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There has never been any shortage of suggestions & proposals that adversely affect those who've made provision for their old age by paying into a private pension scheme.
Why not means test via the tax system, treat all these "perks" as income. Hence the more well off pensioners would loose either 20% or 40% of their winter fuel allowance via tax. Put a monetary value on the bus pass and if you have one add that value to your income. This way less well off pensioners who do not pay tax will get the full benefit while others who already pay tax will loose a proportion of the "perk".
Regarding your suggestions for the heating allowance, I would be happy to support the withdrawal of these in some circumstances. But the cut-off point you have set at £15,000 pa is far, far too low. And making it before tax makes it ridiculously low. Either raise that to around £25,000 before tax, or maybe £22,000 after tax [which is still low, but manageable]. Taking from pensioners who are barely over the pension credit limit amounts to theft/stealing in my book. They are already paying their way and the bigger the pension they have, the bigger contribution they are making, a contribution they have made all of their working lives.
Hello again busylizzie. Sorry that I was presuming too much in thinking your post was more than it was. In truth I was hoping it was, hence the tone of "addressing an audience" in my post. Congratulations on becoming a great grandmother - I think I will have turned up my toes before it happens to me, if my 20 something grandchildren carry on thinking the way they do.Your post was very interesting and I agree that a rift is being caused. I don't know where this is coming from other than politics [and perhaps envy], because every family I know is very protective towards their older generations. I think it's the popular narrative that if you don't need to claim pension credit then you are rich enough to make big donations to those that do. Which is far from the truth. A self-sufficient grandparent brings joy to the world around them in my opinion. It takes away some of the stress on the younger generation to keep going in a difficult world. I am all for people making a fair contribution but I do take issue on where the 'fair' line is drawn.I hope you will keep on posting because you so obviously have the knack of open discussion [there I go again being presumptuous ]
It is about balance and proportionality - winter fuel allowance and bus passes are universal benefits and should be retained for everyone above pensionable age. If we don't, we finish up with a distorted system like child benefit which strips away child benefits from higher earners, which in turn removes an incentive to become a higher earner.