Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#1
Guest 1033- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 509
#2
I like the bit about 'an honest conversation with the public'...
first time for everything I suppose.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
you can be such a cynic at times baz, i suspect the aim is to means test the state pension.
i will have to borrow keith's fence on this one, on one hand i can understand the logic of targeting the worst off but on the other hand the better off have paid a lot of dosh into the system.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
which kieths fence are you borrowing howard.the ukip one or im not voting labour one.
Guest 744- Registered: 20 Mar 2012
- Posts: 412
#5
Why not put us all down when we reach retirement age? That would save billions
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
#6
Don`t give them such ideas Carol....... 20,000 of us do get put down in the winter cold period.....
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#7
State pensions have become unaffordable
and more and more elderly these days live longer.
After you have worked all your life though you deserve some comforts
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
Carole Barber wrote:Why not put us all down when we reach retirement age? That would save billions
Or put another way why not let those that want to die go gracefully with medical help regardless of their age.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#9
I bet the elderly who fought in wars never thought it would come to this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#10
Reversing the pricing policy of energy supply, so you pay more the more you use, would put pounds into the pocket of every pensioner.
Concern about the relative size of age-groups is a red herring. The population needs to be seen as, and dealt with as, a whole.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
#11
There is nothing new in this as per as the challenges are concerned. People are living longer with the proportion of over 65's in the population also increasing with the baby boomers getting to retirement.
Means testing the state pension is not an answer. It is right that the government are ending current means testing and bringing in the new flat rate pension. This simplifies things and makes sure that if you save for your old age you will not lose out by merely relieving the government from having to pay means tested benefits.
The simple fact that everyone has to face is that if you want more money to live on than c. £7,500 in today's money in retirement then you have to save and invest yourself.
Pensions are an important part of the solution, but only part of it. They are important because for every £100 you put into a pension you get £125 invested with an added tax credit - even non-taxpayers benefit from that.
Problems do need to be resolved as far too many people do not have pension fund of their own and have too little time to build one up. Inter-generational pensions may help resolve this problem for many but there is little or no sign of the government allowing this, they should. Auto-enrollment pensions (happening now) will help towards this as well though I do have considerable reservations about this policy and I also do not believe that this will result in sufficient money for most people.
Other options include Stocks and Shares ISA saving, they are best used alongside pensions to get a combination of the two in retirement making a very flexible strategy.
Whatever the case, if you are worried then you need to get professional advice and whatever you do , don't invest on the basis of anything I have said here. One rule for you though - the earlier you start saving the better and if you can start putting some money into a pension for a new-born that would be an immensely valuable gift.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#12
some good comments barryw
welcomed im sure.
We have always had a culture of, the state will pay
pensions being one item.
Some can better themselves by taking out an alternative pension on top of the state pension
of course in this the govt should encourage people to save, and not hit these people in the pockets because they did the right thing.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
