Benefits cuts for rich Dorset pensioners supported

1:00pm Saturday 29th September 2012 in News By Paula Roberts

HIGHCLIFFE APPROVES: An aerial shot of the district, which is home to more over-65s than any other part of the nation HIGHCLIFFE APPROVES: An aerial shot of the district, which is home to more over-65s than any other part of the nation

ENCOURAGING well-off over 65s to give up their benefits to help government budget cuts has been welcomed by Dorset pensioners – in the county’s retirement capital The idea was mooted this week by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who suggested one way to ease future budget woes would be to stop giving universal benefits such as winter fuel allowance, free bus passes and free TV licences to affluent pensioners. He said multi-millionaires like Lord Alan Sugar should give up these benefits to help those who are less lucky than them make ends meet.

In Highcliffe, Christchurch, which is home to more over 65s than any other part of the country, pensioners were happy with the suggestion of a voluntary system. John O’Sullivan, 59, retired from Mudeford , said: “Those that are earning over a certain amount, £1 million or over, they should be encouraged not to take those benefits.

“I think if they made the system for giving up benefits easier than it is it would encourage more people to do so. For the big owners giving up these benefits is peanuts.

“I know a couple of people who don’t take them because they acknowledge they don’t need the money.”

Dorothy Frank, 85, of Highcliffe, said: “If you could get the big earners to do that it would be helpful. They have got so much anyway that many of them don’t even realise whether they have been receiving it or not.

“Means testing it might be difficult because while some people might be living in a big property in a nice area, they might not have the income to match it.

“My main concern would be the amount of money it would cost to administer such a system.”

Averil Jenkyn, 75, of Highcliffe, believes people should be encouraged to give up their benefits voluntarily.

“There are many people out there, me included, who would not notice if the payments were to be stopped.

“Having said that I know a lot of people who said they would not accept the benefits when they first started but now they wouldn’t be happy to give them up because they have got used to receiving them.”

Andrew Bumford, 62, semi-retired living in Highcliffe, said: “I am quite well off and I am over 60 but I think I have worked really hard for the last 40 years and paid a lot of money into the system, so why shouldn’t I get it?

“I think an opt-out option would be a good system to put in place.”

Brian Harrison, 75, living in Mudeford, said: “I think they should restrict the payments for the very well off, it is a reasonable idea.”

And David Morton, 74, visiting Highcliffe, said: “It’s a good idea. I think people should be encouraged to give up these benefits if their income is over a certain amount.”

Comments(16)

fifty shades of brown envelopes says...
1:25pm Sat 29 Sep 12

Me and my family have toiled all our lives to get herenow idiots want to give my money to wasters whats never done a tap its not fair

Report this post »

Tripod says...
1:32pm Sat 29 Sep 12

While I agree with this in principal, I wonder how much of the "unclaimed" money would go to those who need it and how much would go on Civil Service Incompetence and MP's Expenses?

Report this post »

Maryfchristmas says...
1:43pm Sat 29 Sep 12

A reasonable idea, but in reality how far would this go to offset the billions paid in benefits to those who can't be bothered to work, and the foreign aid paid to countries whose leaders use it to fund lavish life styles?

I am over 60 and lucky enough to get these benefits, but I am not wealthy by any means. I would willingly give up the fuel allowance and my bus pass, but I don't think the few pounds a week I would be saving the country would go very far!

Report this post »

Reader Echo says...
1:46pm Sat 29 Sep 12

Why not stop the benefits of the long term un-employable in this country.

That will save billions and it would force them into work.

Report this post »

elite50 says...
1:56pm Sat 29 Sep 12

No, No, No.
I remember when Monty turned 65. He marched down to the post office and claimed his pension.
All hell broke loose.
This bloke gave his all (even though he was an arrogant so and so).
The point is, is that this bloke and a lot more like him PUT IN.
All the hands-out brigade hated , him and all the others, that fed and clothed them while they sucked everything that they could from our society.
Some things never change.
It is about time that the (multiple) un-married mothers, dole bludgers and asocciated deadbeats got off their duffs and put in for the genuine people that NEED help.

Report this post »

contric says...
1:57pm Sat 29 Sep 12

it would only go into the pockets of are corrupt politicians and civil servants although i dont need it why should i give it up i know a kid i was at school with did all cash in hand jobs not many and basically ponced his way through life paying no tax or insurance and they want me to go without what i have worked hard for to make sure he is kept in the way of life he thinks he is entitled to they are having a laugh i give a fair old bit away each year to a local school and even paid my mates hard working boys mortgage at xmas and a few other causes we feel are worthwhile and we know it gets to people who need it get the gov involved and it will go on lavish parties and aid to countries that dont need or want it and if clegg thinks its a good idea let him give a few of his millions away

Report this post »

Gordon Cann says...
2:23pm Sat 29 Sep 12

Another ill thought out suggestion designed to set the plebs against each other ( I write as pleb !)

1,Only some 6 months ago Mr Clegg supported a reduction in the top rate of tax for those on high incomes, perhaps he will now say sorry for that support in the light of the further cuts in public spending down the line for next year as the coalition government; policy for deficit reduction falls apart.
2. Council Tax is highly regressive ; considerably more revenue could be obtained by further bands being introduced, and removing the exemption on second homes
3.If the millionaires in Christchurch wish to donate to a fund designed to reduce the National Debt they are free to do so
4, How much revenue is lost in off shore accounts?

Report this post »

Ophilum says...
2:57pm Sat 29 Sep 12

Clegg and his type of communism will never work,Keep in mind we did not vote him into office he got there by default, the libs are going down the road of old ideas and with a bit of luck we will not have them in power much longer,You should not be able to stand for parliament unless you have had a proper job in the real world, As you can see with the ideas coming form Clegg and the Libs no good ideas at all.

Report this post »

chrspeters says...
5:08pm Sat 29 Sep 12

I agree with comments here.

Okay, many people have worked hard, paid their dues and got themselves into very comfortable financial situations due to this. I can see easily that they deserve the full benefits of our welfare society.

On the other hand, I see the ‘wasters’, who never have done a day’s work in their life, nor intend to.

They are ripping billions out of our country, and now many foreign outsiders too. For this alone, I can fully understand the arguments of the ‘well off’ to not relinquish their full entitlements.

This is surely a government problem that needs to be resolved, but I do not believe that they can. Not any Party. I believe for sure that those receiving State Benefits or Entitlements, when they know that they do not really need them, would give them up tomorrow if they knew that the money would be better spent on the ‘real’ needy. Instead, as they well know it and I do too, it is mostly going to lost causes that just take great advantage of our so easy welfare state.

So until that changes, take in as much as you can before it gets spent on many people not so worthy.

Report this post »

RageAgainstTheMachine says...
5:32pm Sat 29 Sep 12

contric wrote:
it would only go into the pockets of are corrupt politicians and civil servants although i dont need it why should i give it up i know a kid i was at school with did all cash in hand jobs not many and basically ponced his way through life paying no tax or insurance and they want me to go without what i have worked hard for to make sure he is kept in the way of life he thinks he is entitled to they are having a laugh i give a fair old bit away each year to a local school and even paid my mates hard working boys mortgage at xmas and a few other causes we feel are worthwhile and we know it gets to people who need it get the gov involved and it will go on lavish parties and aid to countries that dont need or want it and if clegg thinks its a good idea let him give a few of his millions away
Please take a breath, or use commas and full stops otherwise you may combust.............
.........

Report this post »

rayc says...
5:35pm Sat 29 Sep 12

When pensioners with pension and income of over £10500 have to pay 20% tax on it why on earth would they want to give their benefits away.
The TV licence is contentious anyway, why should pensioners give up their entitlement when the BBC is unique in being funded by a tax and is overstaffed.
I wonder what benefits and allowances Nick Clegg is giving up, I am sure he will not have any need to worry when he retires from Parliament at a relatively young age.

Report this post »

fuzzy wuzzie says...
8:20pm Sat 29 Sep 12

Ophilum wrote:
Clegg and his type of communism will never work,Keep in mind we did not vote him into office he got there by default, the libs are going down the road of old ideas and with a bit of luck we will not have them in power much longer,You should not be able to stand for parliament unless you have had a proper job in the real world, As you can see with the ideas coming form Clegg and the Libs no good ideas at all.
I think you need to go back to "skool" if you think liberal clegg is a communist. Usual miss understanding next you will be saying JM Keynes was a communist.

Report this post »

Wageslave says...
12:17am Sun 30 Sep 12

Take the benefits you are entitled to , but if you don,t need them, give them to a charity of your own choice e.g Combat Stress. Do not give it back to Govt to squander

Report this post »

EGHH says...
6:38am Sun 30 Sep 12

Best idea I've heard for years. The money saved from stopping benefits to the well off pensioners should be given in increases to the pensioners who are barely scraping by in the current economic climate.

As far as saying Clegg is a communist, that is the most stupid thing I've heard in a long time. It makes me wonder what kind of people have the vote in this country.

Report this post »

Lord Spring says...
8:51am Mon 1 Oct 12

Mr Clegg --
How come Wetherspoons best day time customers have walking sticks and Radar keys.

Report this post »

kingstonpaul says...
1:14pm Mon 1 Oct 12

Let's not delude ourselves here. Withdrawing the free TV licence will make very little difference to a pensioner's lot - the equivalent of about 35p a day, or the cost of a pint of milk. But if five million pensioners agree to doing without the free licence, that's a saving getting on for 750 million quid.
That will go a long way to paying for all the additional healthcare resources required by the aged as they live longer.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree