Christmas Bonus

You could buy yourselves a big Toblerone 😋

Spanish pensioners must be happy bunnies this week. Especially if two to a household. That’s Christmas sorted!

My tenner will heat my home for 3 days. To buy a fish and chip supper in my area of London, I would need next year's loan because I forgot to save last year's.

BlueBelle - I'm also in Ireland - my OH will be getting his double pension payment this week, but I'm not entitled as I already get a generous pension from my work. I've never paid for an X-ray if referred by GP.

Farmor15 does that mean your state pension is means-tested?

Charleygirl5 - no, the contributory pension is not means-tested but I didn't make contributions!
I worked in a semi-state job where we paid pension contributions directly, but a lower rate of social insurance. They've changed the system since, but those of us who started work in 70's or early 80's have the old scheme - we get a pension equal to a maximum of 50% of current pay of people doing our jobs - so if they get a pay increase, we get increase in our pension! It is taxed, however.

This money in total could be doing substantial good. Instead it’s wasted by spreading it as thinly as 1/2lb of butter on 5000 loaves. Most of us give it to charity.
The over-80s offensive and insulting 25p per week is another useless waste.

I agree, I receive £22 a year, the £10 +25p a week because I am over 80, so that is £12 a year. I doubt if I would notice or miss it.

I'm going to spend mine on a bag of logs to keep me warm for a couple of days

I must admit, I thought it had been stopped. Not heard anything about it.

Kate1949

We've had ours this morning. We usually give it to charity. I'm sure it's a little help to some pensioners.

Agree, it’s not much but it all helps🤞

Thank goodness. I am a pensioner and need every penny of it .

My £10 was paid in with my weekly state Pension. Blink and you'd miss it.
My service change went up £50 in one swoop this week!! ..charity, on this occasion starts at home.

Aren’t you meant to be in receipt of one of various other benefits in order to qualify for it?

I've not received mine yet, I wonder why Rachel Reeves didn't decide to stop that as it is such an out of date payment. When it started it was worth something, nowadays it's barely enough to buy a large tin of chocolates. It would mean an extra £130 million in the treasury, a mere drop in the ocean of the country's finaces maybe, but every little helps.

M0nica

Blow charities, I am going to go wild with mine (and DH's). We are considering a fish and chips supper, with a can of coke each.

Will £10 cover the fish and chips and a coke?
Maybe if you shared.

BlueBelle

Anybody else not had theirs or am I the only one, I m so upset and concerned !!!!!

Mine's not there yet either. I doubt it would pay for 3 days heating in my cold damp house but every little helps. Sadly after losing my casual job last year I've had to cut my charity giving this year and reduce the amount I save for my grandchildren. There's not much left to cut!

That’s what I do too, a sum to the homeless shelter and some to the Dogs Trust, far better than me adding to Royal Mail profits

i got mine yesterday and i'm going to put £10 of petrol into my car. funds are tight especially at this time of year and so it will help my charity - me! sorry but for me charity begins at home.

BlueBelle

Mine hasn’t arrived yet do I get 25p more for being over 80
🤣🤣🤣

Don't spend it all at once!

Ours came today. I’m about to spend mine on Lemsip and strepsils which I reckon will take up most of it. Battling with a nasty cold and Trying to work up the enthusiasm to sort out the Christmas cards, not very successfully.

Even though it is such a small amount these days, it is a benefit that, as someone said upthread, cannot be taken away. At some point in the future, the amount could increase to something better reflecting today's prices, and the machinery for delivering it would already be in place.
I am sure that some people, perhaps those not so fortunate in their pension provision as many GN's seem to be, still find it useful.

M0nica

Blow charities, I am going to go wild with mine (and DH's). We are considering a fish and chips supper, with a can of coke each.

Good for you Monica.

Ireland's national health service is not free at the point of use across the board like the NHS. For example if you go to A&E without a GP referral there will be a charge of up to £100. You can go to an Injury Unit if your case is not life and death and get an Xray there. There are several other charges and many people choose to pay privately to avoid delays - like many European countries. In case of severe hardship the charges for things like Xrays in A&E can be waived.
Back to the subject - I don't need the tenner either to be honest but for thousands of people, ten quid is really needed. The list of charities that could do with it is endless or treat yourself - it's your money. Sadly I read that the UK is joint lowest in charity donations - it's weird when almost everyone I know (including hard up people) gives something or does something.

M0nica

No, 2 modest pieces of fish and one portion of chips was £13.50, cash only, at my local chippy a few weeks ago. £4.50 should get us 2 cokes.

Two pieces of fish, one portion of chips, one mushy peas from a fish and chip shop in the nearest town: £22
The same from a travelling van which visits villages: £18