Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Wife still works (part time) so no 'extra' benefits available, unlike the scroungers and unmarried mothers of 3.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I repeat, their income is STILL higher, regardless of pensions, state or otherwise. The whole principle of pensions is to REPLACE working income, not supplement it. They HAVEN'T retired.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Yes but had you taken my post in context to previous post to which I was following up you would see I was on about most people wanting to work and therefore you reply to the UC things falls under the prevue of without breaking the law because anyone not legitimately sick would be breaking the law claiming the extras. Context means everything

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Are you suggesting I should be getting the (roughly) £340 pw like before I retired?

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I have to say living with severe illness or disability (or both), no amount of money matters much. As it stands I might have a year or 2 left yet it's still a worry that things could change or the goalposts moved further away.

If PIP becomes means tested, then do those expect to go through what they do and and then deal with the loss of any kind of financial independence, dignity or self worth having to rely on your partner to pay for everything? I certainly wouldn't be able to live with myself. I'm already a burden to my wife. (Though she doesn't see it that way but I do).

Too many people get annoyed because someone gets something for nothing because they pay taxes and think it must be a wonderful life living on benefits. Like saying you get a free car, well in fact you don't. It tends to cost you around £320 a month for that car.

I look at those that have kids to get more money and think they're just sad and they are the ones that are missing out of living a life and I pity the kids as well. That's not something to envy that's for certain.

I qualify for PIP and ESA (contribution based). Because my wife works, that is all I can claim. So we pay full rent, Council tax etc etc No reductions of any kind. I don't qualify for water rate reduction even though I use more water for my illness. If my wife quits working and becomes my carer, then we'd probably get the lot. But that's no life if it becomes a 'career choice'.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Thanks for your input mate I know it was hard and caused stress when you claimed . What we see with opinions like Nomad are exactly what those in power want people to think. There was someone who had a lot of stress with their twin daughters I think it was too or that might have been the switch to UC.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I can only dream of mooning people like they do :D

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Nowadays, how many people retire when reaching state pension age? In the past it was pretty automatic. The purpose of pensions was to have an income once you left your job and retired.
The issue is whether the state pension should be means tested. After all paying NI, gives entitlement to unemployment benefits which end up being means tested.

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Perhaps if they went ahead and means tested the state pension there may be pensioners given more to hit the target . . works both ways if the circumstances are right (or wrong).

Can we means test child benefit too ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

£60k a year, Gov. taking the piss again

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

I guess it should be £5m a year like Farage. ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

Good to see Farage (and Brexit) still aren't bothering you ;)

Re: Starmer’s chronicles
 

That's what I favour - a Royal Commission to take the politics out of it.

But you are till going to end up financing it, which is where it will fall apart unless we get a government in with a firm commitment to cut waste and put in place robust measures to grow the economy and pay down our debt.

---------- Post added at 08:45 ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 ----------

But it's not coming out of the public purse, is it?