WATCH: Old Geezer's Diary, 11 May - Are we supposed to live or just survive?

WATCH: Old Geezer's Diary, 11 May - Are we supposed to live or just survive?
2 topics - what people are telling us all on the comments, and looking at the cost of living versus the pensions in other countries . . . and we're 15th in the pension league.
Here's the link to our original video: • Here's a Question: How...

[@dkh7677]

Freezing the Income Tax personal allowance in recent years means we're all paying more tax and gain very little from the annual increase.

[@del8boy]

Take all that into account and we still vote for a goverment that is not looking after pensioners.

[@dorothyeaston3393]

If I didn't have a Loan, Credit Card and Overdraft I wouldn't survive. I juggle money every week. Last week my cupboards were empty. Can shop today because overdraft has gone for this week. I worked from 15 and am now 75, no private pension. My landlord (private) is putting rent up 6% on 1st July because cap has been lifted on 31 March. I run a small car as i live in country. There are buses but I would have to walk mile and a half to catch one. A taxi would cost £25 to town and back. I have a cat and a dog for company otherwise I never see or speak to anyone. People are so busy with their own lives they don't consider single pensioners. Don't get me wrong, I am happy with my life and grateful to wake up each day. A lot of people aren't so lucky.

[@vegbod]

In the nineteen sixties we were told that as technology advanced the workers would get better benefits and we would have shorter working weeks.However when the robots etc arrived instead of employers sharing the the rewards they just said we don't need you any more go and work in a burger bar.Some of the largest companies pay low wages and are lead by super rich who spend a lot of time on Superyachts.Thatcher took away the workers rights to complain against injustice in the labour market.

[@isitme5669]

If the state pension had kept up with inflation it should be around £1600 a month. I have to work a part time job to live and have paid the mortgage off. If I hadn't done that life would be impossible.

[@capiberra4118]

Good luck & cheers from an old geezer in Canada. Couldn't afford to live on a state pension here either. For now, my pension from employment combined w the state pension is carrying us comfortably 8 years into retirement. Looks to me like the WEF's planned and contrived inflation is going to gradually whittle that cushion down and down until we too will be hurting. I think what you are proposing will be a hard road a hoe, seeing as how the convid plandemic demonstrated just how much the aged are valued by the powers that be lately. Madazolam and morphine anyone?

[@angelsone-five7912]

I can just keep a roof over over my head with my pension, if I want to eat, pay my bills etc etc I have to work and at my time of life that`s not a good thing. I shall probably die at the wheel of the coach I drive.

[@trevor5526]

Freezing the tax-free allowance did the biggest damage. It cripples those who get the state pension and have a small work pension.

[@roysimpson9711]

We struggle along and we work 50 years paying 4:45 taxes to see them wasting huge sums of money on illegal incomers to be told thats all we deserve

[@simonch5140]

The figures shown in your table are maximum pensions. Most people will not receive that amount. In Spain for example the average pension is €900 (UK £774) and very few receive the max. The minimum is €642 and you need 37 years of contributions to reach the maximum. Spanish pensions are also based on your earnings so the lower your pay the lower your state pension will be. Different systems have different criteria to qualify, it’s not a straight comparison.

[@salan3]

I will actually be BETTER off when I get my OAP!! ( I am disabled and on EESA)

[@deantownie7441]

If you pass away in your early or mid 60's your family dosen't get your pensition pot, the state keeps it.

[@tw7914]

Amazing video Chris, yep, that chart paints one hell of a picture, absolutely shocking, and disgraceful for us to be falling off at the bottom of that chart. Just reflecting on private pensions too, we contribute 60% more, for 50% less than some of our European neighbours...so they have us all ends up. Our utilities are foreign owned and the profits fund their welfare and benefits, whilst we get rinsed with extortionate prices. Keep up the wonderful work.

[@robertguildford]

As I told the bible bashers knocking on my door when asked, what purpose do I have left in life." To survive" was my answer. The welfare state is overloaded, it was intented to be an insurance system, you pay in you get out. Over the years it been expanded to become a " Father feed them all" so many people have not put in but draw out. Can think of many examples to explain further but best not to.

[@petertompkins6400]

at least your retired many youngsters wont make it pension age as it keeps rising