State Pensions: Should rich get less? Feat. Jamila Robertson & Stella Tsantekidou | Jeremy Vine

[@davidflood8881]

How about we stop giving pensions to people who haven't paid in and who havent worked.

[@Holidayhome-spain]

They get a reduced rate.

[@HellsBells-u5f]

​@@Holidayhome-spainThey shouldn't get anything if they haven't worked

[@Holidayhome-spain]

@@HellsBells-u5f national insurance is deducted from benefits. I know what you mean though.

[@trevorclarey3336]

They literally get more .

[@MarthaMcDonald-cw6mk]

@Wishing_you_peace they are more likely to qualify for pension credits which opens the door to so much more eg cold weather payments, warm home discount, winter fuel payment, council tax reduction, housing benefit etc. as a result ending up better off than others. I can't see that as being a fair system.

[@fortlast1843]

It seems very unfair that someone has been careful with their money is then penalised and receives less or potential nothing.

[@lionheartthemuss]

They were calling rich £300 a week from a private pension. Do they know how much things cost in this country ffs??? Pensioners still have to pay bills.

[@aacmove]

I think he means 300 AUD which is about £180. You'd need a pension pot of about 250K for that.

[@marianthompson1947]

If you work and pay National insurance, it's only fair that money should come back to you when you retire!

[@ricardosmythe2548]

People who have an income above the average wage shouldn't be receiving taxpayers money. Its called national insurance

[@trevorclarey3336]

I have paid all my NI stamps from the age of 15 yrs old I would of got more money if I hadn't paid all my stamps ?

[@ricardosmythe2548]

@trevorclarey3336 paying NI isnt optional

[@keirmitchell5560]

@@ricardosmythe2548 scrap national insurance then

[@ricardosmythe2548]

@keirmitchell5560 why would we do that? Everybody pays in and its there as a safety net in the event people need it in the future. It doesn't even just go towards state pension it also partially funds the NHS again incase people need it in the future. If you don't need either you should count yourself lucky not whine about it. Greed and entitlement are the scourge of modern democracies

[@Bumbleb43]

You can’t expect a bricklayer or manual worker working outside at over 70! Ffs

[@gordonlittle3069]

The government has taken national insurance contributions over many years and in return they chose to underwrite the cost of paying the state pension. They did this so that they could spend the contributions. They could have chosen to invest those contributions instead to cover the cost but they didn't. If there is a crisis then it is as a result of government decisions. Working people should not be expected to pick up the pieces..

[@leftforbed1041]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but you’re talking of decisions made forty years ago. We also have an aging population, which tips the scales. Maybe they should have been taxed more back in the day, in anticipation of this problem?

[@christinefiedor3518]

@ great answer. The average life expectancy has increased dramatically since the inception of the aged pension. While current contributions have been used to support pensioners. Then we have the issue with the birth rate falling and less people paying ni and tax=less money in the coffers. It’s actually not rocket science. It’s the fault of successive uk governments who chose to kick thecan down the road and they’ve known about this for decades. Personally I think they’ll have no choice but to means test and it because it’s actually unsustainable at current levels. In fact this very subject was on the news just yesterday. And whether we all like it or not technically the aged pension is classed as a benefit . And ni is just another for of tax!

[@mickandtraceycope7826]

People who haven't worked should get less, those that have worked and paid in should get more.

[@barrywood7322]

If you pay into the state pension and paid full contributions it shouldn’t matter how much you have you’re entitled to it, if they decide not to claim the pension due to how well off they are thats their choice.

[@cafsixtieslover]

I have a friend who has a public sector pension and he has not even claimed his state pension yet.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@cafsixtiesloverhe should, before they make more drastic decisions on pensions

[@diann-b3w]

@@barrywood7322 Spot on.

[@davidadams8027]

I’m starting to think what’s the point of saving and paying in to a pension

[@Stuart-f2m]

Talk of means testing or punishing people for saving for retirement is nothing short of complete Insanity. It will not only stop people from saving but working too if working too hard means you get no state pension. It also costs billions to means test pensions as you need to hire thousands of Civil servants on gold plated pensions to do the means testing.

[@aacmove]

None whatsoever, apparently.

[@matthewwells1817]

Completely agree .. they tell u to save and put money in a private pension... Then try and punish you for it. This government gets worse everyday

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

I wouldn't take that risk

[@shadow-boxer1644]

Me too.After looking into my bank account got a tax bill yesterday. So much for saving for my old age.Wish I'd not bothered and claim pension credit and everything else that goes with it. I might add I have been paying tax for 5 years.

[@stephenstone3106]

Raising the pension age to 70 as this lady suggests is fine if you have sat on your arse for years in an office etc, but a lot of working class work outside, tradesmen etc where the body is worn out by 60

[@SandraDent-lf4xy]

Exactly

[@kinggeoffrey3801]

Yep, my body is packing up in my 40s doing manual work. No chance I'm working into my 70s doing this.

[@lovelifesmile]

Exactly, I'm 61, work a hard manual job and on my very dodgy knees

[@markwoodward881]

Look after your self and you'll be okay

[@leftforbed1041]

No one is saying you need to stay in the same job into your 70s.

[@juliehall7476]

Why? If they pay in they should get it.

[@DenNolan]

Plenty of money for foreigners, plenty of money to pay for other countries wars.

[@Stuart-f2m]

Magic money Tree for Wars . Pensioners that have paid in for 40 years .... Errrrrr Sorry

[@barryroberts7159]

How about taxing the ultra wealthy and off shore tax dodging accounts??

[@liannedavison502]

No way, if you pay in then you are entitled to the money !!

[@paulhealey2984]

Starmer has just given millions of pounds to Ukraine!! But no money for our pension.

[@sbalmer132]

If people have to provide for their own pension then stop taking money from them throughout their life toward a pension

[@anthonyanderson2622]

No the supposed rich have paid in all their working so why should they get less. What about the workshy getting less.

[@janetholden1978]

Totally agree you are better off not working or saving for a pension

[@leftforbed1041]

Have they, though? Why have the rich become richer and the poor poorer, while the gap between the two has become bigger? Rishi Sunak pays an effective tax rate of 23 per cent.

[@anthonyanderson2622]

@leftforbed1041 what has that got to do with the original question.

[@mickandtraceycope7826]

Paid into it so give us it. It is so unfair to pensioners. Pensioners cannot work to get extra income, youngsters have their working life ahead to sort an alternative.

[@rufdymond]

People do not seem to understand that the money that you pay in NI has absolutely nothing to do with your pension, apart from qualifying you for it. The NI you are paying goes towards paying for the people that have already retired, not your pension. If you get a state pension it will be paid for by the young kids that are working and so on. This is the problem, eventually there will not be enough working people to pay for the people that have already retired and so the whole thing falls apart. There is no such thing as a state pension fund - it’s just another benefit……

[@Stuart-f2m]

People understand fully . It's a contributory benefit & you need to pay in 35 years to qualify . If you pay inyou get a pension .

[@apemoon1731]

We already have the lowest state pension in Europe. Maybe we should just bump everyone off when they reach retirement age and be done with it?

[@davidg9057]

Pay in all your life get nothing, do f all get a full pension. Unbelievable

[@Stuart-f2m]

This is why nobody wants to work

[@pataleno]

I have a private pension. I will retire early at 60 and spend the lot before state pension kicks in. It certainly forces you not to save.

[@Stuart-f2m]

​@@pataleno sensible man .

[@pjmoseley243]

well mannered guest's wish more were like it, well done JV.

[@patbarrows8929]

If you have worked and paid into the system then it’s nobody’s business what money they have .most of us don’t have any money .we didn’t earn enough to save .

[@jamesunsworth8468]

Where's the incentive to get on in life. We need to stop foreign aid and look after this country.

[@anthonyjones955]

Fairplay, if this being debated we have something wrong with society.

[@Stuart-f2m]

100% Agree . If means testing pensions ever happens its basically telling workers not to work hard & make money or you will lose your state pension. Beyond stupid as you want people to make as much money as possible & pay as much tax . Clearly only motivation would be a civil service Job creation Scheme.

[@SusanDean-n7x]

It was always understood, respect and look after your elders. As we did ours. Now we're being made to feel like grifters stealing from the state and the younger generations. It's not fair at this stage of our lives.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

​@@SusanDean-n7xwell said. We never complained when we were paying our share in tax. If governments have decided this is the way it's done, how can we change things. ?

[@SusanDean-n7x]

@@judithmorganjudyteen At my age I don't have time to regroup and provide for my retirement. No one seems to understand that do they ? I really worry about the future now we are being treated like this. All I know is they've got away with WFA which doesn't bode well.

[@danpepper2525]

Absolutely not. I believe all developed countries should have a state pension.

[@Holidayhome-spain]

State pension is not a benefit. Tax evasion costs the UK 2 million per day, why not go after the filthy rich?

[@christinefiedor3518]

State pension is actually technically classed as a benefit.

[@christinefiedor3518]

@fionamunro3381 I hear you. But the trouble is as soon as earned, it’s spent in paying the current pensions and as the average life expectancy is longer than ever it’s causing a problem. Successive uk governments have known about this for decades but have preferred to kick the can down the road rather than deal with it. While countries such as Germany and Australia started planning for an ageing population following the end of WW2 and now the chickens are coming home to roost! Now retired I lived half my life in the uk and the other half in Australia. Our countries are meant to have reciprocal agreements where pensions are concerned. The aged pension is more out here however its means tested and it does not mean that we are entitled to 2 pensions. The family home is not included in the means testing if there a spouse still alive and living in the home. Social care while not perfect is considerably better than it is in the uk. But that’s hard! When I retired at 66.5 (same as in the uk) I was given forms to fill in so the government in Oz could claim back what I paid in in the uk. I worked in the nhs. They are dragging their heels in responding in the uk and we are still waiting to hear back 2 and half years later! Beggars belief. Oz authorities are being very patient but the whole thing leads me to believe that situation is more dire than people might think. I’ve been saying for decades now that the uk has been living way beyond her means .

[@ivymalloch9807]

Trouble is they never do things correctly, the threshold for WFA is about £200 a week. I’m 85 on about £200 a week, never claimed benefits worked all my life. Those who have lived a life on benefits get very thing, and I personally know a few.

[@diann-b3w]

They have no right to means test pensioners they have paid in and been taxed for many years it is not a benefit you could have put it into a private pension.

[@leftforbed1041]

The pension payments you make in work now are to support the present generation of pensioners, not to contribute to your own future pot.

[@christinefiedor3518]

As soon as a tax or NI dollar is earned , it’s spent. Successive governments have always known that current system is actually unsustainable for decades but chose to kick the can down the road and now the chickens have started to come home to roost. Most sensible and pragmatic countries such as Germany and Australia started planing for an ageing population following WW 2. The uk has been living way beyond her means for decades.

[@leftforbed1041]

@ Whatever you were told was not true and that hasn’t changed since the beginning of the state pension. How do you think the very first pensioners were paid, despite not having contributed to the newly intrude pension fund?

[@christinefiedor3518]

@ so why do you think uk governments have had to cap in hand to US and then then IMF in the 70s? We have been living way beyond our means for decades. It’s actually widely acknowledged that current pensions are paid through current tax/ni contributions. We have a problem as people are living longer and the birth rate continues to fall. It’s not rocket science.

[@michaelodowd4807]

Great idea extend pension age to 70 .. brickies , scaffolders etc no problem working to age 70 plus.

[@0flan]

Can we not pay into the system and then not claim a pension?

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Yes, a few months before your due date you have to inform them that you wish to claim it. Who wouldn't though ?

[@JustTakeAMoment]

Absolutely not. We've paid into the system and they ard called NI Contributions for a reason. It's because we paid into the system in order to receive a pension. That is non negotiable. Imagine if a pension company did this, it would be classified as fraud. The biggest crime ever, to give people everything who've paid in nothing.

[@leecoping8114]

The rich don’t need a state pension , but why should you pay into a system which you are not entitled too

[@Wrtp.]

Everyone that has worked for 50 years know matter how rich they are they are entitled to their pension f..k the Labour Party.

[@lordprotector3367]

What does it have to do with Labour Party? They are not advocating it.

[@rufdymond]

People do not seem to understand that the money that you pay in NI has absolutely nothing to do with your pension, apart from qualifying you for it. The NI you are paying goes towards paying for the people that have already retired. If you get a state pension it will be paid for by the young kids that are working and so on. This is the problem, eventually there will not be enough working people to pay for the people that have already retired and so the whole thing falls apart.

[@Wrtp.]

@ two many lazy lazy bastards in Great Britain who are on pip and other benefits.

[@ivanglossop5106]

£300 isn't a rich pension ffs

[@stevendorling4902]

See another person that does not get it we the pensioner pay all our working life into the system it’s not a hand out

[@curtisfullman3694]

You’re the one that doesn’t get it, your taxes paid for the pervious generations pensions. While do agree with the state pension absolutely, to say it’s not a benefit for being incapacitated to work due to old age is not true. If you want to live in this capitalist world then really it’s a benefit for your failure to provide yourself with a private pension suitable enough for you to live off of. Be more grateful of the pension and don’t behave with such entitlement.

[@curtisfullman3694]

@ I’m certainly not sucking up to the rich, I think billionaires are a moral stain on human society. It’s young people like me and younger who are going to be penalised as we are getting less and less than pervious generations. I believe in a good base level of living for all young and old and disabled alike.

[@vikingfrog7204]

Unless you're in the top 7% of earners boomers and and those older take on average 1.5 pounds for every pound they pay into the system. It's a benefit like all benefits. With inflation you take more out than you put in, this isn't an attack it's a fact. The money you paid in was spent many times over. The workers of today are paying your pensions like you working in the past did. The only difference is with inflation and standards of living now those working can't afford to live themselves.

[@sarries1]

Like it or not it is a handout.It is a benefit although I do not doubt your hard work.

[@stevendorling4902]

@ it’s not as long as I have a hole in ???

[@suecole7338]

We paid into our state pension in good faith. In the present NI system the more you earn the more NI you pay!

[@scottcook2643]

And what about those around 40 and under who will have a substantially reduced pension/no state pension at all (as is being predicted by many)? Why should they have to continue paying in when the chances are they will get nothing in return?

[@suecole7338]

@@scottcook2643 I completely agree, and the situation with the WASPI women serves as a clear example. Ultimately, this highlights the challenges that arise when people respond to isolated social media comments no doubt taken out of context. It is likely that right-wing media outlets will attempt to instil fear among the public, often attributing issues to immigration. The UK Government must take decisive action to address this misinformation and counteract the associated propaganda.

[@kevinsyd2012]

You "pay in" to nothing. There is no pot of money with your name on it. Today's pensions are paid by today's taxpayers, so the NI you paid whilst working was used to pay the pensions of those who were retired during your career. When you retire, your pension will be paid by future taxpayers.

[@matthewwells1817]

​@@kevinsyd2012technically yes, but this is how everything works .. also the government web site allows you to calculate your state pension based on the years you pay in .. so yes, you are also technically paying for your pension pot...

[@leftforbed1041]

@@kevinsyd2012Exactly: lots of people don’t realise this.

[@chiragshetty4608]

Punishment for ppl working

[@brianwalker2696]

Wow what a statement we shouldn't get a pension at 67 it's too early . Try telling that to a hard working factory worker or engineer who works for over 50 years .

[@pimmers-q3n]

Silly woman - you cannot keep putting up the pension age. It is totally ridicoulus to ask someone doing a really physical job to keep going into their seventies . I don't want some old 70 year ld git up on your roof fixing it - it would be a health and safety issue

[@leftforbed1041]

Who is going to pay the pension for those retirees?

[@Stuart-f2m]

The same people that pay for Gold plated public pensions & 4 star migrant Hotels .

[@coderider3022]

300 years ago, we died at 40, in 200 years, humans will reach 90s. It’s all relative.

[@reubenjuster627]

So if you don't spank your money in your early years and are responsible you are penalised. Therefore the idea is to spend all your money and then just rely on the state

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Risky

[@reubenjuster627]

@judithmorganjudyteen but if you save your money and you need care you lose everything. However don't work and you get it for free. The incentive to work has been removed

[@patbarrows8929]

You choose to have children.we don’t choose to get old .

[@johngoff8923]

Stop the government corruption and the pension and everything else is fine, MP’s take to much for themselves let MP’s live on the same wage as pensioners! Dissolve the House of Lords £333 per day for 20 minutes work x800 x5x52 = £69,264.000 per year complete wast of money !

[@Caroline-m4k]

State pension is classed as a benefit. I am my husbands carer never asked for help wnen i was working , didnt think it fair, getting nearer to retirement i put in for carers allowance only to be to,d you will only get it for three months as you cant claim for two benefits your state pension being one of them. I am now an unpaid carer saving the government money like many other carers.

[@janetholden1978]

If your Husband is state pension age he should be able to claim attendance allowance unless he is on any disability benefits that have a care component such as PIP

[@jackiepitchford3965]

The older gentleman call er, I think, was saying that pensioners have already paid tax on their money whilst saving so why should they be penalised at the end of their tax paying life when the people coming up have not yet paid into the system. I agree Don't penalise the pensioners as your first cut. And anyone that thinks £11,000/yr is a fortune wants to look at Universal Credit payments..... Hmmm....

[@ricardosmythe2548]

Weve seen where they have drawn the line with the winter fuel allowance. Not good enough. The average wage in the country has to be the initial threshold dropping off slowly above that

[@RennieCacciola]

In Australia, we do not pay National Insurance. You need to get someone from Australia to discuss the Aged Pension properly. Income from Superannuation (private pensions) in retirement is not taxed. You clearly do not understand the Australian system. Plus payments into superannuation and earnings during accumulation are taxed at 15%. Basically, there are no taxes in retirement except if you have investments outside of the superannuation system

[@pjp0007]

No way… you should get out what you put in. Taking away what you’ve put in is theft!

[@leftforbed1041]

State pension contributions support current pensioners not future pensions.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Problem is we take out more than was put in

[@rufdymond]

The lack of understanding of what the state pension actually is in these comments is concerning. Even that panellist said “if you’re putting into something your whole life”. People do not seem to understand that the money that you pay in NI has absolutely nothing to do with your pension, apart from qualifying you for it. The NI you are paying goes towards paying for the people that have already retired, not your pension. If you get a state pension it will be paid for by the people that are still working and so on. This is the problem, eventually there will not be enough working people to pay for the people that have already retired and so the whole thing falls apart. There is no such thing as a state pension fund - it’s just another benefit……I’m sorry to tell people, but you are not paying into anything. People really need to understand this. Because the state pension IS OFFICIALLY classed as a benefit, it gives future governments the scope to do things like means testing, or even remove it completely.

[@Stuart-f2m]

The Government has a whole website dedicated to the link to pensions . It's irrelevant that your pension contributions are not .held in a pot . It works on a contributions basis & if people contribute they qualify.

[@MarthaMcDonald-cw6mk]

Pension is paid to people who have never worked or contributed and I am not referring to those who couldn't due to disability or ill health but to those who wouldn't so why target the people who in good faith paid their NI contributions with the expectation they would receive a pension in later life. It is not their fault successive UK governments have not invested the money wisely over the years as other countries have done. My brother has continued to work past retirement age, deferred his state pension until late last year and recently has been diagnosed with terminal cancer with a very poor prognosis so will hardly benefit from the state pension he worked damned hard to earn so forgive me for saying these politicians haven't a clue and seriously need a reality check. What happened to the old adage drummed in to me by my grandparents and parents "Treat others as you want to be treated and you won't go far wrong" with politicians in the main it is more like "I'm all right Jack so stuff the rest of you".

[@johnbluett6079]

Seems the best idea do not pay for a private pension

[@Stuart-f2m]

Fully Agree . Why on earth pay thousands into a pension to be told decades later this private pension has cost you the state pension. Nah Pass .

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

art-f2m risky

[@Ciara.Higgins-xz9im]

I've said this before I have small private pension and state pension I pay rent council tax et c, my friend no private pension he gets every thing paid will get winter payment. He is £40 a week better off than me, so unless you have a very good private pension my advice is spend when young and be better off.

[@Stuart-f2m]

My Dads the same . He is worse off because he had a private pension. His neighbour get thousands more in pensions credit because he's been a dolescrounger . So what's that point in having a private pension ?

[@AlanHill-t8r]

Spot on your so right

[@lovelifesmile]

I can totally relate to this, even though I am only 61, 6 more years till I can retire, me I too have a small personal pension. I almost wonder whether I should retire now and use my private pension

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

It's taking a big risk

[@sallen2779]

If you have paid into the pension system you should get your money back out regardless of any money you have earned and paid tax on over your life . Savings have already been taxed ! Fair enough if you don’t pay in you can’t take out !

[@ivanglossop5106]

Better not I've paid 38 years Ni in 5 years I will be 67 years old so can get my pension.

[@yvonnegalbraith1669]

My husband and I bought a house in the 80s when wages were low and the mortgage rate was at 15%. Our endowment policy for the mortgage did not return what it was supposed to having been miss sold.When our mortgage came to an end, we had to pay a shortfall. There was a lack of social housing back in the 70 and 80s. maternity pay was not as much as it is now when we had children. Being born in the 50s I had to wait an extra 6 years to get my pension. My husband an exta year. Pensions in the UK are poorer than most European countries. The country gives so much money to wealthy countries like India and Spends so much money giving it to France to stop migrant boats, which has made no difference to the amount coming over the chanel. Then we are spending money keeping these migrants in hotels and giving them money to live on when the money being used is paid by the tax payers You hear people on all the talk show panels saying most pensioners are millionaires. They all have big houses when only one or two people live in them. These are mostly houses bought and used as family homes. Why should they be made to feel as if they need to give them up. The majority of pensioners are feeling as if the government would prefer we either died earlier or had us put down.

[@diann-b3w]

@yvonnegalbraith1669 Well said and so true. They judge the standards of today, as being the standards of years past and they were not, it was much harder then.

[@EloiseB2025]

Where is Storm?

[@DenNolan]

All those people who have never work in the U.K. should not receive any state pension.

[@lindacosh4675]

So if you work hard, save where you can by going without, only buy what you can afford instead of wanting it all now on buy now, pay later....then in your advancing age you have managed to put some money aside to help in your old age some muppets think we should not receive the pension we have contributed to during our working life? What is this country coming to if this is now considered?

[@Stuart-f2m]

Is it any wonder nobody wants to work with crazy ideas like this ? People that have worked for forty years & have wealth because of their hard work get no pension but dolescroungers do. Utter & complete Insanity. I suspect the real reason the Civil service are pushing this agenda is because of the thousands of jobs means testing creates. Watch Yes Minister & all will become very clear.

[@kinggeoffrey3801]

Well, if workplace pensions and private pensions had better contributions from employers and the government, people wouldn't need the state pension. Not everyone has gold-plated pensions working for the council.

[@janetholden1978]

I was a council employee and I can assure you my pension is not a lot

[@leftforbed1041]

Public sector workers used to accept better pensions for poorer in-work pay.

[@kinggeoffrey3801]

@janetholden1978 what percentage did the council give you? It's normally 12% plus.

[@Stuart-f2m]

Yeah Let's tell Workers if they work too hard & make too much money they get no pension. Have a wild guess what the outcome of that would be ?

[@curtisfullman3694]

That’s not the case, if you’ve earned loads you’ll more then likely need far more than a state pension, a state pension currently has nothing to do with how much you’ve earned while working.

[@Stuart-f2m]

Yeah Currently it does but the debate is means testing the state pension in the future. This means workers who have worked the hardest & made alot of money get no state pension. Clear incentive not to work hard & save for retirement. The opposite of what you want in a capitalist society where you want people to start businesses & make weath.

[@curtisfullman3694]

@ so you think a person who has a £500 a week private pension should be entitled to more free money just because. People are living and working for less than that a week and will never have a chance to earn near that, sounds more like socialism for the wealthy and sod everyone else.

[@adamj579]

It will if it's means tested​@curtisfullman3694

[@Stuart-f2m]

​@@curtisfullman3694 To qualify for the full state pension you need to pay 35 years of NI contributions . So how's that free money ? Do you not like capitalism ? People that work the hardest & make money quite rightly have a better standand of living than the dolescroungers & spend happy who save nothing. Why should dolescroungers get a pension & people that work & pay taxes for 50 years don't?

[@JustTakeAMoment]

Having investigated the Australian pension, they don't have NICs of any kind, it is paid out of general taxation so Vine is comparing apples with pears. You simply can't do that because the models are entirely different so the state pension, where NICs have been paid must be paid by law otherwise they contravene the very system designed to protect the individual against state victimisation. They've had the money, you must pay out what you laid out as the rules behind the contribuory scheme, as under any scheme, unless the scheme has gone bust, in which case you should get compensation under the fscs scheme. This is not to say that a government can't go bust. I'm sure there are plenty of examples in history to refer back to. Anyway the legal case is clear and unambiguous.

[@coderider3022]

Solution - force employers to ensure 15% of gross goes to private pension from 21yrs of age. In 35yrs, pension burden comes down. You need to take decades to fix it.

[@johndinsdale1707]

The only way this could transition is with a cutoff date. Those close to retirement must get their full state pension. Younger generation should have additional money put in their personal pot to compensate for not getting a state pension.

[@jimleishman8599]

When will people learn that inequality of money creates nothing but ignorance and it is brilliantly displayed in programmes like this.

[@RennieCacciola]

Have you checked how much of GDP is paid out by the UK government on state pensions compared to Australia? The Australian government pays less than 3% of the total budget on the aged (state pension) and will drop closer to 2% by 2030!

[@darrengreenacre1142]

Government should put 5k into a global index fund at birth and let compound interest do the work

[@stuartr7832]

So the more money you make through working for 40 years the more you get penalised for it . Please please please tell me how telling workers not to work if they want a state pension ?

[@robertcolema]

State pensioners serviive on about £4 per hour daily

[@driftingintoretirement]

No, Australian system is a joke. You pay in, you take out. Over sixty and retired in Australia, you pay no tax.

[@silversurfer6758]

Australia does not have Inheritance Tax, but UK does so even to private pensions, so let's debate that on British morning TV please and then scrap it.

[@CarolePrater]

IN truth the government is already pelanising pensionerss The government might not tell you that they make your pay income tax,l.inrealiity only actually get 3weeks state pension.

[@judithmorganjudyteen]

Can you elaborate, as state pension is not taxed

[@alma2229]

We all pay national insurance all our lives, if someone is lucky enough to get rich, thats there luck, and everyone should get there full pension regardless. What that women (Stella) says has no common sense, people over 50 pay more NI and retire later? absurd!!! if the youngsters got a job, instead of being lazy the country would not be in this mess, people over 50 have paid alot for there pension, also Stella's last views make out she is a jealous woman. Also, the state pension mentioned in Australia will only work if it started when you are a teenager, to make pension a means tested now, would be very very unfair.

[@kevinsyd2012]

Importantly, the Australian state pension is not taxed, and there are tax credits towards the superannuation "pillar". In the UK, if you have personal pensions/ wealth to generate a large income plus the state pension then the whole is taxed at up to 45%. So the rich UK pensioners are potentially paying almost half of the state pension back to the government. Those who rely only on the UK state pension do not pay income tax currently.

[@Qlair2632]

So the people who pay the most in get the least out? That sounds like a good economic model to encourage people to do well, take risk and growth the economy…

[@Stuart-f2m]

100% Correct .Dolescroungers get a pension but if your weathy coz you worked for 40 years you gey no pension. Watch a total collapse in people's will to work & make money . This is is a dingbat plan .

[@matthewwells1817]

Sorry andy is a idiot. Firstly the winter fuel allowance is not directly related to a particular tax like to your pension is.. i also think they were wrong removing the winter payments. They keep saying rich pensioners loss it, this is crap. Any pensioner on a full pension loss it. That about £12k a year. If they think thats rich, then they are deluded

[@paulhealey2984]

If I'm not going to get it then why the fk am I FORCED to pay into it???

[@pataleno]

Means test pensions but it needs a 40 year notice. Not people who have paid NI all their lives.

[@Kai_of_lexx]

So really it means dont bother working I payed my NI by the time I was 44 forced to retire at 52 and get £383 a month had to sell my house to raise money to live on. Now my frind never had a job in his life gets £1800 a month and bungalow and they wonder why the young dont bother tbh at this point all those 12 hour shifts while my friend sat in the club who was the Mug sigh.

[@Ciara.Higgins-xz9im]

Same here my friend played system now he's a pensioner every thing paid and he's better off than me, and he's getting near to the £16000 so he's trying to hide it. I wish I'd of gone and played snooker 7 days a week.

[@Kai_of_lexx]

@@Ciara.Higgins-xz9im The crazy thing is watching everything I worked for slowly going, at some point I will be broke and than can claim everything.

[@larskaminskidk]

basic pension in denmark - Simplified In denmark the pension is divided into 2 parts. A universal pension that everyone gets if they live a certain number of years in denmark of £800 a month A pension supplement of £925 if you are single and £475 if you live with someone a month. spftemt you have lived a certain number of years in denmark the pension supplement is reduced by 0.31% for every £1 you have in income above a certain limit (earned income is not included)

[@David-j9h9g]

yes.....

[@michaelenglish2066]

so you pay in then get nothing back pure communisum

[@vikingfrog7204]

Pete's a bit sticky thumb isn't he. The bank payy interest because not many people go in and ask for a million cash so that money is used like all funds for leverage and transactions for accrued money for the bank and the customer. The banks don't just let you store your money out of the goodness of their hearts. They make money, it's a business.

[@MarieMasson-u7u]

Tackle public pension

[@Stuart-f2m]

2.7 Trillion but for some bizarre reason these are perfectly sustainable.

[@paulboswell6690]

All this for boat people £10 million a day Give it to the pensioners worst payment in EU This for means tested should start after you abolish NI say 3 yrs time

[@ianbird7444]

Why bother saving or investing or building a business. You pay your taxes you get a state pension

[@leftforbed1041]

Because it’s low compared to other countries in Europe, for example.

[@Stuart-f2m]

100% Agree Why start a business & lose your state pension if you are successful & make a good business? Might as well not bother.

[@trevorclarey3336]

What about people like me who were miss sold a pension from General portfolio ? who changed the name to Gan .

[@JustTakeAMoment]

Just to point out that I will seek crowd funding to sue this government if they ever dare to bring in any form of means testing for the state pension. Company pension schemes were few on the ground when I started work and the only pension scheme you were certain of getting was the state pension. It's alright for wealthy people on TV to debate criminal state activities like the one this idiot is proposing but it certainly isn't for the rest of us.

[@grahambetteridge1441]

But they are not talking about rich £12000 is not rich

[@vinupillai5511]

Cant you just remove the pension alongside every other benefit and just provide a universal basic income? How much money would be saved by removing every one these useless benefit systems and checks and just provide every citizen of a lump sum of 1000 a month. Can you thrive? No, but you'll be able to live. Pensioners wont have anything to cry about and if you live beyond your means you only have yourself to blame.

[@MarthaMcDonald-cw6mk]

@vinupillai5511 not that simple if you have a family 1k doesn't go far unless you are suggesting a family of 4 would receive 4k if it is every citizen. However that would mean a single person living alone who could conceivably have similar outgoings would have 1k . Maybe need to give that idea some more thought.

[@Stuart-f2m]

God only knows how much it would cost to pay 70 million Citizens & growing 12k a year . That Crack pipe must be stoked .

[@JustTakeAMoment]

Also, even without public intervention you're talking about the UKs economic collapse. Everybody would just stop, take stock and people would no doubt leave the UK, those that can. This bloke is an idiot, 9:42 , you'd invest you're money abroad. He's not got any intelligence to write home about.

[@osmanfadil2451]

greek woman again

[@leftforbed1041]

What’s wrong with that? Can’t she know her stuff because of that?

[@kevinsyd2012]

Remember that you "pay in" to nothing. There is no pot of money with your name on it. Today's pensions are paid by today's taxpayers, so the NI you paid whilst working was used to pay the pensions of those who were retired during your career. When you retire, your pension will be paid by future taxpayers. This is why an ageing population coupled with a falling workforce (increasing number of people of working age on benefits) is a disaster for any developed economy.

[@Stuart-f2m]

Why does there have to be a pot ? Is there a pot for education ? Is there a pot for Health ? If you break your arm does that Doctor say , go away there's no pot ? The pot argument is beyond stupid. There's no pot because thats not how Government spending works . You PAY national insurance & that qualifies you for the state pension. Its very clear & the Government has a whole website dedicated to to qualication criteria of 35 years . If they decide to change the rules after taking peoples money for decades is FRAUD . Pure & simple .

[@stuartr7832]

Last time i looked Money came out to pay Ni . Its completely irrelevant that the Government dont hold it in a private pot . People PAY in & are told very very clearly it qualifies you for a state pension after 35 years .

[@kevinsyd2012]

@@stuartr7832 You simply pay other peoples' pensions for 35 years and, when you retire, taxpayers will pay your state pension.