Why should pensioners receive these free government handouts?

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18778359

It is costing the NHS £bns to give out free prescriptive medicines to pensioners many of whom can afford to pay for themselves. They also receive free bus passes when many already own a car. And why should they receive free TV licences which can only add to the cost of those having to pay.

[woofgang]

Pragmatically means testing, checking, dealing with appeals, it all costs money...probably more money that saying if you are over a certain age you get these benefits. Its actually more cost effective for the govt to allow the small percentage of folk who could afford to do without the benefits, and who claim for them (many do not), to claim for them on the basis of age, than to nitpick and means test. Again, many of the pensioners who get free prescriptions because of age, will also be entitled to them because of the medical conditions that they need the prescriptions for and again, the processing of the prescription payment costs money.
I think this is a bit of a hot air balloon....you talk about doing it, people get upset then hey presto the kindly government "decides" not to do it and we are all delighted! This is not especially a poke at the coalition or members thereof, all political parties do it.

[sunny-dave]

I am aware that Old Age Pensions (etc) are funded on a 'pay as you go' basis rather than my contributions being set aside to provide my own benefits.

But are you suggesting that (since I have no children) I shouldn't have had to pay towards the education budget all the years I have paid tax and NI? That is patent nonsense, as is the concept that arbitrary changes in expected pension entitlements can be made because it suits the government of the day to vire that money away to some other pot.

How would you feel bednobs if (having been blessed with a much wanted baby) all benefits for parents were now stopped and your child's education had to be paid for by you because 'the country is in a hard place and difficult decisions have to be made'?

[jno]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakum

I'm not sure if picking it is quite the socially useful job it used to be, but it'll give you something to do with your hands when the shilliing in the meter runs out and the telly goes off.

[LochNessMonster]

NHS, Free for all who contribute however small or large.

Free for all Pensioners, Adults children, infants and scary monsters :)

Do we really want to go down the American road where if your poor your left to die.

[woofgang]

lol jno, you forgot the treadmill, can't have the OAP's getting fat now can we?....and they could contribute to the national grid

[woofgang]

Free AT POINT OF DELIVERY Nessie.....important difference.

[jno]

incidentally, in terms of practical politics, woofgang's quite right about this being a trial balloon, launched not by Cameron, not by a minister at all, but by a "Tory moderniser". If it gets shot down in a hurry, Cameron will say "I never endorsed it".

I can't personally see an all-out attack on the old and sick and poor going down well with Tory voters. It might have been wiser to smuggle cuts in under their separate headings: bus passes in a review of transport policy and so on.

[TopKat]

Only about 1 in 3 pensioners is actually poor - like my Dad - and they are entitled to Pension Credit. It would be easy (and cheap) for the government to provide help like free bus passes to these pensioners only, not just give it to all pensioners including the ones who don't need it. It's all very well to say they deserve it, having contributed, but if we can't afford it, then why should well-off pensioners get benefits. I'd rather have just poor pensioners looked after. Wouldn't that be fairer?

[woofgang]

top kat, and I post again...it costs less to process these low expenditure benefits on the basis of age than to means test for them. many people are poor who don't qualify for means tested benefits because they sit just above the cut off point.

[woofgang]

jno I dont thin there is any real intention to cut these things at all...just to make the govt look "comcerned" when they don't and so that they can say "okay so the cuts didn't fall "there" because of public opinion so they must fall "here" "(where they had intended all the time.

[Brenden]

I am so fed up with those who have spent their money in their youth never worrying about old age and expect to get all the entitlements including free nursing homes in old age, whereas those who have scrimped and saved for their old age purchased their own home then have to forfeit their savings and their home for nursing care - where is the fairness in that?.

[Khandro]

As there are no seconders for the motion, and as the questioner hasn't returned, I think we can assume this is a wind-up.

[Brenden]

I was able to afford a mortgage for my own home in my forties.

[Brenden]

Probably gone to pick his giro up.

[Ann]

Brenden says it all. Couldn't agree more ................

[vivandorron]

I paid into the system and am now reaping the 'Benefits' if that is what is meant.

Next we'll hear someone suggesting that if you pay Insurance on property, domestic appliances etc, there should be a Means Test before there is any pay-out when things go wrong.

It's the False Claimants that have destroyed the Benefits System.

Ron.

[Brenden]

They have not destroyed it they have raped it vivandorron

[Hastler]

I have to agree with Brenden.
I have paid into a pension scheme since I started work at 16 and paid some additional contributions to provide some extra pension and now have a fully paid for house.
My husband has done the same and my son and daughter joined their works pension scheme and had their contributions backdated to the day they started and they have houses which are about 70% paid for.
It is usual to pay in from the first of their complete month but they joined mid month.
Why should we be penalised for saving all of our working lives.
Yes I have drawn up a will along with my husband so our own halves of the house go to our children separately.
I do not want half of the house I worked for to go to a future wife or to the government.

[jno]

a good point, Ron, but don't say it too loud or Cameron will hear.

[bednobs]

i think sunny dave, if i could afford it i would be mightily pissed off but i would pay it.
ps child benefit IS stopping for well off parents from next year. I suspect that the problem is we all have a different notion about what "well off" means (mostly it means "people who have more money than me")