Pensioners what's the point in trying?

[MoonRocker]

work hard all your life to provide an income so not be dependent on the state, what happens? You get hammered, forced to sell house to pay for care etc taxed on what income you do get and generally treated as a second class pensioner, second class that is to the lazy done nothing life long scroungers who now get everything free! Brilliant! So please people tell me what is the point? As far as I can tell it's better to spend what you earn save nothing and arrive at retirement age absolutely potless! If the governement wants to sort things out then I reckon this is a huge anomoly with which to get started.

[mike11111]

"There are others who have p*ssed it all against the wall, never worked a day in their lives and contributed nothing to the pot".

I worked from the age of 16 to 60 and have filled the pot to overflowing, though I confess to having p*ssed most of my revenue up against the wall for the past 47 years. In 18 months' time I will qualify for the state pension to supplement my occupational one. I have vowed to p*ss every penny of my first week's income from that source up against the same wall.

[ummmm]

That's the attitude Mick :-)

[bentaxle]

Yes I suppose you're right Umm
I've just had an advert pop up on AB offering 4 ways to avoid running out of money during retirement is somebody watching us

[ummmm]

Or Mike even...

[ummmm]

Yes, Ben. It's targeted ads.

[jno]

people didn't live as long then, bentaxle. This century alone, life expectancy has gone up more than two years.

http://www.google.co....&q=life+expectancy+uk

[mike11111]

Meanwhile I have to content myself with hopping onto the first bus which comes along just for the fun of seeing where it goes to and my weekly visits to the surgery to see if there are any new tablets I can get for free. If Cameron thinks he can deprive this poor old man of these simple pleasures he can think again!

[naomi24]

Actually, I can understand people saying 'what's the point of trying?' - but then if the Welfare State didn't provide what it provides, there would be a point in trying.

[emmie]

its because they are not cared for, it's a job to the workers, not a career, nor are the homes particularly well kept. Inspections are far and few between. So these places can fall by the wayside. People's eyes are often closed to this, simply they don't have the time to visit, or very often.
I found the same with hospitals, either junior nurses rushed off the feet, staff sitting around chatting, having coffee, and not heeding bells ringing. How is it remotely possible than anyone could die of dehydration in a hospital.

[sandyRoe]

Didn't John Major once talk of cascades of wealth trickling down the generations? Has the waterfall dried up altogether or can the very rich somehow manage to leave a little for their progeny?

[emmie]

one always hope that wealth trickles down, but it does seems as though the well has dried up. The answer seems to be don't get old or sick.

[Zeuhl]

Successive governments have done a very good job of muddling the distinction between entitlements due to taxpayers and benefits that are means-tested.

They have done this of course to reduce the cost to government so they have more to spend on their departments and projects they find more interesting than, for example, looking after citizens who are old or ill.

Many people have quietly paid their taxes and NI with an expectation that they will be entitled to a basic but reasonable state pension, free health care and if necessary geriatric care. Now it turns out it's not an entitlement. The 'entitlements' have been scaled down so we have to top up the pension or the care with your own provision. Or we can claim means-tested 'benefits'.

Only government could think of getting away with this.

If a commercial company collected pension premiums for years and then, at pay out said; 'you don't really need this, you've already got money, we're not paying you more' they'd be locked up.

And government stupidity is underlined when they implore people to save more for the future when at the same time their policies for unfair distribution are undermining the motivations for doing so.

[LoftyLottie]

Excellent post Zeuhl and very, very true.

[pdq1]

If Scotland can give free care for the over 65's why can't England. We seem more worried out given £8bn of foreign aid rather than caring for our own population

http://www.scotland.g...ics/Health/care/17655

[Duncer]

Reference inspections of these homes; I used to go out with a nurse who worked in a home in Belfast with quite a good reputation, (the home, not the nurse). She told me that she could only see me one night this certain week because the inspectors were calling the next week and all of the staff were on overtime to spruce the place up.

Surely this defeats the purpose of an inspection?

[Le Chat]

My parents are old and wealthy and in very good health. If they ever need around the clock care, I will make damn sure that they don't go into a home for 2 reasons. 1) Homes stink and the staff are pitiful and uncaring as a rule 2) I want my inheritance!!!