Scrapping winter fuel payment is wrong, but REAL SCANDAL is that UK state pension is one of WORST in Europe!! MINIMUM wage is £22k but pension is ONLY HALF THAT at £11.5k! 1m elderly living in poverty! Judge a country by how it treats it's vulnerable! #GMB www.theguardian.com/society/2024... - ThreadSky

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social • 4 days ago

Scrapping winter fuel payment is wrong, but REAL SCANDAL is that UK state pension is one of WORST in Europe!! MINIMUM wage is £22k but pension is ONLY HALF THAT at £11.5k! 1m elderly living in poverty! Judge a country by how it treats it's vulnerable!
#GMB
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/16/nearly-1m-uk-pensioners-deprivation-official-figures

Comments

bebsdotteragain.bsky.social•3 days ago

👍👏👏👏 Absolutely, well said!

georgespomp.bsky.social•3 days ago

Those in parliament deciding on the lives of people that have made their contribution to the country. Whilst they vote themselves subsidies and pay that the pensioners should have. MPs are hypocrites.

dereksibling.bsky.social•3 days ago

It's not been scrapped, it's still running, those on £11.5k still get it. It was ridiculous making a non means tested payment to the wealthiest demographic in the country, working people were literally giving money to millionaires.

nannyvon.bsky.social•3 days ago

We've both lost ours but we can manage without it. Fed up with people saying it's been scrapped. It's not

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

They've scrapped it for anyone on over £11.5k, which is really awful. Even if you are on £11,501. They need to raise the threshold to, say, £25k. £11.5k is really not enough to live on.

littlemrsb.bsky.social•3 days ago

After a working life in benefits, I say that the WFP should be applied for, but go by capital held, not total income. Over £16k and you don't get it. It's the same with passported benefits. Amazing the number of pensioners with "savings for their children"... 🤔🙄

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Wow, I find that very harsh. Pensioners were told their whole lives to save and then are penalised. Why should a pensioner not have rainy day savings to pay for dental treatment or carers or taxis if they are in a wheelchair? £16k doesn't go far these days.

littlemrsb.bsky.social•3 days ago

That's my point. Get below the level as it won't take long and then apply. If you're of an age and need to do things, or want to travel, do it. You can't take it with you... 👼

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Pensioners shouldn't have to be on the bones of their ar's to claim a few pennies help towards their heating. Those who think £11.5k is enough to live on are very rarely having to live on only that. Many people need savings when they get old to pay for carers etc.
But we'll have to agree to disagree

whatphildid.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yep. Pensioners shouldn’t need a top up. They should be able to afford to stay warm and healthy. This would actually save money in the long run. If our pensioners are healthy then so is our NHS.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes, 100%

downunder79.bsky.social•4 days ago

Bloody hell. Why did those who have struggled the most and given the most to their country? I don't live there, but my 93 year old mother does. I will not let her struggle. 🦘🇦🇺♥️

clevercomma.bsky.social•3 days ago

As the article says, pensions, NHS, the economy were wrecked by 14 yrs of negligence by the conservatives. It’ll take a long time to put that right so give Labour a chance. Here in Belgium we only had a winter fuel allowance during covid. But I agree that it shld be means tested in the UK.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

So do you think £11.5k a yr is enough to live on?

clevercomma.bsky.social•3 days ago

I get 16k here in Belgium. I worked till 65 as a single mum.I have 1 wk holiday a year. On all my wages I paid 50% income tax. We all do. We complained but are pleased that we get excellent education almost free and so is healthcare. But everything is means tested here which is a fairer system.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

I agree with means testing WFA - but the £11.5k is way too low. It should be around £22k. (min wage).

clevercomma.bsky.social•3 days ago

Did I say that?

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Sorry, I'm not sure what your point is. I was saying £11.5k isn't enough to live on, so pensioners on that amount need the WFA. I voted Labour but they have messed this up. The threshold should be £22k+.

clevercomma.bsky.social•3 days ago

Why did you wait till Labour got in to protest? The situation you’re in is because of 14 yrs of conservative miss management!

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

You've obviously not been following me on social media 😆. I've been protesting every day against the tories for years. I voted Labour and broadly agree they are doing ok. However, I don't have to agree with everything they do and I think taking the WFA off a poor pensioner in £11.5k is grotesque.

mstkindeed.bsky.social•4 days ago

hils56.bsky.social•4 days ago

Rachel Reeves is obsessed by growth, so too is Starmer. They’ll rue the day they betrayed their traditional supporters and voters come next GE. They should be going after the Rich, Non-Doms, Covid fraudsters (that’s all gone quiet re: Covid Commissioner) which they have now reneged on.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•4 days ago

Yes, it's all sounding a little like the tory "trickle down effect" which doesn't actually work.

hils56.bsky.social•4 days ago

Rachel Reeves is really a Tory, married to a Tory, who works/worked for the Tory Gov, not a Socialist bone in her body! She’s probably appointed her hubby as Covid Commissioner, more nepotism in the Reeves family.

knitter1.bsky.social•3 days ago

At least you don’t have Trump.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes, fair point, but he seems to be effing up the whole world atm, including peace in Europe. 😟

davehaterofracism.bsky.social•4 days ago

Well exactly we wouldnt need winter fuel payments if

pensions were high enough

and/or

we were not also paying the highest energy rates in Europe

gaslightfreezone.bsky.social•3 days ago

Agreed.

lucyjbri.bsky.social•3 days ago

U should live in America. You're all doing great

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes, and American healthcare terrifies me.

lucyjbri.bsky.social•3 days ago

We don't have any real healthcare it is terrifying

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

It really is 😢

mavismoggie.bsky.social•4 days ago

And Universal Credit is less than even HALF of that! 😞

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•4 days ago

Yes, also very wrong 😔

kentykent.bsky.social•4 days ago

We're both retired, set ourselves up to survive retirement but still find it a struggle - if we both pass at different times as is most likely, I dread to think how which one of us is left behind is going to cope

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•4 days ago

Yes, it's a misconception that the pension is enough to live on. All the talk of pensioners being lucky enough to have the "triple lock" as if it's a massive amount.

dennispatton.bsky.social•4 days ago

Tories culling the population.
(Labour are Tories)

debbiedo.bsky.social•3 days ago

The Government gave councils an extra £420 million for their Household Support Funds to mitigate. My mother who is nearly 90 has just received £250 from he local council to replace her WFA. I’ve no idea what criteria the council used - but she doesn’t need the money! Still not targeted correctly 💁🏼‍♀️

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Criteria for HSF includes having less than £750 savings in Sunderland, which is ludicrously low.

sunderlandlolly.bsky.social•3 days ago

Still not a good replacement if it's going to people who don't need it. Martin Lewis came up with some great ideas to raise the threshold.

debbiedo.bsky.social•3 days ago

👍🏼

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