State pensioners have issued a warning to the new Labour Party government over “means testing” their payments. Michael Thompson has launched an official petition with over 6,000 people now backing his demand to the government.
On the petition page, he said: “We demand the Government stop means-testing pensioners, that we think is a degrading and humiliating practice. We also think the state pension should be increased. We believe that for too long, our elderly have been portrayed by media as merely burdens on the NHS and the modern welfare state.
“We think that the elderly should be entitled to a decent pension and a comfortable lifestyle as many will have already paid into the system for longer than the rest of the population by now. We believe any Government should have a responsibility toward our nation’s elderly people.
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“In the Victorian era, retirement was often only an option for those who had accrued wealth. Are we regressing back to those Dickensian times? We believe means testing is an abhorrent practice that is demeaning and intrusive.”
Analysts from RTS Financial Planning explained: “If the UK Government were to introduce means testing for the state pension, it would fundamentally change how the benefit is distributed, potentially limiting access for wealthier retirees while focusing support on those with lower incomes.”
“Means testing would involve assessing a person’s income, assets, or both, to determine whether they qualify for the state pension or how much they should receive,” RTS Financial Planning added. “This approach could save the Government billions by targeting pension payments more directly to those who need them most, but it would also be a significant departure from the current system where everyone who has made sufficient NI contributions qualifies.”
Holly Holder, the deputy director for Homes at the Centre for Ageing Better, said “The pensioners identified in our research were already living on inadequate incomes before their WinterFuelPayments were taken from them.
“The majority of these people will not be able to afford to heat their homes to a safe level this Christmas or for the rest of the winter. Their health will likely suffer as a consequence. While we accept there is a case to be made for removing this universal right from pensioners who don’t need a Winter FuelPayment, this new research shows that the government is also removing support from people who desperately need it. We fear what will happen to them now it is no longer available.”
A Government spokesperson said: “Over one million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment, and our drive to boost Pension Credit take-up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it, as well as the Winter Fuel Payment.”