

Seriously? There's plenty worse in the world to be worrying about than this. Why waste your time with this sad little rant when it's going to acheive nothing? There's a few billion people in the world now and I think it's generally accepted that you aren't going to agree with how everyone runs there lives. So just ignore the assholes and get on with your own life.

PS. I am a struggling 24 year old with a wife and 2 toddlers, a 10 year old car and live in a rented house. I claim no benefits. Do I agree with the people in your OP? No. But I'm not going to waste another minute of my life moaning about them.

 

[Midwest]

I do think sparksburntout raises a valid point. Benefits are for people on low incomes, sick, disabled or otherwise unable to support themselves. If the system functioned correctly and fairly, there would sufficient government funding to increase or improve the range of benefits.

Unfortunately, benefit fraud stands at £1.3 billion (Benefit fraud and error at record low - Press releases - GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/benefit-fraud-and-error-at-record-low), and whilst at its lowest level in recent years, is still a massive amount of money.

It would appear that 'means testing' might be counter productive (#14). So we need to rely on peoples honesty & benefit fraud investigation. As I mention early, some people have a different 'threshold' on what is dishonest & what is just getting back what their paid in to the system. When I am collecting my state pension, I wouldn't apply for a bus pass if I had a car, but I would consider help with my heating bills for example.

Perhaps if we perceive people are abusing the system and especially if they appear to be bragging about doing so, we should consider reporting them. My favourite pet hate, is the abuse of the 'blue badge' parking permit. I seen vehicles parking using the badge, where clearly the badge holder is not utilising the vehicle or the badge holder is parking a vehicle in a dangerous position, albeit one allowed under the scheme.

If anything has come of your thread sparksburntout, you're perceived as a twenty something tearaway
:mkungfu: