Triple lock on pensions dumped now

[kuepper]

Triple lock staying according to Truss in PMQs

Another U turn- since last night. Seems like it was done on the hoof and demanded by Daily Express, Mail and co so now deeper cuts to the rest of DWP budget will have to be found- if she doesn't U turn on the U turn

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Agree but they aren’t, a government that is making life practically impossible for younger people, but basically protecting pensions at huge expense to buy their votes despite them having a lifetime of far more favourable economic conditions that this generation will never see

That's up to all generations to address. We've got to look after those less able to look after themselves, of which the young and old are very much a part of, but there's a lot of the population of working age, a lot more than there are of pensionable age.

You can't blame pensioners for propping up the Tories when they're well outnumbered by the working age group when it comes to the electorate.

The working age group holds the power when it comes to elections, not the pensioners.

 

[Muttley]

Peston reporting that Truss has bounced Hunt without consultation.
Hunt told Peston at the weekend triple lock was going.
Be interesting to hear next steps.
It needs funding…..

Hopefully Hunt will now do the decent thing and resign.

Which considering that just this morning he was going to be reviewing some the Lil' Lizzie's cabinet appointments is "interesting"...

 

[Redwurzel]

Ref Credits - for some people its also possible to buy credits for years missed, to increase their state pension.

It should not be young v old, but there has to be some fair sharing of the welfare budget. Job Seekers Allowance is £76/week, State pension is £185/week. I think the state pension should be higher than Job seekers but its now 143% higher. Many people receiving job seekers have conditions that making finding work more difficult e.g disabilities, illnesses, caring responsibilities.

I know the UK state pension is relatively low, but in the UK people can have an income of around £255/week without paying any tax which is the highest tax free allowance in Europe. As said state pension income can be topped up with pension credit, council tax relief, housing benefit.

In the 1970s it felt as though pensioners were getting a raw deal and occupational pension receivers were non common amongst pensioners. Many occupational schemes only started in the 1960s. So people say born in the 1910s didn't have a chance to contribute much to them. Now pensioners are people born in the 1930s, 40s and 1950s (up to 1957) who had more opportunities to benefit from occupational schemes, which in general has increased pensioners incomes. Spouses receive income too from deceased partners pension schemes.

 

[Ziggy]

throwing turds at the wall to see which ones stick. It’s Johnson’s schtick. Say anything to buy another 24 hours

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

The state pension is a benefit. The definition is the definition whether you like it or not.

It has recently been defined as a benefit by the Tories. It's actually a contribution scheme, the definition changed so that the attack on benefits could be extended to the National Insurance contribution scheme.

If you're not a Tory it's time you woke up to the way they're playing the population. The state pension is as much a benefit as a personal pension is.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Ref Credits - for some people its also possible to buy credits for years missed, to increase their state pension.

It should not be young v old, but there has to be some fair sharing of the welfare budget. Job Seekers Allowance is £76/week, State pension is £185/week. I think the state pension should be higher than Job seekers but its now 143% higher. Many people receiving job seekers have conditions that making finding work more difficult e.g disabilities, illnesses, caring responsibilities.

I know the UK state pension is relatively low, but in the UK people can have an income of around £255/week without paying any tax which is the highest tax free allowance in Europe. As said state pension income can be topped up with pension credit, council tax relief, housing benefit.

In the 1970s it felt as though pensioners were getting a raw deal and occupational pension receivers were non common amongst pensioners. Many occupational schemes only started in the 1960s. So people say born in the 1910s didn't have a chance to contribute much to them. Now pensioners are people born in the 1930s, 40s and 1950s (up to 1957) who had more opportunities to benefit from occupational schemes, which in general has increased pensioners incomes. Spouses receive income too from deceased partners pension schemes.

We certainly should be looking at job seekers allowance being raised. If you believe the Tory unemployment figures it wouldn't cost a great deal.

 

[Dybuk]

You can't blame pensioners for propping up the Tories when they're well outnumbered by the working age group when it comes to the electorate.

Because the Labour party have notoriously wanted to slash pensions?
Pensioners voting patterns have been getting worse and worse. You equally can't blame young people for feeling that the old couldn't care less about them.

 

[NYboro]

Ref Credits - for some people its also possible to buy credits for years missed, to increase their state pension.

I looked into this for the years I spent in the States. It's really not worth it.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Because the Labour party have notoriously wanted to slash pensions?
Pensioners voting patterns have been getting worse and worse. You equally can't blame young people for feeling that the old couldn't care less about them.

Those of working age have far more votes, regardless of what the pensioners preference is.

This 'old people,' are to blame is a complete myth. If those of working age voted in serious numbers for the Labour Party they would be in power.

 

[Redwurzel]

Depends how many years you plan to live. Not easy to predict I know.

Ref State pension - is it a benefit?

It comes out of the State Welfare budget i.e the one with jobseekers, disability benefits in etc - so when talking about money spent on the welfare budget by Governement - it is a benefit. I don't the figure but state pensions represents the majority of the Welfare budget.

 

[Dybuk]

Those of working age have far more votes, regardless of what the pensioners preference is.

This 'old people,' are to blame is a complete myth. If those of working age voted in serious numbers for the Labour Party they would be in power.

When 70% of pensioners back the tories it takes a lot of votes to negate that

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

When 70% of pensioners back the tories it takes a lot of votes to negate that

Have a look at the numbers. It wouldn't take anywhere near 70% of those of working age to negate that.

 

[Redwurzel]

House ownership has a significant influence on voting. Older peole tend to own property nowadays while the under 30s rent even under 40s in many parts of the UK such as London. House owners more likely to vote for right wing party, renters more likely to vote left wing.

Notice how stamp duty thresholds have been significantly increased despite all the Governement debt - poor bribe imo to increase property prices and increase home ownership figures.

The country needs more housing especially in the South East, why is it not happening? (anyone)

The over 50s do vote, the under 30s in general don't.

 

[NorthumberlandBoro]

I looked into this for the years I spent in the States. It's really not worth it.

Are you sure?
I'm sure when I looked into it you got your money back with 3 years of pension payouts.

 

[Dybuk]

Have a look at the numbers. It wouldn't take anywhere near 70% of those of working age to negate that.

If the tripple lock does get removed by the divide and conquer party then it would take a lot less working votes to change government.
Why do you think working age/younger voters should bail out the terrible voting patterns of pensioners just because pensioners are starting to find that the tories don't actually care about them either - just their votes?
Take a look at this for a good breakdown of voting patterns:

How Britain voted in the 2019 general election | YouGov

YouGov conducts one of Britain's biggest ever post-election surveys to chart how the nation's political character is shifting

yougov.co.uk

 

[NYboro]

Are you sure?
I'm sure when I looked into it you got your money back with 3 years of pension payouts.

I don't remember exactly what it was, but decided not to buy the missing ones. I did put in a few years of contributions before I retired.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

If the tripple lock does get removed by the divide and conquer party then it would take a lot less working votes to change government.
Why do you think working age/younger voters should bail out the terrible voting patterns of pensioners just because pensioners are starting to find that the tories don't actually care about them either - just their votes?
Take a look at this for a good breakdown of voting patterns:

How Britain voted in the 2019 general election | YouGov

YouGov conducts one of Britain's biggest ever post-election surveys to chart how the nation's political character is shifting

yougov.co.uk

Hmmm so those of working age over 40 plumped for Tories. Hardly pensioners.

I'd love to see what percentage of under 40 voters turned out, if they turn out in force they'll be able to swing the election, if they don't then they're letting us all down.

As I said earlier, the number of working age voters far outweighs those of pension age. If they mobilise they'll dictate the political climate, not voting will lead to the status quo being maintained. If it's the smaller section of the population getting their own way there's only one reason for it.

Out of interest, are you against the triple lock, and if so, why?

 

[Boro_Interlinked]

You currently can't buy any NI pension qualifying years going back more than 6 years. They are usually about 800 quid a year. I got my qualifying years statement about 18 months ago. It used to be the case it was seen as good to fill in any gaps but now we have 2 pension systems , they warn you not to buy it without consideration that it might not add anything. I think you have to go into detail with them on a case if you want to find out. Before 2016, you needed 30 yrs to be considered for a full pension. After that and now , it's qualifying 35 years .

 

[Nano]

Hmmm so those of working age over 40 plumped for Tories. Hardly pensioners.

I'd love to see what percentage of under 40 voters turned out, if they turn out in force they'll be able to swing the election, if they don't then they're letting us all down.

As I said earlier, the number of working age voters far outweighs those of pension age. If they mobilise they'll dictate the political climate, not voting will lead to the status quo being maintained. If it's the smaller section of the population getting their own way there's only one reason for it.

Out of interest, are you against the triple lock, and if so, why?

The distribution of people changes things. Young working people are concentrated in cities, old people are spread around the countryside and are the majority in a huge number of seats.

This is an old article but I assume things haven't changed massively:

Electoral power is in the hands of older voters

Research shows that the over 55s will account for the majority of votes cast in 319 constituencies across Britain.

www.ageuk.org.uk