Pension boon

[MrGongGong]

Some folks were lucky enough to be born at the right time.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Some folks were lucky enough to be born at the right time.

This is so true. I've been luckier than many.

[P. G. Tipps]

Some folks were lucky enough to be born at the right time.

Swings and Roundabouts.

Today's youngsters and post-baby-boomers don't have to deal with rampant inflation and sky-high mortgage payments (unless they over-borrow on the mortgage which is most unlikely in today's climate).

Every generation has its own peculiar difficulties and problems though I'm mightily relieved I avoided conscription!

[jean]

Today's youngsters and post-baby-boomers don't have to deal with...sky-high mortgage payments...

That's only because house prices have reached such ridiculous levels they can't hope to get a mortgage in the first place.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Swings and Roundabouts.

Today's youngsters and post-baby-boomers don't have to deal with rampant inflation and sky-high mortgage payments (unless they over-borrow on the mortgage which is most unlikely in today's climate).

Every generation has its own peculiar difficulties and problems though I'm mightily relieved I avoided conscription!

The idea that "a legacy of debt" is being left to the younger generation is not altogether black and white either. Any new-born child inherits the massive benefits bequeathed by past generations too. They inherit technology, towns, cities, transport infrastructures, etc., rather than having to start from scratch.

[ahinton]

Tut, tut Mr. H. You really must bring yourself up to date. In England at least, the entitlement age for the National Bus Pass currently stands at around 62 years and 5 months. Basically it follows the advancing state retirement age for women. I think you will find the same applies to the Welsh and Scottish National Bus Passes.

I sit corrected. This is as it was, methinks, before the relatively recent increases in state retirement age, but my point stands that all of these facilities are not confined to those in receipt of state retirement benefit. The Senior Citizens' Railcard is still available from age 60, as are free NHS eye tests and prescriptions, whereas the DWP winter fuel payment seems to be available from the same or similar age to that for free bus passes.

[Bryn]

I sit corrected. This is as it was, methinks, before the relatively recent increases in state retirement age, but my point stands that all of these facilities are not confined to those in receipt of state retirement benefit. The Senior Citizens' Railcard is still available from age 60, as are free NHS eye tests and prescriptions, whereas the DWP winter fuel payment seems to be available from the same or similar age to that for free bus passes.

Those eligible for the English National Bus pass who also have their main residence within the Mayor of London's territory get an even better deal, the Freedom Pass, which also provides free travel on rail (including tube) journeys within the Greater London area.

[ahinton]

Those eligible for the English National Bus pass who also have their main residence within the Mayor of London's territory get an even better deal, the Freedom Pass, which also provides free travel on rail (including tube) journeys withing the Greater London area.

Indeed so - but then given how much more expensive most things are in Borisborough, that seems to be as understandable as it is generous.

As to the future for state retirement benefit, indefinite maintenance of which looks set to become ever more problematic, I doubt that any government would have the courage to scrap it altogether, so I imagine that what we might come to witness (under the classic excuse that it's OK because people are living longer) will be periodic increases in state retirement age to the point that it might eventually phase itself out unless general life expectancy continues to rise at least in parallel with them.

[Flosshilde]

I sit corrected. This is as it was, methinks, before the relatively recent increases in state retirement age, but my point stands that all of these facilities are not confined to those in receipt of state retirement benefit. The Senior Citizens' Railcard is still available from age 60,

Yes, but equally the under 26 Railcard isn't confined to students. They aren't State benefits, and one has to pay for them (something like £26 pounds per year for the over 60's card).

[mangerton]

Reading through these recent posts, the situation does seem rather different in Scotland. All those of us over 60, or disabled, are entitled to a free bus pass. I have a car, and a bus pass - why not, when there is a bus stop across the road, and parking is very difficult - and expensive? As I am over 55, I have a Senior Railcard, which for £30 a year entitles me to 33% off all rail tickets throughout the UK. We all get free eye tests and prescriptions. I got my first winter fuel allowance when I was 61. as I missed the qualifying date by a few weeks. I think the qualifying age is now higher.

And please, spare me the Wail-esque remarks about subsidies.

[teamsaint]

Swings and Roundabouts.

Today's youngsters and post-baby-boomers don't have to deal with rampant inflation and sky-high mortgage payments (unless they over-borrow on the mortgage which is most unlikely in today's climate).

Every generation has its own peculiar difficulties and problems though I'm mightily relieved I avoided conscription!

High inflation isn't much fun at the time, but it effectively slashed the capital cost of many peoples mortgages.


The modern work place is really not a very good place for far , far too many people.
this is completely unnecessary , too.

[teamsaint]

Yes, that happened to me just over a year ago at a Ligeti/Takemitsu gig. Ruined. Ruddy oiks!

interestingly, and coincidentally, I tried the more expensive seats at that self same gig.


I have returned to the cheaper seats for more recent concerts , happy with my lot.

[Anna]

Wales is the same as Scotland - disabled or over 60s can apply for a bus pass (it's not automatically given).
There's been a lot of heated discussion in the last couple of weeks about baby-boomers in London and the SE and how their childrens inheritance - due to property prices - is akin to 'winning the lottery' and is grossly unfair when compared to those in the North and I think some sort of 'death tax' was mooted. However, it mustn't be forgotten that 16% of pensioners, who only have the state pension, are in poverty and the winter fuel allowance is a much needed boost to their income. (Although am I right in thinking that this will now be withdrawn from ex-pats?)

[ahinton]

Wales is the same as Scotland

OH NO IT ISN'T!!!

OK, yes, I do know what you mean, of course!

The thread title being what it is, I wonder how long before someone mentions "boon and bust"...

[ardcarp]

It's called a state benefit because it is one.

Not in my book it isn't. We paid N.I. contributions (I used to do it by old fashioned stamps before the direct debit system became possible) the understood contract with the government being that at age 65 (60 in Mrs A's case) we would have the right to a STATE PENSION. Th word 'benefit' has a whiff of charity about it, or at least that someone's doing you a favour. I know the reason WHY they changed it to a' benefit'. Someone who we know looks after a grown up child with quite severe difficulties. The 'child' gets a disability allowance in her own right, but the parent applied for an attendance allowance because she has, literally, to be in attendance much of the time. She received a wonderfully worded gobble-dee-gook letter saying, We are please to inform you that you qualify for an attendance allowance. Amount £0.00. Reason: You are already in receipt of retirement benefit. Well, there's something not quite right there.

Here's another thing which seems very unfair, though we're not going to let it spoil a friendship. Mrs A paid a full stamp while she was working, but took off about 8 years for child-rearing purposes....an admirable decision IMO...but resulting in a small gap in her contribution record. Her friend and her husband seldom worked and were in receipt of all sorts of benefits throughout their lives. I've no problem with that. But whilst in receipt of benefits, they were automatically credited with NI payments, so on retirement had a full contribution record, whereas Mrs A who worked extremely hard does not, and receives a smaller retirement pension (oops, sorry, benefit).

Which leads me to:

The Government has announced its intention to reform the state pension, introducing a single-tier state pension for future pensioners

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

According to experts, it won't happen, at least not for the majority of pensioners. There will still be an even bigger army of civil servants (sorry, I can't help using the phrase) working out entitlements, contribution records, eligibility, etc, etc. And by 2018 some actuarial process will decree that the retirement age will need to be increased to 90.