What An Insult.

[gulliver1]

Many of the State Pensioners who are struggling to pay their bills , keep warm, and feed themselves are to be given a Christmas Bonus from this Conservative Govt of millionaire MPS and a multi millionaire PM
of .....£10 What an insult , enjoy your bag of crisps ,because that's about all you can buy with £10 these days in the UK.

[ZebuSanctuary]

// Zebu, how do you suggest these people be accommodated //

In my experience the vast majority of ageUK service users I ferry to the daycentres, live alone in 3 bedroom houses.

Therefore this creates an opportunity for those whom live in a house which is bigger than their requirements, to share temporarily their home with others.

I appreciate there are difficulties when living with someone. However people do mellow as they get older and become more tolerant. After all, it would only be on a short term basis.

I just feel it's an avenue that should be explored.

[barry1010]

That's the funniest thing I've read today - 'people mellow as they get older and become more tolerant'.
In my experience many older people get stuck into a rut with their own routines, dislike change and become less tolerant, except with their grandchildren. Add in the frustrations and fear of ageing and the daily pain and discomfort many older people live with and it is easy to see why they can become irritable and short tempered.
They rattle around their big houses that they struggle to manage because they don't like change and are frightened of losing their memories.
Of course there are many sweet, tolerant older people but that's because they were sweet and tolerant when they were younger.

[barry1010]

This is a good scheme for some older people living in too big houses
https://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/at-home/staying-in-your-own-home/homeshare-schemes/

[gulliver1]

Brianj @ 08.27 Spot on .In that case, every state pensioner should recieve £155 94 as a Christmas Bonus

[SparklyKid]

We got £500 heating allowance, no complaint here.

[naomi24]

Zebu, //In my experience the vast majority of ageUK service users I ferry to the daycentres, live alone in 3 bedroom houses. //

Perhaps your experience is limited to your area.

[ladybirder]

I live alone in a one bedroom flat and the last thing I want to do is to be shoved in with a load of other OAPs. I looked after others here, taking in deliveries etc, as I was the only pensioner in the building while the other occupants were at work. Now they look after me as I'm not well.

[THECORBYLOON]

Another way of determining what the Christmas Bonus should be is to compare it to the weekly rate of State Pension.

When the Bonus was introduced in 1972, £10 was 148% of the £6.75 a week for a single person.

To maintain that percentage, the Christmas Bonus this year should be £274.30 for those in receipt of the new State Pension and £210.15 for those receiving the old State Pension.

[gulliver1]

S/k @ 10.12 £500 H/A...A Simple drop in the Ocean to what these Conservative crooks have channelled into their own pockets from the Taxpayer. No wonder so many of them have chosen not to stand inthe next GE They want to sod of on their World Cruise, courtesy of HMRC.

[gulliver1]

TCL ,@ 10,47. Why is there an old and a new State Pension rate. ?

[THECORBYLOON]

The new State Pension was introduced on 6.4.2016 for folk reaching State Pension age from that date.

The new scheme means folk need more years for the full amount, no additional pension and folk cannot inherit their former spouse’s/civil partner's National Insurance record, except in specific circumstances.

[ladybirder]

So just around the year you were born Gully.

[Aircooledfool]

Perhaps one way of combating the problem of keeping warm, would be to gather several state pensioners (with their consent), placing them under one household throughout the winter period?

Oh the horror!
Being rounded up a stuffed into some place with a bunch of people I don’t know. Probably involving the use of cattle prods. No thanks !,! As a pensioner I value my independence and I have survived worse than it being a bit parky

[chelle7272]

//Zebu, //In my experience the vast majority of ageUK service users I ferry to the daycentres, live alone in 3 bedroom houses. //

Perhaps your experience is limited to your area.//

No, it's not one area. The English Housing Survey 2018/19 records that 55% of households led by a person over 65 had 2 spare bedrooms. I doubt it has changed significantly since then.

[gulliver1]

Ladybirder @ 12.54 Be careful with your insults, you will not like it when I bite you back .

[ZebuSanctuary]

// Perhaps your experience is limited to your area. //

I'm prepared to accept that.

During lockdown 2 of our ladies became so anxious they were unable to cope with the isolation. As a result they had to be admitted to hospital.

In this area at least, I feel an opportunity presents itself.

[ZebuSanctuary]

>09.59 I would endorse that too.

[ZebuSanctuary]

/last thing I want to do is to be shoved in with a load of other OAPs//

Rest assure no one is wanting to shove you anywhere against your will.

My point is, fellowship groups (in all of their guises) could promote the idea of people living together temporarily over the winter months. The advantages being shared living costs and companionship.

When you consider over 100,000 britons have offered to share their homes with Ukranian refugee families. Surely then, we are not a million miles from those elderly folk who feel particularly vulnerable doing likewise.

[ZebuSanctuary]

// Oh the horror!..(cut)... I value my independence and I have survived worse than it being a bit parky//

Fair enough.

Putting aside the potential financial difficulties, please appreciate not all pensioners will have your constitution or the mental strength to cope with loneliness.

[ZebuSanctuary]

>13.15

Interesting statistic you have there chelle!