Labour Flip Floping On Wfp

[webbo3]

https://news.sky.com/story/chancellor-makes-mistake-with-winter-fuel-payment-but-she-has-chance-to-make-corrections-13205994

\\Chancellor makes 'mistake' with Winter Fuel Payment//

A mistake is forgetting your umbrellla when its going to rain, not removing help for vaunerable OAPs

[newmodarmy]

I think you're talking about some rare situations there mushroom- can your informed source give an example?

[mushroom25]

without knowing how the UK government might do it, it would be difficult to say - all that's known is the treasury is being urged by its advisers/think tanks to implement a means test to reduce the pensions burden.

one way of doing that could be similar to the scheme in Australia - 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/assets-test-for-age-pension?context=22526

[newmodarmy]

Ok thanks- so you're talking about a possible future restriction that there's a rumour might be being considered, rather than something that will affect my immediate state pension.

Yes, I think in time there will be some means testing of state pensions too, but again I don't see the point given that anyone with a decent income in addition to the state pension will be paying 20%, 40% and maybe even 45% tax on the pension.

It's odd that a governemnt that talks about the importance of growth seems to want to penalise anyone who wants to try to do better for themselves or makes some sort of provision for their own future.

[THECORBYLOON]

THESHEDMAN, "Your graphic doesn't say state pension is a benefit."

The graphic is titled, "Benefits and Tax Credits" and as it's not a Credit, that shows it's a Benefit.

[THECORBYLOON]

MUSHROOM, what "informed sources have you been listening to or reading?

[barry1010]

Maybe this, I read it the other day

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/pensions-and-retirement/government-means-test-state-pension-3250991#:~:text=Though%20controversial%2C%20one%20idea%20that';s,even%20stop%20receiving%20it%20altogether.

[THECORBYLOON]

NMA,"That's if they know how to log on and fill in 250 questions."

Have you actually looked at the claim form?

Question 15 is, "Do you have a partner?" If the answer is "No" you are telt to go to Question 26 which is,"Do you want to claim Pension Credit for any children or qualifying young people?" If the answer is "No" you are telt to go yo Question 102 and so on.

There are 243 questions but that is because there are multiple scenarios but not all of them need to be answered.

[barry1010]

It can be daunting for many, I've helped quite a few people few them in.

[bednobs]

I'm not sure how the title of the party actually relates to the post. As far as I can see someone from another party had said it was a mistake (what a surprise! Someone from another party disagreed with the govt)

[bednobs]

For first party read post!

[THECORBYLOON]

Some might be under the impression all 243 questions have to be completed.

[newmodarmy]

I don't need to look at the form. I just know that some people see a form with 243 (apologies for my wild exaggeration of 250) and can't face it. If you work in the field you'll be used to these forms, but some people take one look and decide not to bother.  

But anyway, if it's as simple as it could be why do 4 out of 10 (or 3 out of 10 in another publication) who would be eligible, fail to claim it, despite previous campaigns to get people to claim it

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/benefits-for-carers-who-are-pension-age/what-is-pension-credit/

 https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/pension-credit

[theshedman]

Thecorbyloon, what I meant was how can it be a benefit when we have paid it in all our working lives.  

[jourdain2]

If, like me, you were a mum who stayed at home to raise her children so that they began school able to read, dress themselves etc. and with a work/learning ethic that means they are now valuable members of tax-paying society (without having cost the state anything) - your reward for this is that you do not get the years in for a full state pension.

If, like me, you were a teacher who worked supply and part-time whilst her children were going through school (so you could be at home if they were ill etc.) - did you know that you couldn't pay into Teachers' Pensions for many years?  (You had to be full-time, permanent and LAs did things like leaving 1 day per year between contracts so you weren't full-time.) If, when you were finally allowed to pay into a bit of extra pension, you were pretty ill because of your profession - but had a few employable years building up a small pot - and then at the end of it find that the £3+K you have managed to add to your pensions (got another v. small one, scrimped for whilst doing 'Supply') takes you a couple of thou. over the limit for pension credit - but you also pay tax on it.......... you might, like me, be rather peeved!

[Old_Geezer]

Given one has to qualify for a pension it isn't strictly a benefit, but the way it is run it isn't strictly not a benefit either. If the WFP was designed for all pensioners then paying it to only some is a sea change in it's application. And begins to look like an excuse.

 

They'd be more convincing to drop it for all and then raise other wefare payments paid to the needy.

[jourdain2]

They could start by raising the tax-free allowance to £15K, O_G, and re-instatingthe 10% tax band until £20K.  That would help everyone (including themselves)immeasurably.