Fairly recently I qualified for winter fuel allowance, bus pass, free prescriptions etc etc. But as someone who has always paid his way, I can't help but feel pangs of guilt even though I still pay tax etc on my pension accrued over many years working for it. I can't quite get my head around others paying, for example, for a prescription I had to have a few days ago.
Just because you're used to working and paying for everything, don't feel guilty that your time has come to reap some of the rewards that you're entitled to.
It sounds like you've worked hard and long and now it's time to claim what you're entitled to.
It's not like you're one of the typical scroungers who never lifts a finger all of their life - these kinda people REALLY **** me off !!!
The system has probably screwed you for most of your working life - it's payback time now ..... enjoy it.
Why feel guilty paraffin? I reached 60 last year and felt I was entitled to my pension,free bus pass etc. As a "mere" wife and mum since the 70's plus jobs in between I think I earned the right to what Im getting. Just think of the thousands of people including youngsters who are on benefits,many for no good reason. Enjoy your rights you deserve it!
You've done your bit - paid your due's - now it's time to sit back and relax and reap the rewards of all that hard work you put in for all those years!
So don't ever feel guilty and enjoy yourself!
You deserve it, and you are owed it!!
Don't feel guilty. These people you think are paying for your benefits now, will get the same benefits when they reach retirement age, won't they? The same as you were paying before you reached retirement age. So everyone (who pays into the system that is) has so many years of paying for bus fares, prescriptions etc. then so many years of not paying for them. You are no different. So enjoy what you get.
Don't feel guilty.
I am 86,and paid in for these benefits from when I was 14(tha't's when we left school then) till I retired at 65.
I think I have paid enough to qualify,why should I (or you) feel guilty.
There are enough people out there who haven't paid much(or anything) and are getting better benefits,so just enjoy.
paraffin --agree with all that has been said. Don't feel guilty, just make the most of the benefits your age allows, because if the goverment could take them back they would ,sharpish. They would then re-allocate to some work shy sponger.
My perverse feelings strangely enough stem from having spent over 15 years in the Army followed by 17 in the "Fuzz" where I probably tried to "give" so much that I now find it a bit odd to "receive". What a saddo !!!!!!!!!!!!