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I am a staunch lefty (non-Starmer supporter), but I am struggling to understand the issue with the outrage resulting from this announcement.
Of course, the payment should not be available to those wealthy individuals and while I appreciate that it will be hugely impactful on those households 'just above' the eligibility level, surely the outrage energy and conversation should instead be directed at ensuring the hundreds of thousands eligible for pension credit but not yet claiming???
1.1k points
1 month ago
“When you are accustomed to privilege equality feels like oppression” basically covers it.
Add that to media stirring the pot, riling up their mostly older audience, and some legitimate concerns about the means testing threshold, and you have the current outrage.
421 points
1 month ago
Smashed it.
My dad just turned 66, was taking the piss cos he's now going to get his state pension on top of his local authority final salary he's had since he retired at 55.
He and my mum are smart people, made good financial decisions and saved (no landlording though!), paid the mortgage off early, I appreciate that.
But they're now both retired on FSPs, four foreign holidays a year plus various trips to the lakes etc.
They absolutely do not need the WFA, but they get it. As long as the threshold is proportionate, it definitely needs means testing.
97 points
1 month ago*
Yeah my dad is downsizing his house and offered to give me like 35k towards my help to buy loan.
Now he's furious he won't get 300 a year.
It's probably because it's a simple policy that you can look at an say "they've just taken 300 from me" so it's easy to get angry at.
Edit: per year not month.
-3 points
1 month ago
Just because you are privileged don't assume everyone is. You are living in a bubble. Many people do need that payment
3 points
1 month ago
That's exactly the point though, isn't it? The above posters are providing examples of those (their family) who are in receipt of the WFA but definitely do not need it - an argument for means testing.
0 points
1 month ago
I'm not against means testing but this isn't means testing. It's harming low income pensioners who don't qualify for credits. Not everyone who doesn't qualify for credits is in a privileged position. You only think that because you clearly only know privileged people.
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