Pensions and Benefits

[Omegstrat6]

How the f uck can these rise to more than 10% in line with inflation and yet people on low incomes or nurses will be lucky to get 2% increase!

Disgraceful! I hope those on low incomes now just think f uck it and go on benefits as you couldn’t blame them!

It's a very moot point Baggieal! I have stepped down from my reasonably paid managers job and now work 3 nights a week in order to better support my wife and son who has dystonia and autism. Due to my income, I now get some benefits and with no financial buffer, I very much rely on them. The issue is that I have to be very careful about incurring any overtime or if/when I got any bonus payments. I don't mind if I earn an extra £20 a month having that deducted from my benefits but the reality is that if I earn, say, an extra £70 in wages I lose about £90 in benefits so am actually worse off! This year we got a 2% pay rise (£££&#128512 but I even have to worry about that!

Like many, I am angered by any who are deliberately work shy or fraudulently claim benefits but genuinely believe that these are the minority and that the "Benefit Street" trope continued to be peddled by Braverman is on its way out. In all honesty I doubt that anyone on here would Like to try and live on benefits alone.

As for pensions, I think that any assistance should be far better targeted. I totally understand that many worked bloody hard for their pensions but there is a world of difference between a poorer pensioner trying to exist in a state pension/low yield company one and those rich enough not to need the extra help from the state that is being offering purely based on age.

[Leicesterbaggie]

It's a very moot point Baggieal! I have stepped down from my reasonably paid managers job and now work 3 nights a week in order to better support my wife and son who has dystonia and autism. Due to my income, I now get some benefits and with no financial buffer, I very much rely on them. The issue is that I have to be very careful about incurring any overtime or if/when I got any bonus payments. I don't mind if I earn an extra £20 a month having that deducted from my benefits but the reality is that if I earn, say, an extra £70 in wages I lose about £90 in benefits so am actually worse off! This year we got a 2% pay rise (£££��) but I even have to worry about that!

Like many, I am angered by any who are deliberately work shy or fraudulently claim benefits but genuinely believe that these are the minority and that the "Benefit Street" trope continued to be peddled by Braverman is on its way out. In all honesty I doubt that anyone on here would Like to try and live on benefits alone.

As for pensions, I think that any assistance should be far better targeted. I totally understand that many worked bloody hard for their pensions but there is a world of difference between a poorer pensioner trying to exist in a state pension/low yield company one and those rich enough not to need the extra help from the state that is being offering purely based on age.

I totally agree with your final paragraph that benefits shouldn't be decided on by age but on an individual's financial situation. I am in the fortunate position, while not being in the mega rich bracket, I am able to live a comfortable retirement. However, while the system is as it is I will accept the benefits that I am currently entitled to. The reason for this stance is that if I don't accept it where will it go? Not to where the need is greatest. It's OK to say that benefit cheats are just a drop in the ocean, I believe that it's wider than many think. The government should be far more proactive in 'weeding out' these individuals so that the benefits don't end up in their pockets but go to those who genuinely need it.

[WBA1955]

I agree it's not fair that people on pensions and benefits should see a rise that is bigger than the lower paid workers.
But once again you take your eye's off the ball and clobber people who are struggling just the same instead of the real culprits, IE those who freeze nurses pay and then award themselves 11% rises. Those who dodge taxes and have offshore banking.
I think most of you on here are intelligent people but sometimes I wonder, you fall for the put the boot into the man in the street every single time.
You have the power to do something about it but you won't. So another conservative government at the next election.

[mickd1961]

I agree it's not fair that people on pensions and benefits should see a rise that is bigger than the lower paid workers.
But once again you take your eye's off the ball and clobber people who are struggling just the same instead of the real culprits, IE those who freeze nurses pay and then award themselves 11% rises. Those who dodge taxes and have offshore banking.
I think most of you on here are intelligent people but sometimes I wonder, you fall for the put the boot into the man in the street every single time.
You have the power to do something about it but you won't. So another conservative government at the next election.

There’s more chance of me teasing Amanda Holden’s nether regions with my chipolata than the Tories winning the next election Des.

[animallittle3]

I agree it's not fair that people on pensions and benefits should see a rise that is bigger than the lower paid workers.
But once again you take your eye's off the ball and clobber people who are struggling just the same instead of the real culprits, IE those who freeze nurses pay and then award themselves 11% rises. Those who dodge taxes and have offshore banking.
I think most of you on here are intelligent people but sometimes I wonder, you fall for the put the boot into the man in the street every single time.
You have the power to do something about it but you won't. So another conservative government at the next election.

People on low pay are more than likely to be the recipient of benefits , in work benefits .

Pensioners are always going to be looked after for a variety of reasons , they've paid their way for most of their working life and contributed but more importantly in reality they vote in considerable numbers .

We can end in work benefits quite easily , pass that on to business and make the minimum wage £15ph .

I suspect those running businesses wouldn't care too much for that .

Perhaps some should decide which way they want it .

[mickd1961]

People on low pay are more than likely to be the recipient of benefits , in work benefits .

Pensioners are always going to be looked after for a variety of reasons , they've paid their way for most of their working life and contributed but more importantly in reality they vote in considerable numbers .

We can end in work benefits quite easily , pass that on to business and make the minimum wage £15ph .

I suspect those running businesses wouldn't care too much for that .

Perhaps some should decide which way they want it .

Typical Leftie way of looking at things.

I don’t pay minimum wage or living wage to my staff, I always pay above that BUT.......I’m happy to pay £15 an hour to everyone if you want to let me which two people I need to let go ?

This year has been very tough, I’ve kept all of my staff on whilst paying myself very little but paying everyone £15 per hour as a minimum would mean closing the doors and 8 staff losing their jobs.

I suspect that instead of being involved in drawing lots to keep their job versus getting £15 an hour that my staff would prefer to be where they are at.

I operate on simple economics but even though I do this I’m still employing others and making almost nothing myself.

Unfortunately we are not a £15 per hour, £30k+ a year economy at the moment.

[animallittle3]

Typical Leftie way of looking at things.

I don’t pay minimum wage or living wage to my staff, I always pay above that BUT.......I’m happy to pay £15 an hour to everyone if you want to let me which two people I need to let go ?

This year has been very tough, I’ve kept all of my staff on whilst paying myself very little but paying everyone £15 per hour as a minimum would mean closing the doors and 8 staff losing their jobs.

I suspect that instead of being involved in drawing lots to keep their job versus getting £15 an hour that my staff would prefer to be where they are at.

I operate on simple economics but even though I do this I’m still employing others and making almost nothing myself.

Unfortunately we are not a £15 per hour, £30k+ a year economy at the moment.

It's not a lefty way of looking at it all , it basically boils down to the fact that people in work have a right to a wage that keeps pace with inflation .

If government subsidies are needed through in work benefits then so be it but they have a duty to be kept in line with inflation .

Surely you should be supporting in work benefits then if your business would suffer drastically if they weren't available .

[Omegstrat6]

I believe that there should be a decent minimum working wage and that any business that does not factor in having to pay this rate does not have a proper business model. However, I do understand Mick's point and think that small businesses particularly need state help to enable them to do so whether through more favourable rates of corporation tax or other tax breaks. That said, I still believe that there are some businesses who could afford to pay better wages but choose instead to pay their directors and shareholders more.

But It's a bit of a hobson's choice isn't it? The state either helps businesses to pay higher wages or else continues to have to pay to top up the earnings of those on low incomes through benefits. Probably a simplification but am I really that side of the mark?

[mickd1961]

It's not a lefty way of looking at it all , it basically boils down to the fact that people in work have a right to a wage that keeps pace with inflation .

If government subsidies are needed through in work benefits then so be it but they have a duty to be kept in line with inflation .

Surely you should be supporting in work benefits then if your business would suffer drastically if they weren't available .

Make you’re mind up, you stated that all employers should be paying every members of staff £15 an hour which would negate the need for benefits!

When I started work in 78 I was on YTS/YOP scheme money of £18.60 less stoppages for a 40 hour week.

I was better off whilst at school getting pocket money because when I started work mum took £5.50 out of my £15.60 take home pay.

Whilst at school I “earned” more with pocket money, keeping my dinner money and doing odd jobs for neighbours.

When I left school I still did stuff for neighbours.

These days, every man and his dog wants a handout FFS!

Today’s so called “poverty” doesn’t even come close to the 60’s and 70’s for the vast majority of people.

Most of the kids at my council estate school were really poor and some in dire poverty, we were hard up but not poor but we got by without complaining all the time.

There’s no backbone to people anymore.

[animallittle3]

Make you’re mind up, you stated that all employers should be paying every members of staff £15 an hour which would negate the need for benefits!

When I started work in 78 I was on YTS/YOP scheme money of £18.60 less stoppages for a 40 hour week.

I was better off whilst at school getting pocket money because when I started work mum took £5.50 out of my £15.60 take home pay.

Whilst at school I “earned” more with pocket money, keeping my dinner money and doing odd jobs for neighbours.

When I left school I still did stuff for neighbours.

These days, every man and his dog wants a handout FFS!

Today’s so called “poverty” doesn’t even come close to the 60’s and 70’s for the vast majority of people.

Most of the kids at my council estate school were really poor and some in dire poverty, we were hard up but not poor but we got by without complaining all the time.

There’s no backbone to people anymore.

No I didn't I said that in the absence of in work benefits that's where the minimum wage would have to be set in order for people to live and pay their way .

The people in the 60's and 70's had luxury at the side of the 1930's and after the war so they didn't have a backbone then either did they ?

The idea of society is to progress and not compare things to way back when .

Seems to me your issue is basically that in work benefits and pensions have received a leg up whilst you are finding it tougher and don't much care for it .