But [the government](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c785lg1nwlno) said there will be a run on the pound if they don’t save this money? Does this mean the economy will collapse if this move doesn’t save as much as they thought?
BobMonkhaus on
“Analysis based on official government data suggests there have already been 45,000 extra claims for pension credit since the measure was revealed.
Research from Policy in Practice, a consultancy working with local authorities to alert eligible pensioners of their rights to financial support, suggests that the extra amount the Treasury had expected to spend on pension credit could be hit as soon as this week.
On current trends, the analysis suggests there could be 158,000 more claims than anticipated by the pension credit deadline in late December, costing an additional £246m.”
Which basically means lots of people who previously got the WFP could have been claiming extra money all along in addition to it. Now they are, but don’t worry it’s all means tested.
wagonwheels87 on
Must be pretty galling to be found to not only be shit as a labour government but also to be found shit as a Tory government as well.
jimbobjames on
Working as intended then. Instead of billionaires getting money they dont need, it’s going to people who do.
EwokSuperPig___ on
I don’t see how this a negative. It still means that those incredible rich pensioners who don’t need the money won’t get it and those who do need the money will get it. It’s the same policy we were praising weeks ago
There will be an increase in new claimants – but actual number tends to fizzle out.
neeow_neeow on
I do find it hilarious when I read comments about how this is great because “rich” pensioners aren’t getting it when the cut off point is <12k a year in income.
This from the same sub that cheers on massive rises to “underpaid” train unions.
Important_Hunter8381 on
This article disagrees with the assessment done on BBCs More or Less, which said after an initial surge in applicants, many people still don’t apply for benefits they are entitled to. There was even an experiment done where the government put the money into peoples’ accounts for 6 months then told them to claim if they wanted it to continue. Very few people claimed.
However, it does raise the question, if the government were able to identify eligible people for the experiment, why not just provide the benefits directly without then needing to claim.
Martin Lewis was the first to point out the massive hole in the idea that `the winter fuel payment will no longer be going to people who don’t need it’ by pointing out that there are 800,000 people who are currently entitled to pension credit who are not receiving it.
Given that it doesn’t even raise that much money, the cut should be paused until at least 75% of these people are claiming the benefit.
Martin Lewis also pointed out that there are a further 1.2 million pensioners whose income is only just above the threshold for pension credit who are still on low incomes who will be badly affected by the winter fuel payment cut.
Electronic_Charity76 on
*”It’s not about the money, it’s about sending a message.”*
Two-tier cuddly socialism for pensioners, gritty capitalism for everyone else Britain is over.
JimJonesdrinkkoolaid on
The most brutal cuts will be towards disabled people. They’ll be the ones to really feel the pain. 100% guaranteed. A lot of people won’t give a fuck either as they’re just perceived as skivers or people conning the system or something.
Comfortable-Plane-42 on
Keep disincentivising people to save for retirement, good job Labour
dataplague on
Exactly why borrowing rules are being rejigged and they’re aiming to borrow 50bn?
One_Menu1900 on
The prices are going up and the govnt usually earn mire and the shareholders In the meantime tbise on fixed incomes are poor ill and stigmatised as being not worthy of shelter or warmth or food water or transport!
Nobody is going to offer them warm thermals reduced heating costs a roof over their heads etc
bluecheese2040 on
The fact is if the government wanted to bring in money, it would have changed income tax or pushed a corporation tax rise. They didn’t. So it’s gimmicks left.
This government will end up as bad as the last imo
One_Menu1900 on
They already have for many disabled people and had various attempts at work coaches tribunals etc Their health is unsurmountable Why does our country treat its needy like criminals and the elderly as though they cant wait for them to die? Many of us have worked all our lives and paid our dues just to be told as in the 1920s that we must be means tested for what we worked for despite paying 20 pence tax on every penny over 12570 receiving a state pension 40 to 50 pounds a week less than tbe new one and receive 6% rise .Worse off each yr in the pension they earned Dont qualify for anything Feel like the bottom of the pile !
Also pay highest rates in Europe for or fuel !So much fir Brexit
Perudur1984 on
Hmmm
This comes on the back of the OBRs new calculations about the proposed non dom tax changes actually costing £1.4bn more than they would bring in.
Doesn’t sound like Labour are any better than the Tories at maths and economics.
17 Comments
But [the government](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c785lg1nwlno) said there will be a run on the pound if they don’t save this money? Does this mean the economy will collapse if this move doesn’t save as much as they thought?
“Analysis based on official government data suggests there have already been 45,000 extra claims for pension credit since the measure was revealed.
Research from Policy in Practice, a consultancy working with local authorities to alert eligible pensioners of their rights to financial support, suggests that the extra amount the Treasury had expected to spend on pension credit could be hit as soon as this week.
On current trends, the analysis suggests there could be 158,000 more claims than anticipated by the pension credit deadline in late December, costing an additional £246m.”
Which basically means lots of people who previously got the WFP could have been claiming extra money all along in addition to it. Now they are, but don’t worry it’s all means tested.
Must be pretty galling to be found to not only be shit as a labour government but also to be found shit as a Tory government as well.
Working as intended then. Instead of billionaires getting money they dont need, it’s going to people who do.
I don’t see how this a negative. It still means that those incredible rich pensioners who don’t need the money won’t get it and those who do need the money will get it. It’s the same policy we were praising weeks ago
More or less also covered this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00237n0
There will be an increase in new claimants – but actual number tends to fizzle out.
I do find it hilarious when I read comments about how this is great because “rich” pensioners aren’t getting it when the cut off point is <12k a year in income.
This from the same sub that cheers on massive rises to “underpaid” train unions.
This article disagrees with the assessment done on BBCs More or Less, which said after an initial surge in applicants, many people still don’t apply for benefits they are entitled to. There was even an experiment done where the government put the money into peoples’ accounts for 6 months then told them to claim if they wanted it to continue. Very few people claimed.
However, it does raise the question, if the government were able to identify eligible people for the experiment, why not just provide the benefits directly without then needing to claim.
[https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/martin-lewis-issues-warning-could-29950433](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/martin-lewis-issues-warning-could-29950433)
Martin Lewis was the first to point out the massive hole in the idea that `the winter fuel payment will no longer be going to people who don’t need it’ by pointing out that there are 800,000 people who are currently entitled to pension credit who are not receiving it.
Given that it doesn’t even raise that much money, the cut should be paused until at least 75% of these people are claiming the benefit.
Martin Lewis also pointed out that there are a further 1.2 million pensioners whose income is only just above the threshold for pension credit who are still on low incomes who will be badly affected by the winter fuel payment cut.
*”It’s not about the money, it’s about sending a message.”*
Two-tier cuddly socialism for pensioners, gritty capitalism for everyone else Britain is over.
The most brutal cuts will be towards disabled people. They’ll be the ones to really feel the pain. 100% guaranteed. A lot of people won’t give a fuck either as they’re just perceived as skivers or people conning the system or something.
Keep disincentivising people to save for retirement, good job Labour
Exactly why borrowing rules are being rejigged and they’re aiming to borrow 50bn?
The prices are going up and the govnt usually earn mire and the shareholders In the meantime tbise on fixed incomes are poor ill and stigmatised as being not worthy of shelter or warmth or food water or transport!
Nobody is going to offer them warm thermals reduced heating costs a roof over their heads etc
The fact is if the government wanted to bring in money, it would have changed income tax or pushed a corporation tax rise. They didn’t. So it’s gimmicks left.
This government will end up as bad as the last imo
They already have for many disabled people and had various attempts at work coaches tribunals etc Their health is unsurmountable Why does our country treat its needy like criminals and the elderly as though they cant wait for them to die? Many of us have worked all our lives and paid our dues just to be told as in the 1920s that we must be means tested for what we worked for despite paying 20 pence tax on every penny over 12570 receiving a state pension 40 to 50 pounds a week less than tbe new one and receive 6% rise .Worse off each yr in the pension they earned Dont qualify for anything Feel like the bottom of the pile !
Also pay highest rates in Europe for or fuel !So much fir Brexit
Hmmm
This comes on the back of the OBRs new calculations about the proposed non dom tax changes actually costing £1.4bn more than they would bring in.
Doesn’t sound like Labour are any better than the Tories at maths and economics.