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.

[bednobs]

are you saying she pays the same in tax as she receives in benefits? She must be very well off to pay that much tax

[tamborine]

1.I have a free bus pass - never used (leaving room for others)
2. Never had a free prescription
3. ditto TV licence

I object to those who have Disabled parking & never carry anyone disabled. (I would like one but dont qualify)

[bookbinder]

Don't paint pensioners as grasping and greedy. None of them banged on the government's door and demanded free handouts. Someone in government decided that pensioners ought to have free prescriptions, free bus passes, free TV licences (but they have to survive to 75 to get them), so pensioners aren't likely to refuse them, even if they can afford to pay for prescriptions, etc. My wife and I are pensioners, and, yes, we could afford to pay for the three benefits that you have mentioned, but there is no really effective mechanism/system for refusing them! So thank you very much, government ministers, we shall gratefully accept what you have decided to give us!

[youngmafbog]

and the Government wonders why no one saves any more.

What is the point, spend it now and tghen grab what you can. If you save the b**ds will only take it off you to fund thse less frugal.

You either give this to all or none. No one will die without a telly so no problem.

[Old_Geezer]

The freebies are there to compensate for the lack of pension here, when compared to other countries of equal wealth. They ought not be necessary if things were done right.

Those who wish to remove them from those who have managed to save & prepare for their old age have failed to understand that not all payments are part of a safety net. Many, like pensions, are received as a right, either because they have paid in or because they are a citizen; and to try to steal back such entitlement using the excuse that the receiver can manage without is not a decent thing to suggest.

If the government needs more money then it should raise more in taxes. If the economy can not afford more taxes then the government should first consider what level of incompetence a government needs that they fail to put enough in the coffers for the lean times; in order to avoid the situation again in the future. And then look at what they are trying to fund today that is taking the budget that they managed without funding yesteryear.

If one owns a car does it make sense to encourage car use when busses are supposed to be a greener alternative ? And anyway why run busses empty for most of the day, much of the cost of operating them is already sunk. As for the NHS, we all pay in so that there is no cost at the point of delivery, which means no one should pay directly for their prescription. As for TV licences they are ridiculous. The cost of collecting separately and running a persecution squad for those without a TV, makes no sense. It should be funded from general taxation.

This Tory argument is just more nonsense and they should be ashamed of themselves for even considering it.

[tamborine]

Dont forget - we pensioners have paid in the bulk to NHS through our longer working lives than you youngsters who waste NHS time with minor ailments & sue for exorbitant compensation if you trip over a banana skin on the pavement.

[bednobs]

except of course those of us who are not pensioners now will have even longer working lives than you to pay for stuff

[Brenden]

bedbobs, I have two daughters who have no children who will also have to work longer to pay for those who do - swings and roundabouts.

[LazyGun]

An excellent summary by OG - couldn't agree more.

[bednobs]

errr i have got a job, and i do pay into a pension fund :)

[bednobs]

i don't have a problem per se. i just don't understand why pensioners are sacrosanct when it comes to means testing.

[tamborine]

My OH died before pensionable age. He employed 50+ family men (all paying Tax NI etc) & he left me property my heirs will have to pay inheritance tax on if I cant find a way to avoid it.

All suggestions welcome - lol :)

[giveup]

Could I also point out that an awful lot of pensioners spend quite a lot of time working voluntarily for many charities,so they are still doing their bit.And where would this country be without a lot of these charities,in an even worse state that it is at present.

[237SJ]

I certainly think OAPs should get free prescriptions. I also think they should have free public transport because everyone gets to an age where they can no longer drive and elderly people can become quite isolated. The bus passes are nationwide and that can cause problems though. My mum`s never driven and was living in an isolated spot which was a problem after my Dad died. The once-a-day bus that came through the village was a lifeline for people like her who needed to get out to do their weekly shop. In the summer, it was sometimes impossible to get on the bus. Why? Because by the time it got to the village it was full of OAPs from the caravan site up the road who wanted to go out on a day trip to town. They could all drive but why take your car to town when you can go for free? Consequently the poor old rural Devon bus service which is stretched enough, has got to shuttle a lot of visiting OAPs around all day for nothing. Maybe a compromise would be to keep free passes for the resident`s area only. If someone can get 200 miles away on holiday then using their bus pass when they get there is more of a luxury than a necessity.