Redwurzel
Well-known member
In the 1970s the image of a pensioner was someone who lived purely on their state pension. My granny did and rented a council house. I think she got some help with the rent, but not all of the rent. She had the equivalent of around £3,000 in today money in savings to pay for her funeral. She had no car or bike, most of her household possessions were over 15 years old, probably with the exception of a black and white TV that was about 8 years old. She did not own a fridge in the 1970s or have a telephone. She never went on holiday except days out. Her clothes were bought from market stalls. She was careful with her small income and so always had money to keep her warm and free from hunger.
Nowadays a 67 year old pensioner will probably own their own property outright, own a car, spend over £1000 a year on holidays, have a subscription service, have income from more than one source, say state pension and private pension. If they only have state pension they are able to claim Pension Credit and housing benefit if they rent. They can probably can also claim council tax relief if only on state pension.
I am convinced the pensioner of 1975 and 2022 are in general different.
Having said that I do think older pensioners are more likely to need care today as they live past the age of 80, but didn't so much in the 1970s.
I alway felt the triple lock was in part a political bribe to keep pensioners on your side, particularly by recent Conservative Governments, OAPs would rise by say 3 to 5% but many other welfare benefits were frozen. Quite a number of comfortably off pensioners were being put ahead of say the younger disabled and ill or young people living in disadvantaged areas of the UK where job opportunities were limited.
My feeling is that a bit more pensioner support should be means tested and the triple lock removed. With the money saved spent on the NHS and Social care.
Nowadays a 67 year old pensioner will probably own their own property outright, own a car, spend over £1000 a year on holidays, have a subscription service, have income from more than one source, say state pension and private pension. If they only have state pension they are able to claim Pension Credit and housing benefit if they rent. They can probably can also claim council tax relief if only on state pension.
I am convinced the pensioner of 1975 and 2022 are in general different.
Having said that I do think older pensioners are more likely to need care today as they live past the age of 80, but didn't so much in the 1970s.
I alway felt the triple lock was in part a political bribe to keep pensioners on your side, particularly by recent Conservative Governments, OAPs would rise by say 3 to 5% but many other welfare benefits were frozen. Quite a number of comfortably off pensioners were being put ahead of say the younger disabled and ill or young people living in disadvantaged areas of the UK where job opportunities were limited.
My feeling is that a bit more pensioner support should be means tested and the triple lock removed. With the money saved spent on the NHS and Social care.
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