Freezing this Christmas. Keir Starmer Christmas song

SSAFA will help the children of Forces parents too sazz1.

I've looked it up and people of state pension age living alone or with children under 5 can't be disconnected between 1st October and 31st March HTH

Galton

Even to day Lammy has given 50 billion to Syria. How come there was money for pensioners. Plenty of money to send abroad.

Panic not, it's only £50 million, not billion.

If I couldn't afford the heating I would just run it anyway and worry about paying later. I'm pretty sure the utility company can't cut off gas and don't think they are allowed to cut off electricity for elderly or vulnerable people. But I'm not 100% certain on this.
When my mum couldn't pay her gas and electricity bills as she was in the forces an organisation called SAFFA paid it for her. This was in the 70s though so don't know if they are still around.
Anyone elderly can ring social services who may help as they don't just deal with children.
If you can't pay the bill what can the utility company do? Take you to court yes but if you have no money and are in rented accommodation the court will just make an order for a few pounds a month off the arrears. So my advise is just use it anyway.
If it's a matter of debt over fatal hypothermia I would choose debt every time. HTH someone.

I thought that was the case, but I'm not sure of the criteria for claiming, or the age.
We need Pammie back here, as she is A) helpful. B) knowledgeable and C) Just a really nice lady/woman.

MissA you cant normally get PIP after pensionable age, it stops at that age unless you were awarded PIP before retirement age.

You can try to get Attendance Allowance which is non means tested but definitely ring Age Concern/Help the Aged to check if you are eligible.

There's two government bashing Christmas songs at the moment. I forget the other one now

My fingers are writing all sorts wrong today.
Maybe my head.

So, people will have to excuse. Me

I don't suppose the parents who were struggling felt the same, but now there will apparently be breakfast clubs, which a much better idea for everyone,whatever their reasons,across the board.

Many primary school children were thrilled to lose the milk. My husband was in a very rough school in Huyton. They were very pleased that the luke warm milk was no more.

You sound as if you would be able to claim attendance allowance, or pip, Albertina
Pip takes account of people needing extra heating, or electricity, if they fill that part of the form in.

I hope you have claimed all the benefits you are entitled to albertina? It sounds as if you might be entitled to something other, or in addition to WFA. No one should need to "freeze". It can be complicated but you can get help applying.

I have just listened to it and thought is was fantastic. How shameful for a Labour Govt to pick on the elderly as their first victims in their effort to improve our country.

I have to keep the heating on as am still struggling to keep my body warm after having Covid badly quite a while ago. When I get cold I start to feel mentally confused and really unwell.

Thanks to whoever made that wonderful video.

We didn't get milk at secondary school long before that. Locally it was primary schools only.

Farzanah

Starmer and Reeves will be haunted by the withdrawal of universal WFA for the rest of their careers.
Remember Thatcher Milk Snatcher?
They are bound to be parodied for this and so early on in a supposed Labour Government.

Actually it was the Labour Govt who first took milk away from Secondary school pupils.

As populations age and the ratio of working-age individuals to retirees decreases, many countries, including ours, face significant fiscal pressures to sustain pension systems

Universal benefits do have the advantage of reducing stigma and promoting social solidarity, ensuring that everyone receives support without the need for complex means-testing Farzanah and I would also generally be in favour of taking that route.

However, the increasing number of pensioners, particularly those with greater needs, raises questions about the sustainability of such a system. Politicians on every side have been looking at this. It was, for example, the majority Conservative coalition government that introduced the Workplace Pension which was seen as the start towards an Australian style means-tested pension.

Imagine having to grovel, and then seeing your parents insulted for being too stupid or wasteful to have taught you to manage.
imafine being referred to as "so-called" parents, feckless, lazy, and all the rest of it.

Not at all nice.

Farzanah

The Government does not donate money to overseas aid because of altruism.

Well, it's a mixture. But check out the Assad thread in terms of the aid western countries have been and are giving to Syria (and what growstuff said above, would you rather they end up in boats on the Kent coast)

I say Well Done! to the writer and the singer.
I watched on you tube. It is brilliant but did make me cry.
For you cynics, there are definately people in this country who will struggle . Everybody's circumstamces are different.
I hope every politician listens to it and hang their heads in shame that someone felt the need to make this recording. As for being number one, it just shows what the majority of people think. I can afford my heating bills but many can't so I donated to the charity they are supporting. I hope it makes a lot of money for Age UK

The Government does not donate money to overseas aid because of altruism.

I don’t like means testing, it’s demeaning, and smacks of Victorian times. It’s sad that in a rich western society such as ours those without enough to heat their homes or feed themselves have to grovel.

Galton

Even to day Lammy has given 50 billion to Syria. How come there was money for pensioners. Plenty of money to send abroad.

I think it's 50 million, which is quite a big difference.

I believe the money is for immediate aid for Syrians who have been affected and to aid a transition to a stable regime. We'll all be very grateful, if it means that fewer Syrians are tempted to flee the country and end up in boats on the Kent coast.

Moreover, things could turn even nastier than they are now in the Middle East. It's in everybody's interest to try and prevent further escalation.

Starmer and Reeves will be haunted by the withdrawal of universal WFA for the rest of their careers.
Remember Thatcher Milk Snatcher?
They are bound to be parodied for this and so early on in a supposed Labour Government.

There is money for pensioners, if they fall beneath the cut off line on their income, just as there are for other people who don't have enough coming in.

Thats equality, making sure the most vulnerable are helped out, as they should be, and not just handing it to people who don't need it.

I thought the parody was brilliant.