How many grateful pensioners do you think will point this out?
The triple lock on pensions means that the state pension this year will increase by £460, that is because the average earnings figures of 4% are almost twice the rate of inflation and the triple lock means the government uses the higher figure.
How many grateful pensioners do you think will point this out?
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that means the pension would have increased by only around £230 pounds if it risen by just the inflation rate, which it used to. So pensioners will get more from the triple lock than they lose from the ending of the winter fuel allowance, poor pensioners who claim the money will get an above inflation rise and the winter fuel allowance.
How many grateful pensioners do you think will point this out?
Not only that but the triple lock has been going for 13 years. In that time it has risen by £800 more than it would have under the previous system or 4 times the loss of the winter fuel payment. That is before this years expected increase which will bring the total gain to around £1000.
How many grateful pensioners do you think will point this out?
Now this is good news, the penny pinching reforms of Margaret Thatcher led to a continual reduction in the pension in relation to earnings and the triple lock has only started to reverse that but it has been reversed and pensioners are better off as a result. They get more money that is principally paid by younger, working people who face higher income taxes as a result.
How many grateful pensioners do you think will point this out?
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
By Jonty Bloom Media
An important message that gets lost in the media’s obsession with knocking governments - this latest one in particular. The process of claiming pension credit should be simplified- easy to write but possible I’m sure. The government publicity machine needs a ‘reset’ and the BBC needs to take note of its ex employees!
Well said Jonty. As someone who would have benefitted from the WFA for the first time this year, I support means testing and wholeheartedly support what you’ve said. Pensioners have faired better as a group than most others and with poverty higher amongst working people and children, keeping the WFA as a universal benefit makes no sense at all.
From one grateful pensioner who’s happy to point this out!