Here comes the tax rises

[GrimUpNorth]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Benefits went up by the rate of inflation, as they always have done. It was the salaries of Ministers that were frozen.

Just do a quick internet search for 'Did the Conservatives freeze benefits' and there are lots and lots of results that seem to contradict your statement.

Originally Posted by nomadking

Benefits went up by the rate of inflation, as they always have done. It was the salaries of Ministers that were frozen.

<cough cough>

Benefits freeze to end in 2020, government confirms
Published 3 November 2019

The freeze in benefit payments is to come to an end next year, the government has confirmed.

Working-age benefits such as universal credit and jobseeker's allowance will rise by 1.7% from April 2020, the Department for Work and Pensions said.

It ends former Tory chancellor George Osborne's decision to introduce a freeze from April 2016.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50278634

[nomadking]

And a year later.
Link

Analysis by Resolution Foundation shows Jeremy Corbyn’s party would go ahead with most of George Osborne’s planned benefits reductions

Originally Posted by nomadking

And a year later.
Link

And that has what relevance to your incorrect assertion?

Benefits went up by the rate of inflation, as they always have done

[Escapee]

My mother phoned me earlier, apparently their pension income is 75 pence per week over the threshold to claim the heating allowance.

My fathers health is poor and they are not the type to attempt to get handouts, but this has annoyed them so much they are going to apply for attendance allowance.

My mother attends classes at the local adult education establishment, and she is aware that many of them in the class receive attendance allowance. When asked they usually become defensive and say it's because someone puts their bins out for them etc. She's really annoyed because the majority of these people receiving the attendance allowance are fit enough for foreign holidays etc.

They had a similar problem when my father lost his DLA and my wife persuaded them to appeal, as they didn't want to make a fuss. My father actually ended up having his benefits increased. They were annoyed then because they knew examples of people receiving DLA who were able to walk up Pen y fan, but my father would struggle to make it the length of the car park.

The benefits system has always been rigged in favour of those who know how to work it.

Originally Posted by Hugh

And that has what relevance to your incorrect assertion?

The original statement implied they were frozen for a decade, when it was actually 4 years, so neither of them were correct.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Escapee

My mother phoned me earlier, apparently their pension income is 75 pence per week over the threshold to claim the heating allowance.

My fathers health is poor and they are not the type to attempt to get handouts, but this has annoyed them so much they are going to apply for attendance allowance.

My mother attends classes at the local adult education establishment, and she is aware that many of them in the class receive attendance allowance. When asked they usually become defensive and say it's because someone puts their bins out for them etc. She's really annoyed because the majority of these people receiving the attendance allowance are fit enough for foreign holidays etc.

They had a similar problem when my father lost his DLA and my wife persuaded them to appeal, as they didn't want to make a fuss. My father actually ended up having his benefits increased. They were annoyed then because they knew examples of people receiving DLA who were able to walk up Pen y fan, but my father would struggle to make it the length of the car park.

The benefits system has always been rigged in favour of those who know how to work it.

Many people on disability benefits would be capable of climbing up Pey y fan, I don't understand your point.

---------- Post added at 18:02 ---------- Previous post was at 17:56 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

And the last State Pension rise was £900 in April 2024…

I don’t understand why they don’t delay it until they can find a way of targeting at those most in need (just ask HMRC for a file if those who have incomes of less than £nn,nnn, then match the payments on NI number).

There's lots of ways they could stop the more affluent pensioners getting the Winter Fuel Allowance, whilst continuing to help those not much above the Pension Credit level.

They could restrict it to basic rate taxpayers only, keep it for those in bands A to C for Council Tax or make it taxable so the more affluent pay up to 45% of it back.

[Escapee]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Many people on disability benefits would be capable of climbing up Pey y fan, I don't understand your point.

These people are supposedly physically not mentally disabled, they have all their limbs, walk unaided and lead fairly active lifestyles for their age.

It is unfortunate that those who lie and know how to play the benefit system do very well from it, whilst those who are more deserving but too proud to speak up get nothing.

We have one scrounger in our family, over 40 years ago he got two girls pregnant and told me at the time that he wasn't going to ever work again because they would come after him for maintenance payments. Fair play he was true to his word, apart from the 18 months or so when he left school he hasn't worked a single day since as he's been living on disability benefits.

[Taf]

A simple solution? Don't make the WFP to households paying higher rate Income Tax?

[Pierre]

Hey everyone, here’s another rich pensioner, you know, the ones Mr K hates.

Look at how much money they have …….makes me sick, playing the system. Taking money from those poor doctors and train drivers………

Isn't £221.20 a week the full state pension?

Pension Credit is for those not in receipt of the full state pension. It only brings you up to £218.50 a week hence why you need to be under that amount.

Unless I've misunderstood the purpose of it.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Damien

Isn't £221.20 a week the full state pension?

Pension Credit is for those not in receipt of the full state pension. It only brings you up to £218.50 a week hence why you need to be under that amount.

Unless I've misunderstood the purpose of it.

£221 pw i bet almost amounts to a weeks rent in many places in the uk

a quick google shows
In Great Britain, Wales has the lowest average rent at £748 per month. Typical rents in Scotland are £965 a month, and in England are £1,319 per month.28 Aug 2024

Doesn’t Housing Benefit for pensioners help with rent?

https://lottie.org/fees-funding/hous...or-pensioners/

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Doesn’t Housing Benefit for pensioners help with rent?

https://lottie.org/fees-funding/hous...or-pensioners/

i have no idea

maybe an elderly fourum member might have first hand knowledge of the subject.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by papa smurf

i have no idea

maybe an elderly fourum member might have first hand knowledge of the subject.

Has no idea but why should that stop you having a strong opinion on it