Yes, that’s why it’s continuing for those on pension credits. Have you actually read what the policy is?
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[Politics] The Labour Government
- Thread starter Super Steve Earle
- Start date
And I didn't say you did.
The optics of Starmer being on the take with his freebies aren't good for him as public opinion is clearly demonstrating, but I don't give a toss about that.
So let's get back to the cruel and crass apparent targeting of the old, poor and vulnerable, shall we?
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
There's only one person who seems to not really understand the impacts of this, and it's not @Mellor 3 Ward 4
You're probably right that most of the 10 million don't need it, but a small percentage of a large number can still be quite a big number.
If 80% of people don't need it, 2 million do.
If 90% won't miss it, 1 million will.
And, as stated, the government aren't offering any mitigation.
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
- Oct 17, 2008
- 14,664
The issue is, as you full well know, the huge number of pensioners entitled to pension credits who aren’t claiming them, who have outright relied on the WFA to keep the hearing on in winter. This figure is upwards of 800,000 people who are quite literally on the poverty line, and who absolutely depend on that money.
Springing this surprise cut late in the year to vulnerable people who absolutely need that money is abhorrent and typical more of “nasty Tories” than “for the people” Labour. It’s a nasty cut, horribly timed and with little care as to the harm it will cause. It’s Tory through and through.
Have you actually looked at the process for applying for Pension Credits yourself? It’s really not a straightforward single form, it is a complicated process.
Now imagine you’re in your 80’s, living alone because of life partner has died. Imagine you, like the majority of very elderly people are not au-fait with online forms, can just about make it to the shops and post office, but have no clue how to even apply for Pension Credits. Let alone obtain the correct forms, fill them out and send them back along with the photocopies of supporting evidence they need.
All in the space of a few weeks before the temperatures drop.
It’s heartless. It absolutely stinks and the only people I’ve seen even attempt to defend it are diehard Labour supporters (and statistically speaking even the majority of those are against it).
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
And Conference voted against it yesterday....
Vote nicely postponed until KS was no longer there.
I know from your years on here and your posts that you’re a decent sort, so I can only guess that you’re not fully aware of the nuances.
The headline “Taking WFP away from rich pensioners whilst allowing the poorest to continue to receive it” doesn’t tell the full story.
I’ve outlined the two groups who are left vulnerable by this.
@jcdenton08 explains it very well: the execution of this looks and smalls like a Tory policy, being punitive to the poor. That it’s a Labour policy seems almost unbelievable.
If you can spare 10 minutes, Martin Lewis explains it well.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
It’s a good point and as I understand it the qualifying week for the allowance has now passed re this years payment…..or can they backdate the benefit?
Edit …qualifying week for eligibility ended 22/9 …pension credit claim can be backdated by up to three months
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Massive OG from the Labour Party as it is all people are talking about - and rightly so - and is just going to get worse and worse as it gets colder.
Considering they have been paying Sue Gray £170'000pa to prepare them for Government, if this is the quality of her output I'd be asking for the money back.
Considering they have been paying Sue Gray £170'000pa to prepare them for Government, if this is the quality of her output I'd be asking for the money back.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Call him Jack …I’m alright Jack
Weststander
Well-known member
I see you've been briefing the Guardian
.https://www.theguardian.com/politic...r-pressure-to-get-a-grip-on-sue-gray-tensions
Absolutely. Those who glibly say that relatively poor and elderly people who are entitled to Pension Credits but not currently in receipt of them should 'just apply' over the next few weeks are utterly clueless.
(HMRC f***ed up my car allowance on my P11D this year and that took forever to sort out on the Government Gateway, using smart phones apps I had to download, facial recognition software, 17 digit reference numbers and god knows what else. I almost gave up the will to live and I was just trying to correct their error - not make a claim for something. God knows what the process is like for claiming Pension Credits. Really easy and straightforward for non-digitally enabled 85 year olds, I should imagine...)
Not sure what you're on about but WFP was paid from November onward and any bill sent NOW! won't have heating on.
I'm not in favour of the policy either unless accompanied by energy companies reducing tarifs for the elderly. Let's see what happens in the budget. But, for clarity, I'm not defending the policy, I'm pointing out your hyperbole.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
My hyperbole? Because I put one word in capitals
Everyone knows your tactics of trying to deflect attention away from the topic
What are you on about “ was paid in November” I think we are all referring to what’s due this November/December …
..then of course there is your example of Ethel ..,which other posters have already discredited…you are all bluster sunshine
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After my father died, my mum's reduced income meant that she was entitled to Pension Credits. Blimey, they don't make it easy to claim. (Same as tax credits, PIP and other benefits.) My mum would never have been able to get the forms completed without my sister's help.
It's almost as if successive governments and civil servants have designed the processes to claim benefits in such a complex, confusing and convoluted way as to act as a build-in deterrent.
Totally echo every word in your post.
But at least it stops people talking about Starmer's free clobber and his inability to understand he can actually PAY for his corporate hospitality at the Emirates.
Whilst suffering pensioners are rummaging through charity shops to find a winter coat to wear at home when they can't afford the heating, Starmer's got no worries. He will be handed his winter wardrobe gratis.
cjd
Well-known member
They're not quite the words I was thinking of to call Guinness Boy.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,792
It would certainly be an interesting Venn diagram of the cheerleaders and critics across the cheerleading and critiquing threads
It's almost like a small clique or echo chamber are taking over threads and making the board unusable for others.It would certainly be an interesting Venn diagram of the cheerleaders and critics across the cheerleading and critiquing threads
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