DISPATCHES

[whammel]

@Anonymous

I was on 40% tax before ms, if i lived in their time i would own a house or two by now. I imagine when im oap age this country will be ruined. I have no assets to pay for care just like most my age. So wish i was born in their time.

Ah, but being young means than you are likely to benefit from more effective treatments, or even a cure. Best not be too despondent.

[TARTDECO]

@Campion

The pensioners who are living comfortably have been paying a high tax rate most of their working lives - money that has gone to help pay for other peoples benefits. For years my OH payed 40%of his salary in income tax.As well as his national insurance. lt took him years of studying to qualify - and in that time he worked as a street cleaner/dustman inbetween term times. When he had to give up his career- where he would be working 12/14 hrs a day and often 7days a week because of a brain tumour - he was not entitled to any benefits - and he was under pensionable age. Many elderly people might be asset rich - but cash poor. Are we the only country who give more to whoever steps onto our shores - to people who will never attribute to our welfare state - just rob us.

Many elderly have to give up their houses to finance their care in residential homes - having paid income tax/national insurance/council tax all their lives they then have it taken away.

So there are always another side to the argument. lf it wasn’t for the high earners/high tax payers - we would not have a welfare state.

Don’t want to pry but, if your OH had paid NI all his working life, why wasn’t he entitled to any benefits?

[TARTDECO]

The state retirement pension is paid by the DWP and is based on your National Insurance contribution record, like contributory JSA or ESA. Its definition is a benefit so people in receipt of it would be classed as benefit recipients. Its definition is not really part of this argument.

[fudgey37]

I must admit that I get puzzled about " jealousy " comments. The thread is simply commenting on the points which the tv programme contained. We all have our views on this and are we also to think that everyone concerned with the making of the tv programme was " jealous" because they touched on this subject. It’s a subject like many others concerned with finance and benefits and everyone will of course have a different viewpoint but I don’t agree that people are jealous just because they’re giving their view on the matter.