Former NHS Nurse Shocked to Lose Winter Fuel Allowance

Chrissy is a GMB viewer and wrote in after seeing that she will lose her winter fuel allowance this year.
She was a nurse for over 25 years for the NHS and says she feels heavily let down by the government’s decision.
Broadcast on 25/09/24
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#GMB #winterfuelpayments #winterfuel

[@thomasnixon1270]

They disgust me. Shame on Starmer.

[@markmcbride678]

@@thomasnixon1270 but ok with tories sending them back care homes with covid 🤔

[@thomasnixon1270]

@@markmcbride678 No it's not. But sadly it seems there is no difference between the last government and this government. Even their own party has voted against them and condemned them.

[@Christoff8188]

Just a reminder that over 50s in the UK own 78% of the private property wealth. Winter fuel allowance is still there for those on pension credit. Imo, raise the threshold higher, to say £24k (minimum wage), to make it more fair. But it absolutely needed changing. My taxes shouldn't be paying Alan Sugar's energy bills.

[@markmcbride678]

@thomasnixon1270 pity the tories didn't do that with all covid contracts to friends or would of been so much money in coffers ... but hey labour now got to clear up.14 years of tory backhanders

[@markmcbride678]

@Christoff8188 well said...also 1 on 4 pensioners have assists over a million

[@steveb3060]

If people think there is really a financial black hole, they need to ask themselves where next months money for Ukraine and asylum hotels is coming from. (And then they need to keep asking themselves the same question the next month after that then the month after that etc.)

[@boota1979]

@steveb3060 I agree, we also need to know where the largest transfer of wealth in history went to over the last 14 years. And after over a decade of austerity why the country is in £2.7 trillion of debt with a debt to GDP of 100%.

[@markmcbride678]

@@steveb3060 or the 200 million tories gave Mrs Mone

[@bbuzz1687]

The money for asylum seekers comes from the Overseas Aid Budget. Do you not remeber this being announced a few years ago?

[@annbannister1118]

​​@@bbuzz1687that's asylum seekers ,this is illegal immigrants of young men who come in boatfulls everyday not the people who really need help ,

[@steveb3060]

@@bbuzz1687 Yes I do, and tens of thousands of illegals later they are still saying the same thing. Seems like you CAN fool some of the people some of the time.

[@jacksoncrate]

She won't stand a chance. Starmer could not care less

[@AngelaDibble-qc2ot]

Yes, worked hard all her life as an nurse, now has arthritis and no funds to keep warm. It's terrable.

[@Christoff8188]

​@@AngelaDibble-qc2ot If she's worked for even just one or two decades with the NHS, she'd be over the threshold. Unless she opted out of the pension...

[@sinceresong9907]

Right...These politicians know...just couldn't give a monkeys.

[@owestyo]

@@AngelaDibble-qc2othow? £900 disposable income a month and can’t eat and heat? She’s spending it on something else.

[@AlOh-2]

Every politician around the world, except for ours. Understand that you NEVER target the children or the old people. As this genuinely angers the population!

[@wendybrierley5412]

Well said!

[@Christoff8188]

Let's not forget the US there. Let's also not forget that over 50s in the UK own a ridiculous 78% of the UKs private property, and a huge proportion of the country's wealth in general. I agree that the scheme needs to be reinstated for those who need it most, but not in full. People like Alan Sugar should NOT be automatically eligible. My taxes do not need to go to a wealthy tax dodger.

[@chrysalis4126]

The energy companies need to be stopped from charging so much standing charge. Expecting the government to step in and help financially when the energy companies are making so much profit is crazy. Force them to reduce the standing charges.

[@boota1979]

@chrysalis4126 Never mind the standing charges, they are making record profits and plus the fact the wholesale prices have fallen and have not been passed onto the customer.

[@glynnmulcahy9016]

Our pensioners shouldn’t have anything to worry about let alone heating. After years of hard graft for your country absolutely shocking.

[@owestyo]

Why? It’s £5-6 a week. You telling me she doesn’t get a takeaway or smoke?

[@hughiemg2]

@@owestyo They need to cancel their netflix subscription or cut down on the avocado toast....

[@Wayne-wm6wq]

​@@owestyoSo what she should be saying to the broker she uses for gas and electricity cancel the direct debit tell them she's moving out then ignore all the post from them as will be to the occupier then turn the heating up

[@SilverbackMatt01]

@@hughiemg2 Fool

[@hughiemg2]

@@SilverbackMatt01 takes one to know one.

[@cheshirecustomcamper9797]

Why should I bother working anymore?

[@MultiSueH]

Exactly, you’re worse off with having savings and they whip your home away to pay for your care. Someone else will get the care for nothing. Don’t get me started with the Inheritance Tax urrrh

[@Christoff8188]

Because you don't want to become the thing you claim to hate? But also because it's still way more money than you'll get on the vast majority of benefits, unless you really milk it. I spent a year or so on ESA due to multiple surgeries/disability, and it was one of the toughest years of my life financially. Admittedly, not helped by having savings. But even so, I'd much, much prefer to work.

[@Kellyr555]

Labour is no longer looking after the working people. More like themselves

[@HughJannus-vw4om]

But labour voters are happy. They voted for this

[@Kellyr555]

@@HughJannus-vw4om and now regretting

[@Christoff8188]

Pensioners aren't working, to be fair. 😂 I'm in agreement that it shouldn't have been fully pulled back for those not on Pension credit. But I'm absolutely glad I won't be paying for the energy bills of people like Alan asugar. He does not need my tax money. I hope that when the budget comes, they reintroduce it for those on incomes under about £20k (household).

[@janebufton1960]

Like reduced benefits.. politicians no idea how normal folk live or struggle. Even, people working, can't afford to live, or afford bills.

[@Christoff8188]

Depends where you live. Two people on minimum wage around where I am can live very comfortably. If people choose not to move to a cheaper location, then they need to realise that it's a choice they've made, and one that perfectly illustrates why the area is expensive in the first place; nobody is willing to move out while more want to move in, so prices spike. Best option? Go where the demand is low, build wealth and move back later.

[@JohnRayKing]

My sister who is 70 can’t get pension credits even though she only gets her pension.. it’s because her partner who’s 10 years younger than here I might add he’s not working or receiving any benefits he’s recovering from Cancer the reason given was that they can only give it to a couple of pension age .. then you get MP’s who on a fantastic wage they claim heating allowance and anything else they want ..Rayner is spending over £68,000 a year on a photographer Stalin Starmer has claimed over £100,000 and £10,000 for his son to study in piece and quiet for his GCSE’s this government is so much corrupt they need to go the lot of them shame on anyone that voted these communists in

[@nigelanscombe8658]

@@JohnRayKing they are allowed to “claim back” money already spent on utility bills for one property if they have, because of their role in government, had to rent a second property. If they didn’t rent then the chances are they would be continually claiming for rail travel / business miles or hotel bills instead.

[@JohnRayKing]

@@nigelanscombe8658 they get enough money to pay for themselves

[@wendybrierley5412]

£20,000 for his son, I believe. Unbelievable! Pensioners are targeted!

[@sandradavies7804]

But that's the communist way. All the old communist countries had an elite ruling class who had all the privileges, and the drones/worker bees who had the bare minimum.

[@patrickmartens2507]

And yet they can pay 6000000 a 8000000GBP taxpayers money a day for illigal immigrants in hotels in the UK.

[@karenrobinson129]

@@patrickmartens2507 Not forgetting their phones and free sim cards. Infuriating!!

[@MultiSueH]

And pay the same for oversea’s aid as they give to the pensioners why?

[@karenrobinson129]

@@MultiSueH Overseas aid should stop. Half of them are here. Take care of our own British nationals before everyone else.

[@MultiSueH]

@@karenrobinson129exactly, do overseas pay the UK any aid? Nope 👎 so totally agree with you and Nigel , just vote for Reform UK 🇬🇧 and let’s get our country back 🇬🇧

[@gherkamum]

OAPS have the Lowest State Pension In EU......And Need That Extra Help This Winter.🥶

[@Darren-g6f]

@@gherkamum we ain't in the eu, so it doesn't matter,

[@gherkamum]

@@Darren-g6f Darren why have you no information on your channel, what are trying to hide.

[@Darren-g6f]

@@gherkamum hiding nothing. Didn't realise you needed to put info on it

[@gavinsmith9564]

Sadly two thirds of Pensioners voted for the Brexit disaster, don't understand why they aren't protesting against the Brexit charlatans.

[@Roger-gs5ew]

@@Darren-g6f and yet those that have moved out of Britian will still get their Winter Fuel allowance irispective of their income,

[@jimcameron4672]

Taking away what is a necessity in this cold country is the mark of a uncaring government. One thing's for sure Starmer &co won't be turning their heating down this winter , no difficult decision for them

[@YHWHSon-h8c]

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE KING OF ENGLAND IS NOT STEPPING IN FOR HIS ROYAL SUBJECT HIS PEOPLE OVER THIS GOVERNMENT

[@boota1979]

@YHWHSon-h8c I dare say there's a first time for everything.

[@Capri-x8m]

"Let them eat cake".

[@grahamharlow7471]

Cos he doesn't give a toss

[@milo2324]

your king is too polite to intervene. "it would look rude and undermine PM authority", your king probably think. yoir Queen didnt intervene during Covid pandemic. And she paid the price when they forced her to sit on her own. 😂

[@ChrisAndCats]

He is WEF just like starmer. So not going to happen.

[@patmartin9727]

This man is a millionaire how can he understand how we pensioners have to live to stay out of debt. I am older than this lady and did pay into the NHS pension scheme while I worked in the NHS so do have a small second pension but I will still have to make hard decisions to stretch my money and stay out of debt. Previous years I have paid my winter fuel payment straight into my energy account so I had credit over winter to keep my payments down.

[@paulcoverley4115]

Most people on tv are wealthy people but he also probably has other family members who could be struggling, it's good that this terrible decision by the governments is still being highlighted and kept in the news

[@ravens-crypt]

I think it would to demonstrate the issue and problems for the individual

[@grahamcook9289]

Yes, and look at his healthy tan. I bet he's been to the Caribbean recently.

[@Its.true1]

Between him and his wife they have just about £10 million and they get free cloths and tickets to football matches and concerts and that is not counting all the benefits they claim like heating etc from the tax payers. Its iam ok jack and you OAP`s can suffer as i want more of your money for my and my wifes rich lifestyle.

[@rhianevans7189]

I am surprised she did not have an occupational pension as I had one and am not much older than her. I have fibromyalgia and athritis and I like to keep warm. So that is a spanner in the works.. Mr PM was brought up in poverty and does not reflect that. Karma will come back and bite him on his bottom. This is the worst government I have seen in my 70 yrs

[@Its.true1]

Same here and iam the same age and served for 16 years in the RAF.

[@leanneswift2445]

Starmer will get his kama ....... But sometimes peeps like this never get karma

[@sandradavies7804]

Erm, Mr PM was not brought up in poverty. It's widely believed that his father "the toolmaker" either owned the factory or was a well paid manager, well paid enough to send his son Keir to private school. Hardly brought up in poverty?

[@MultiSueH]

@@sandradavies7804 Exactly Sandra, well said.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@leanneswift2445 can't it go into you next life ?

[@janiceturton7756]

I am a retired nurse 25 years of it working in NHS, i did have a break in my NHS career but returned. I get 14.5k a year occupational pension . My Q is why did she not pay into that ,she would have been in a better place . Even so i still think removing the fuel allowance even for basic rate taxpaying pensioner is wrong.

[@ChrisAndCats]

It depends what her financial circumstances were whilst working, if there was a partner earning, if there were any extra dependents (disabled children, etc). She may not have been able to afford to.

[@Fabbydabby1]

She obviously decided to keep the money & not invest in her future

[@roseharper2648]

In the 80s when I moved out of the hospital to become a district nurse we were encouraged to take out my ‘superannuation’ and we had small children so I did take it out. Then when I first became a Practice Nurse in the 90s we were unable to pay into the nhs pension along with the other practice staff, but interesting enough the Drs could pay in. We were able to opt into it sometime in the late 90s, So I do have a small pension, but I’m not complaining, just saying circumstances differ as to how much Pension we get.

[@firebyrd437]

​@Fabbydabby1 she maybe needed it, you don't know her circumstances

[@janiceturton7756]

@@roseharper2648 I think a lot of people, especially women have been advised incorrectly over the years about their pensions. I keep saying to younger folks that i talk to including my own daughters, please provide for a pension otherwise you will regret it.

[@keithwilkins1437]

Many pensioners ,whilst not quite qualifying for pension credit ,have to pay ever increasing maintenance charges of sometimes £60 per week . As well as needing health costs . Starmer knows pensioners will not have voted for him so they do not count .

[@wendybrierley5412]

People will not vote Labour if they know this is going to happen. Young people have pensioner parents and grandparents too. Labour are rich and getting richer! Never mind the poor pensioners, freezing to death this winter.

[@ywiggan]

They need to raise the threshold

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Best solution

[@alistairmccausland1580]

It's a totally heartless Labour Party. I hope people will never ever forget this awful crowd of sickening MPs. They are rotten to the core each one of them who voted that Pensioners should be robbed of a winter heating payment...

[@Kellyr555]

State pensions should be same as living wage. We pay/taxed for years for state and private yet stung when it comes to paying out. Then taxed again

[@jeremiahpoole6526]

In 1908 when the State Pension was first introduced for those aged 70 and over, a woman of this age was expected to live on average an additional 9.3 years, and a man 8.4 years (1901), meaning pensions needed to last around 9 years. In 2011 men and women at this age were expected to live for approximately 20 more years, meaning we need to make our pensions last more than twice as long as when they were first introduced. Simply not affordable now is it.

[@leehenry5764]

Are you paying for it😂

[@leehenry5764]

​@@jeremiahpoole6526So civil servants should work 10 years longer then

[@Its.true1]

@@leehenry5764 More then that to get the sort of money they get.

[@Fireglo]

@@jeremiahpoole6526 Bro 1908 was literally 103 years ago. The 10 year increase in life expectancy didn't happen overnight.

[@susanvanaken]

the pension credit threshold is designed to prevent those who need it the most to fall pennies short of the criteria

[@Themanwithnoname386]

An apology don't heat your home. But...where is her NHS pension?

[@Roger-gs5ew]

She might have opted out, for some reason.

[@macsmiffy2197]

Automatic enrolment into a pension didn’t start until 2012. Before that, especially people who were part time, had to opt in. Many people didn’t understand this. I don’t know if this was her case, but it was more likely to affect women than men as part time workers.

[@grahamcook9289]

@@macsmiffy2197 So, she could have up to 12 years of occupational pension if she worked from 2012 to 2024. I smell a rat. Why didn't they ask her about the NHS occupational pension?

[@leehenry5764]

​@@grahamcook9289I don't think he knows her personally mate, but it was reasonable answer what he put.

[@grahamcook9289]

@@leehenry5764 I don't know her personally either, but we do know she worked for the NHS for 25 years, so it is an obvious and reasonable question to ask her about the NHS occupational pension.

[@styuggs]

Thank goodness I'll get an extra 25p a week when I turn 80 next year

[@DeeLee-p8c]

Wow. You are lucky. I will get 5p 😮

[@lisaf7909]

Its gonna have to get to the point where families are going to have to set up go fund me's to receive donations for our pensioners. It a ridiculous state of affairs.

[@Fireglo]

It's literally £5 a week they're losing....

[@MultiSueH]

@@Firegloit’s not the point is it? Labour are happy to give the money saved from the pensioners to oversea’s aid instead. It’s not right is it?

[@lisaf7909]

@@Fireglo the average amount of pension credit payable is £75 per week which works out at £300 per month in addition to the £300 winter fuel payment. That's £600!

[@sandradavies7804]

@@Fireglo How do get that figure? £200 per household (£100 each for a couple) or £300 per household (£150 each if a couple over 80 years old)

[@sandradavies7804]

@@lisaf7909 It's not £300 for EVERYBODY. £300 per house if the people are over 80 (£150 each if a couple), or £200 (or £100 each) if under 80 yrs old.

[@ColinGarner-h1t]

The Labour Party have an agenda just not sure what it is and I don’t think they do either .😢😢😢😢😢

[@rekakhanom6931]

I have a dehumidifier it's less cold in my house. Worth it.

[@phaedrapotter7175]

Helps to dry washing too, I don't have a tumble dryer.

[@bowjana8128]

Not as many countries in the world as bad to live in as England

[@peterwhitear7716]

chrissy say's all they don't care about pensioners at all hit the rich or the mp's they won't have to think about eating or heating this winter all like all of us .

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

Starmer said 4000 people will die when he thought the tories were going to remove it. So by taking it away he knows that 4000 people will die and he chose to let that happen. He is full of pride so could never back down or apologise. His pride is a deadly sin.

[@Bezjc1936]

I am on the old style pension (started work in 1960) and my small NHS pension takes me just over the limit. How come this NHS nurse, paid far more than I would have been as an auxiliary worker, has not got a decent NHS pension to help her out

[@Fabbydabby1]

Obviously decided not to invest in her pension

[@addier44]

We don't know her full circumstances, she may have had a career break or worked part time in order to raise a family. Some people opted out of the NHS pension in order to use the money for day to day necessities. You will be aware that nursing staff were paid poorly in previous decades.

[@Bezjc1936]

​@addier44 It depends what you call 'poorly'. In the 80's and 90's it was still at least 3 times the pay of auxiliaries, ancillaries, and junior office workers.

[@addier44]

​​@@Bezjc1936Yes these work groups were paid according to the grading structures in the 80s / 90s. In the 1980s my first wage as a qualified nurse taking responsibility for a ward and patients was about £600 a month. If you consider that well paid? I worked hard to train and pass my exams for my nursing qualification, my pay then as opposed to say, an auxiliary nurse, was to reflect my level of responsibility and experience. After retiring through poor health two years ago my NHS pension amounted to about £230 a week. I will also get a reduced state pension when I reach that age because paying into the NHS pension automatically reduced my contributions to the state pension. That is despite having worked and made payment to the state pension for over 40 years of work life.

[@wendybrierley5412]

@@janetholden1978 You get a decent NHS pension if continuous working. Many circumstances unforeseen?

[@clivebevan5296]

That is disgusting starmer you do not deserve to be called sir

[@Secret_Squirrel_Scottishgamer]

The thumbnail is slightly wrong.. It should say .. Choose to eat (go into debt), Choose to heat (go into debt) or Choose to save (freeze/starve to death). What a great country we live in go figure!

[@stevedriver3387]

It's not just the £200 heating allowance that I worry about. Every time I turn my 10 year old telly on I worry that it will not work, when I put the washing machine on I worry that it will get through it's cycle and my gurgley old fridge freezer will last another summer. As for an electric car or a new fangled boiler?? At 72, who will lend me any money???

[@grahamcook9289]

Junk the telly. Listen to the radio. Junk the washing machine and use the laundrette. Junk the fridge/freeezer and shop daily for fresh food. There. Problem solved.

[@katemcloughlin5272]

Yet how many billions were sent to Ukraine?

[@gavinsmith9564]

£140 Billion flushed down the toilet on Brexit and blue passports.

[@CarlStJohn-x9w]

Hard winter equals burst pipes ! Big plumbing bills too 😮

[@bbuzz1687]

Where are her occupational pensions from working?

[@ronholfly]

I am 88 years old. That's exactly what I thought, thankfully I get an occupational pension and my O.A.P which is stopping me getting any Winter fuel payments unde this Labour cut of Winter fuel allowance. I would have thought the NHS would have a pension fund for their employees.

[@Andrew-p8w]

That's what I don't understand they get a good pension through the NHS ,she doesn't make sense ,NHS pension + state pension= well off.

[@mjl2904]

Yeah the NHS has a really good final salary pension, she is either lying or ignorant that she has her work pension and is over spending somewhere

[@phaedrapotter7175]

When I started Nursing in 1985 the NHS pension scheme was optional.

[@vinupillai5511]

Pensions have been protected against the cost of living for 14 years which cost the rest of society far more than £300 a year. The problem is the energy companies that keep putting the price up, just tax them and take them over.

[@hannible1002]

If she was a nurse she worked in the public sector. She therefore probably voted labour. So tuff!!

[@SJCichlids]

Wonder if any if these multi millionaire presenters helped her out, or the super rich producers... Sick of the rich pretending they feel for the poor, complete joke.

[@DeeLee-p8c]

Yes he gave her the change 😅😅😅😅

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@DeeLee-p8chow did he get to over a fiver anyway. ?

[@gretarobinson1142]

That's how much they love and respect your NHS

[@MIRIAM-bm5sn]

I am76 worked as a nurse until I was 70 and 20 pounds over the amount for pension credit so I know how she feels

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Sorry to hear that. They could alter the threshold surely

[@oneoflokis]

Small private pensions DO disqualify people from getting WFA...

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

It's not the fact that you have a pension though. It's the total coming in.

[@oneoflokis]

@@judithmorganjudyteen Which is very little...

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@oneoflokisI do know being 70, but people need the correct information . I don't want someone to not claim if they can

[@oneoflokis]

@@judithmorganjudyteen 🙂👍

[@CarlStJohn-x9w]

Support Reform UK

[@bowjana8128]

Absolutely no incentive to work anymore

[@jeremiahpoole6526]

In 1908 when the State Pension was first introduced for those aged 70 and over, a woman of this age was expected to live on average an additional 9.3 years, and a man 8.4 years (1901), meaning pensions needed to last around 9 years. In 2011 men and women at this age were expected to live for approximately 20 more years, meaning we need to make our pensions last more than twice as long as when they were first introduced.

[@eugeneoneal3034]

And what about those pensioners who look after grandkids in winter ?, Would starmer like to comment ?

[@chrysalis4126]

Presumably their children will help out seeing as the grandparents are saving them a lot on childcare.

[@BrianRhind-d2c]

RAISE THE CUT OFF POINT OF WHERE PEOPLE CAN QUALIFY FOR WFA ,TO 15,000 SO THAT THEY POOREST PENSIONERS QUALIFY FOR THE WFA

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Yes, cos they have created a new lower pension. Mad

[@sandradavies7804]

@@judithmorganjudyteen Actually, they've created a new higher pension. The new flat rate is more than the one I get.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@sandradavies7804I mean that

[@thomasmorin749]

If you've worked and have an occupational pension you miss out on WFA. However if your only income is the state pension you qualify. Unfair.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

It's a matter of the total amount coming in, not how many pensions you have

[@thomasmorin749]

@@judithmorganjudyteen The ridiculous limit of £218 cut off for WFA is the lowest in Europe.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Oh yes, but no use misleading people who may then not claim​@@thomasmorin749

[@philipcovell3272]

The prime minister has to make difficult decisions like which freebee to keep while pensioners choose whether to heat or eat.

[@oneoflokis]

Disgusting!!

[@stevendaly3680]

What about people with brain injuries and mental illness. What do they do.

[@macsmiffy2197]

I thought that pension credit was brought in so those older pensioners on a basic pension, which is less than the new pension, would not lose out. What wasn’t realised was that the triple lock and the freezing of the tax threshold, would take basic pensions above the tax threshold. The system needs reviewing FAIRLY.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Threshold could be changed

[@Max18810]

Is there not anything that can be done ? If a government once elected doesn’t do what it promised or implied is there no way the public can reverse the result. ?

[@KimWilliamsmixupchannel]

Both my parents can't get pension credit either they are like chrissy

[@patientdD420]

I still get the feeling Reid has not a clue how the other half live. She lives in a bubble. Pretending she can relate . How much money does she spend trying look younger. She's toxic.

[@Capri-x8m]

I'm sure she has much more of a clue than Starmer.

[@paulbird3235]

Strangely enough only this January Racheal Reeves was complaining that she was finding it difficult to manage on her £90.000+ salary, bearing in mind her husband was earning £170.000+. That equates to a total income of over £260;000. Should we really feel sorry for her and excuse her for taking £7500 in clothing!, as they say it's tough at the top but freezing at the bottom!.

[@paulyoung4422]

Strange an ex NHS Nurse without any Private Pension. Luckily our friends from abroad, who didn't pay in get Pension Credit and Winter Fuel Payment.

[@bowjana8128]

No point saving they will just tax it or take it

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@bowjana8128don't take that risk. !

[@annabelkirk7447]

The system is totally flawed, if you get pension credit you get winter fuel payment and a free tv licence - tv licence is about £150 a year + £200 winter payment so £350 total, minus the £6 over you earn thats £344 a year better off you are on benefits. These people have worked all their lives and are being totally let down

[@sandradavies7804]

I just wish that journalists of all colours would correct one misconception, not EVERY pensioner gets £200 and certainly not £300 : Could somebody PLEASE point out two facts: First - the WFA is per household, so a couple under 80 years old get £100 each, a single pensioner under 80 gets £200. Second - over 80 years old, the WFA is £300. I presume it's divided the same way.

[@Fireglo]

You'd think they'd have a few bob stashed away after working all their lives. Even if you just put away £100 a month for 50 years that's £60,000.

[@annabelkirk7447]

@@sandradavies7804 well yes because if you put the heating on it costs the same either way, doesn’t matter if one or 2 people in the house.

[@annabelkirk7447]

@@Fireglo maybe she couldn’t afford to put away £100 a month, nurses get paid next to nothing. Either way why should someone who has not contributed the full amount of national insurance get pension credit and be better off than someone who has worked and paid in.

[@sandradavies7804]

@@annabelkirk7447 Nurses' salaries are pretty good, and have been for at least the past 20 years. Certainly not "next to nothing". My friend, a retired nurse, gets very angry when people say how low paid nurses are.

[@rogerpayne5336]

While I'm sorry for Chrissy , I assume ( ex NHS / STAUNCH Labour ) she voted for these people , so , unfortunately , there we are.....I would suggest going forward , abandon these people and the Left-wing as a whole and use common sense as to which party is better for the country / people of her father.

[@studor6515]

Its a pity she was not asked where her NHS pension has gone because if she worked for 25 years she will also receive a private pension. ??? think you picked the wrong example to interview.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

You have to be in the scheme and pay contributions whilst you work

[@grahamcook9289]

The description states she was an NHS nurse for 25 years. So where is the NHS occupational pension.

[@valerieheaps3793]

My pension is below the cut off point but I won't get fuel allowance as I have some savings. You will find that many pensioners have savings to cover their funeral as our grown up children are living paycheck to paycheck and we don't want to burden them. We also need a bit extra for Christmas presents and meeting old friends occasionally. However, this seems to be begrudged by politicians.

[@JessicaPurvis-o4d]

We should be ashamed that our pensions are so low. I live in Europe now and other countries have much hight pensions. If people had higher pensions they wouldn't need the winter fuel allowance. All governments have failed in running a successful economy.

[@gherkamum]

Mr Starmer Are You Happy Giving BILLION'S Abroad And Letting Down Our OAP'S Who Could Die This Winter.And Who Have Built This Country..🥶😡

[@gavinsmith9564]

He's a Brexiteer now, he doesn't care about the country.

[@Paul-eb4jp]

Gammon post of the week.

[@SilverbackMatt01]

@@Paul-eb4jp You are the Gammon of the week, you haven't a clue.

[@sandradavies7804]

But if she'd worked as a nurse for the NHS for 25 years her NHS pension is going to be pretty generous. Surely she can't be saying she's JUST above the limit. How could she possibly claim pension credit if she's getting an NHS pension, which are notoriously generous?

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

She said she only had a state pension

[@sandradavies7804]

@@judithmorganjudyteen That was my question. Why, if she'd worked in the NHS for 25 years? They have good occupational pension schemes.

[@sbalmer132]

They should have taken it from higher tax payers as people keep talking about millionaires.

[@patrickreade6119]

Millionaire politicians are not going to tax themselves more, or their millionaire/ Billionaire donor mates.

[@BebsDotter]

The difference is Starmer doesn’t suffer personally from his difficult choices/decisions!!

[@janbrian7307]

What about her private pension that she must get from the NHS? They are usually better than the state pension? 🤷‍♀️

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

No must. You need to be in a pension scheme to benefit

[@Paul-eb4jp]

Most nurses are getting a very good NHS pension, I can only assume she opted out.

[@addier44]

Most? Not all, I worked full time as a registered nurse in the NHS, 36 years paying in. Retired for health reasons two years ago and my pension amounted to about the sum this lady gets in state pension. I won't reach state pension age for another five years.

[@karenrobinson129]

Thank god her bills are tiny. If she had to pay my winter bills at £340 a month for my gas and electricity, she would be hospitalised.

[@SandraDent-lf4xy]

I pay 540 pounds a month which covers me for the summer months but not the winter. Last year my winter bill was a thousand pounds, the government gave me five hundred pounds and i put the rest

[@karenrobinson129]

@SandraDent-lf4xy I'm in Scotland, so I don't have a water bill as it's added to our council tax. Wow!! That's a crazy amount per month. I only use 2 small electric radiators in winter and 2 calor gas per month. Thankfully, that lady has very little to pay. In saying that, she might find it's a huge amount from the amount she receives per month. It makes my blood boil that pensioners are treated so badly.

[@MultiSueH]

Bit surprised a qualified nurse not having paid into a private NHS pension? These private pensions are really good and why has she not got any savings? Not planned her retirement very well has she? I don’t agree with Labour stopping the winter fuel allowance when they are giving oversea’s aid.

[@DysPlexiC115]

Will Chrissy say sorry to everyone that did not put him in power?

[@wendybrierley5412]

It is not just one person, that is why there are so many Labour MP. Can't blame Chrissy. She did not know and many pensioners will not vote Labour again, now the true colour is out! Don't vote for them in the local elections too, remember.

[@Jones-xx2gc]

I am surprised she is in that position. Would she not be getting a decent NHS pension as well as the state pension. There should be some kind of means testing though and not the abrupt cut-off point that she and thousands of others are facing.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Move the threshold

[@kathylaidler8198]

I don’t understand why the King does not step in to help “his people of pensionable age”

[@DeeLee-p8c]

Ahh its good to be King😅😅😅😅😅

[@chadimirputin2282]

Lol that's hilarious. 😂

[@Darren-g6f]

Because he doesn't care, but keep waving the flag thinking he gives a toss

[@ronholfly]

I bet he don't know what a cold bathroom feels like in a morning.

[@ravens-crypt]

Why brake with the family tradition

[@janebufton1960]

Stands to reason. " WHAT IS GIVEN" will loose eventually. This wasn't to be given forever.

[@Dave1975-n2o]

How come this logic doesn’t apply to MPs and their expenses including being able to call up to £3500 in utilities allowances,.?

[@LB-my1ej]

I’m 75 and also have arthritis but I won’t be able to heat my house adequately. I pay £120 per month electric so she is doing well only paying £70 for dual fuel.

[@ywiggan]

Claim attendance allowance not means tested age uk will help you fill out the forms

[@rosarose3443]

​@@ywigganVery difficult to get.

[@addier44]

Do you live in a one bedroom flat like she does?

[@ywiggan]

@rosarose3443 It's not, the problem is the form, I just completed one for my neighbour she over 75 with arthritis and other health issues, she got it within 6 weeks.

[@ywiggan]

@addier44 Is this question aimed at me? If so, no I don't understand what the size of her flat has to do with Attendance allowance

[@DavidGetling]

Chrissy, you will be less inclined to go shopping soon when Reeves takes away your Freedom Pass in the budget.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Please no, that will be the final straw

[@adamwynyard4065]

If she was a nurse why does she not get a private pension ?

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Depends if she paid into the scheme, it wasn't compulsory when she was working

[@Diane327]

Chrissy picked the wrong horse!

[@MoonOnTheTides]

It's not just pensioners, the long-term unemployed, stay-at-home mums and even working people suffer all the same. The government needs to nationalise energy and let the government pay.

[@carolineyates4746]

This lovely lady has a right to claim Attendance allowance as she is disabled that would then entitle her to pension credits aswell, that also has a knock on effect on council tax as you can then get up to 100% reduction, pension credits also entitled you to free dental treatment. If you have savings over £6,000 this would prevent you claiming as both are means tested

[@alanbowles1985]

Getting attendance allowance does not entitle you to pension credits, it doesn’t stop you getting pension credits because it’s not means tested and not a gateway to the benefit. The criteria for pension credits is straight forward, purely on income and savings and if successful opens up many other avenues. If the government say they know 800,000 are not getting pension credits why don’t the just give it them and if they say they don’t know who the are, how do they know there’s that many.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@alanbowles or just put everyone on the new pension. Bet it'd be cheaper

[@maureenhollison6261]

Pension credit is unfair.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Threshold is too low

[@lorrainespiers-t9j]

There are NO WORDS 😢

[@stewartlittle7931]

But at least the Starmer’s, Rayner and all the rest of them will have their freebie’s and expenses claims to keep them warm.

[@PatrickEdwardsEdwards-p6j]

Sorry mums 26 p over GETS NOTHING. !!!

[@wendybrierley5412]

Oh, No!

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Help her out then as a good son should.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Has she tried.martin lewis said there may be some leeway

[@hughcaskey9542]

You need to be able to drive trains to qualify for any help from labour

[@howardspice7150]

So this former nurse does not get any other pension?

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Said not

[@stevendaly3680]

Descrace descrace descrace.

[@janebufton1960]

Pensioners weren't always given the fuel allowance. Tough as it is.. Labour only another tory anyway. Shouldn't have voted Labour. A lot of pensions did. More fool you???

[@Andrew-p8w]

Nurses got a good private pension i dont understand this. If she gets state pension and nhs pension shes well off ,doesnt she get nhs pension?

[@josephinepalfreyman6665]

Kier Starmer does not understand because he earned £400,000 last year and his wife approx £100,000 and he has only ever been a public servant. While have sympathy for Chrissy I would ask why as a former nurse she did not pay into the NHS scheme which is a great one. I have spent my whole life paying people in the public and private sector, and the number of women who take no responsibility for their old age has always frustrated me, and I say that as a women. If you were born before 1953, you could claim 60% of a state pensions based on your husbands contribution, so many women only paid married women's NI which was 3.85% rather than 12%, hence little pensions quite fair. Kier Starmer now and previous governments have made a good deal out of me and all the other WASPI women, when I retire next year , if I live that long six years late, I will have saved the Government £69,000, as one of the very last WASPI women I and those the same age as me have lost the most, they could have at least let us retire at 65, which was the age for men, and which even WASPI women understood as fair.

[@grahamcook9289]

If she's only on the state pension of £221 a week, she must have worked for 35 years. So where is the NHS occupational pension? Is she not making a full disclosure here?

[@addier44]

I worked for many years in the NHS. Many women with families opted out of the NHS pension in order to support their families, some still do. In any case she contributed instead into state pension payments

[@grahamcook9289]

@@addier44 With the state pension payments, meaning NI contributions, she had no choice. But if she did chose to opt out of the NHS pension to support her family, why does she not have a share of her husband's private/occupational pension. That is possible with a divorce settlement and if she is widowed, then she should get a widow's pension from her husband's private/occupational pension. Something doesn't add up. Perhaps her circumstances are aggravated by having to pay rent or mortgage for her one bedroom flat? BTW, they can't opt out of a work place pension now. Not since 2012.

[@sandradavies7804]

@@addier44 I think it's compulsory now to pay into an occupational pension, so you can no longer opt out.

[@xxthegamerz0riginalxx920]

👍 good job GMB ..real world concerns .🤔.. Away from the govts cuckoo Land 🙉🙈🙊☠️

[@OliverKitkat]

She can claim extra money haveing arthritis . Instead of takeing winter fuel money off pensioners yet claiming for second homes for themselves rideing the gravy train snouts in the trough 🐽🐽🚂🚂

[@grahamcook9289]

Why don't her children help her out?

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Does she have any ?

[@wendybrierley5412]

May be they are poor too, got children to take care as well. How about setting up a donation for her?

[@grahamcook9289]

@@judithmorganjudyteen Exactly. Why didn't they ask her? I hate interviews like this that leave more questions than answers. It's lazy unprofessional journalism.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@grahamcook9289Pointless Richard getting six quid out when she clearly said the difference was between 218 and 221.

[@grahamcook9289]

@@judithmorganjudyteen Richard is pointless, other than being the basis for the comedy character Alan Partridge! 🤣 At that he undoubtedly excels. Steve Coogan loves him, as he is the gift that keeps on giving.

[@SpiracheMarcel]

Is very very had 😢😢😢😢

[@ywiggan]

Pensioner should be claming attendance allowance not means tested for any illnesses

[@rosarose3443]

People think that getting attendance allowance or PIP as easy as just filling out a long form. It is not. The majority who apply do not get it and those that do have to jump through hoops having been awarded no points regardless of evidence. For the genuine it is an extremely stressful and humiliating process. In addition Governments and society vilify the disabled for their vulnerabilities and dehumanize them by routinely referring to them as scroungers and layabouts regardless of the fact that many work or have worked all their lives until stricken with severe illnesses.

[@sandradavies7804]

@@rosarose3443 Exactly. You have to be a very good actor at the assessment interview, as I was told by a friend spitting feathers, as she recounted a conversation she'd had with somebody who was claiming, and who "gave the performance of (his) life!" before he went off back to work (on the black, of course).

[@rosarose3443]

@@sandradavies7804 I do not understand why people who know people who are frauds do not report them. It is these people who make things difficult for genuine disabled who are being targeted by this Government and will suffer more than they already do. The other day a mother killed herself and her disabled daughter and there will be more deaths to follow There is no social care, no support and no help. In addition to all this, the Government is planning to remove financial support too. I now go to sleep at night hoping I do not wake up the next day in this dystopian society where the elderly, disabled and those with complex needs' lives have less value than irregular young men who are given the red carpet treatment and all their living expenses including medical and mental health is provided for. I worked for 47 years before being forced to finish work due to severe illness. I did not choose to be disabled. I had to live off my savings before being entitled to receive benefits. I have only had two holidays in 47 years because of low wages, but went without to save to improve my living conditions before I was too old. Needless to say, I cannot make much needed improvements to my old, damp drafty home. I have 25 year old carpets I now cannot afford to replace. When my boiler goes, I cannot afford to replace it. I cannot afford to replace old wornout furniture or if my washing machine breaks again. I am destitute somthimg that I worked hard to prevent. I knew nothing about the benefits system. Having to stop working has destroyed me financially, emotionally and physically and I would not wish it on anyone 😢

[@iamTLC]

I hope GMB gave her some money for having her on air??? If the PM said "sorry but i have to do this", it would change nothing but the media would be fine with that?

[@andrewtrevett2210]

It will be a cold winter - dark and wet or even snow. This is a very petty way of saving money, and then give it to workers like train drivers. A sad day and a decision that the government did not need to make.

[@markmcbride678]

I know her ... she fails to mention been abroad twice this year 😂😂😂

[@janetholden1978]

Thought something wasn't quite sounding right. Cut your cloth according

[@addier44]

Oh right, and did she know when she was having her holiday that Labour were going to stop her winter fuel payment? She might have had second thoughts about a holiday then.

[@markmcbride678]

@janetholden1978 she needs get rid of netflex

[@markmcbride678]

@addier44 you're missing the point I live on my own and on 45 k a year . When my mortgage went up 400 a month due to liz truss I had to cut my cloth . This lady needs to do the same

[@leehenry5764]

Cheaper abroad than it is at UK seaside towns😂