STATE PENSION

[plaques]

From Gov.UK

Annual increases
The new State Pension increases each year by whichever is the highest:

earnings – the average percentage growth in wages (in Great Britain)
prices – the percentage growth in prices in the UK as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)
2.5%

As a side issue you will notice that the increase in the minimum wage is deferred to April 2022. This increase will not affect pensions until 2023. that's if they stick to the rules. By then inflation (CPI) will be about 5% so another tweak to the rules may be on the cards.

[Stanley]

One thing is certain Ken, they'll not let us have the lot if it gets back to a reasonable figure....

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report on what the Public Accounts Committee says about the DWP's handling of the underpayment of pensions.
"A £1bn shortfall in state pension payments to tens of thousands of women has been branded "a shameful shambles" by a committee of MPs. A total of 134,000 pensioners missed out on their full entitlement owing to errors at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) dating back to 1985. Some of those failures risked being repeated during a correction programme, the Public Accounts Committee said".

[PanBiker]

Yes and that pre dates the shafting of thousands of women who were born in the early 50's. They all lost out to the tune of around £50,000 each. Judicial review has told them to make recompense in some way but nothing is happening.

[Stanley]

Too busy having working lunches with booze..... Johnson thinks they are common practice.

[Stanley]

The government are looking after us.... Word yesterday that the basic state pension goes up by £4 a week from April.... Deep Joy!

[plaques]

The triple lock pensions has now been resigned to the dustbin of history. Set as a cornerstone of the Tory manifesto it was a guarantee that the state pension would not lose value in real terms, Average earnings, Prices, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), 2.5 per cent. The wrecking ball moved in when Covid struck. The lower orders were down to minimum wages or no jobs at all. The rich and famous virtually doubled their income. Average salaries rose to over 8%. Out went the Average earning element. Now inflation has struck possibly 7% to 8%. while pensions are 3%. The real terms statement is looking like a sick joke. Next year since inflation is calculated on a year on year basic it could have dropped back to 3% but remember the 8% increase still has to be paid for. However the precedent has been set and this round of global inflation will be see as a aberration and can safely be ignored. Safe in our hands.

[Stanley]

As usual Ken, spot on. That's exactly what is happening. The situation is made worse by competition amongst the top Tories to prepare for the leadership contest. Johnson is taking every opportunity he can to sound bullish and statesman-like by charging into Ukraine, pandering to the Tories who want Covid regulations shredded so they can get back to making money. Sunak is hammering the poor, protecting the hedge funds and developers and talking about 'sound money'. He wants to be seen as an iron chancellor when it comes to a ballot. Liz Truss is trying to emulate Margaret Thatcher but looking and sounding foolish as she rattles her tiny sabre.
What they should really focus on is the reason why Cameron and Osborne brought the Triple Lock in in the first place. They wanted to keep the pensioners onside. Ditching them may be a bad move...... there are a lot of them!
From DWP statistics:- There were 12.4 million people receiving the State Pension at February 2021, a decrease of 130,000 on a year earlier. Since December 2018, the State Pension Age has been raised above 65 for both men and women, resulting in fewer new claims and since October 2020 the minimum State Pension Age has stood at 66 years.

[PanBiker]

Since December 2018, the State Pension Age has been raised above 65 for both men and women, resulting in fewer new claims and since October 2020 the minimum State Pension Age has stood at 66 years.

They may be the official dates but in reality 50's born women like Sally were denied their pensions starting in 2014. In her case it was late 2013 when she was told she would not be getting her pension, just less than 12 month notice of the planned robbery.

The government were ordered by the courts last year to make compensation but nothing has happened.

[Stanley]

Sunak isn't going to pay anything out until he is dragged kicking and screaming back into the courts.
This government is committed to clawing back not only the money spent on Covid and the NHS but the control they had in the 19th Century over the working population. I have argued since 2010 that this is 'The Tory Project'. Never voiced openly of course but every policy has been aimed at moving us in that direction. This is why tax increases like NI are aimed at the workers. The imbalance in the distribution of wealth increases and more and more wealth migrates up the scale to the wealthiest in society. Despite this (and the fact that their pockets are being picked as well.) the blue rinse brigade and the shires vote the Tories back in. Don't assume that the current cloud hanging over the leadership and the polls will make any difference. This is why the May local elections will be4 interesting.

[PanBiker]

Sunak isn't going to pay anything out until he is dragged kicking and screaming back into the courts.

The case has been as far as the Supreme Court, then the Court of Appeal and then a Judicial Review. The government have been found to have unfairly treated thousands of 50's born women and ordered to do something about it. That should be enough. Rishi found millions to give to his mates for phantom PPE. All that has just disappeared off shore probably. If it wasn't the Lords of the Universe they would be in prison for robbery.

[Stanley]

Agreed Ian, all correct. We are being governed by a bunch of liars and spivs.....

[Whyperion]

From DWP statistics:- There were 12.4 million people receiving the State Pension at February 2021, a decrease of 130,000 on a year earlier. Since December 2018, the State Pension Age has been raised above 65 for both men and women, resulting in fewer new claims and since October 2020 the minimum State Pension Age has stood at 66 years.

Isnt the 130,000 about the number of excess deaths from covid over 2020-2021 ?