Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Actually, Arthur, you will be eligible to claim all of the tax back on your pension.

State Pension will be £148 per week (x 52) = £7696 per year, plus your pension of £720 per year, is less than the £10,600 annual tax allowance.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

I believe Arthur has never been on a good wage going by earlier posts.

Obviously if on a 'good wage' going down to a pittance of an income shouldn't be a problem as ideally you'd have saved some of that good wage to ensure your income isn't a pittance.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

I agree, they won't be divulging this information until after the General Election and then only if they win.

I think that for the majority of the electorate, the bigger picture means little to them. Political ideology takes second place to the important things that affect people personally.

New local councillors soon find that the electorate are far more concerned about their bins not being emptied than some declaration of support for a far away country fighting an oppressive regime.

This is why I think it's unwise of them to now start chipping away at "middle class" benefits as the middle classes are now suffering too and they are a very important part of the population vote wise:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2309902.html

I'm please to see this as it was a concern of mine:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...e-2309902.html

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Things which simply prove that statements like "my vote makes no difference / they're all the same / they're all as bad as each other" are also uttered by people with chronic cranial blockage of the lower colon.

The policies of at least one of this country's major political parties are being shaped by the views of those who have a vote and plan to use it. That's called democracy. The solution, for the social meedja generation who are on the receiving end of this, is to stop listening to idiots like Russell Brand, and start using their right to vote.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

I agree with Chris. Pay per view event.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Lie down in a darkened room for an hour ... it'll pass. ;)

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Well, if Cameron stopped overseas aid. Which he is so proud of. Can you imagine how many GPs, Drs, Nurses, Teachers he could supply for this country.

I read the other day, that if he gets back in, he plans to DOUBLE aid, to countries that need it.

Most of this aid will go onto the black market, and useless projects that this country wont benefit from.

Pensioners in this country, are treated so poorly. That is a disgrace

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Pensioners as a rule Arthur have never had it so good.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

i have 3 company pension plans and a state pension to look forward to but it still wont compare to what i get now .

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Shhhh... people will think you're on benefits! lol :D

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

Lets put it this way. I take home approx. 1200 Per month, l measly pension of 60 quid. When l retire l will have one works pension of about 40 quid per month - compared to now. I might as well find another job after 65.

It just doesn't work out. And l would rather starve then go to a food bank

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

This kind of thing really gets my goat.

She says she can't work because she has sleep apnoea (which I believe as you can't fake it and not to put too fine a point on it, people of her size are very susceptible to the condition) which makes her fall asleep during the day. NEWSFLASH - I have had sleep apnoea since my early 20s yet still work. I just deal with it and with 4 kids to contribute towards I don't have the luxury of getting benefits. Apnoea means without my treatment I stop breathing 58 times an hour on average whilst asleep. I hate to comment on someone's weight as there could be any number of reasons behind it but she needs to get off her fat arse and either get a job or think up a better excuse as to why she doesn't have one.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...-stone-5472136

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

i bet she votes labour

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

She has simply made the decision not to work and sit around getting fatter, the only consolation is that she is shortening the burden on the taxpayer. Whilst having sleep apnoea can be very dangerous there are many people suffering who lead a fairly normal life. I have had a few work colleagues suffering, one was telling me only last week that he is a sufferer and needs to wear a mask. Apart from carrying a bit of extra weight and admitting that it contributes to the problem his life is fairly normal and it doesn't mean he is confined to the settee watching Jeremy Kyle.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.
 

[QUOTE=papa smurf;35770038]Up to press, the State Retirement Pension is not means tested. It is not affected by capital or any other money coming in (including wages) apart from income tax (as it is a taxable benefit).

People may be getting confused because, many years ago, for the first five years after their official retirement age, if a pensioner earned above a given amount money was taken away from their pension until such a point that the pension was completely extinguished.

The most convenient figures that I have to hand are for 1977:

The first £40 of wages was disregarded, then 5p for every 10p earned was taken from the pension until earnings reached £44. After £44, 10p for every 10p of earnings was subtracted from pension entitlement.

The Government of the day abolished these rules as it was deemed unfair to partially means test something that people had paid into during their working life and to encourage more people to work longer in order to help the economy. IIRC, this measure was also something to do with anti age discrimination law.

There is also a scheme that the last Government introduced whereas a pensioner can defer taking their State Retirement Pension in return for receiving more pension when they do decide to take it.

Anybody thinking of doing this should bear in mind that the current Government has made this option less attractive for men born after 6/4/51 and women born after 6/4/53.

https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-p...at-you-may-get

There are different rules for the means tested top up scheme called Pension Credit.

The Winter Fuel Allowance is based mainly on age alone* and isn't means tested or taxable either. The age at which one becomes eligible for it varies as the increased retirement ages are phased in.

* From this winter, pensioners who live abroad in countries considered to be 'warm' are now excluded from receiving any more Winter Fuel Payments.

This has proved controversial as some say that they don't need it, so shouldn't get it. Others argue that if they have paid into the system whilst working in the UK, they should receive it in line with pensioners who choose to take their retirement in the UK.