New Labour? Baah!
08/07/2008
This year is the centenary of the Basic State Pension. Once it was 25% of the national average wage, now it is only 13%. This government promised us a fair pension and the end of means-tested benefits.
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NHS at 60: ask the patients - but will they be heard?
As the NHS prepares to celebrate its 60th birthday on July 5th, we are asking readers to tell us what YOU feel about the service: its achievements over six decades, your experiences of treatment - and what you would like to see for the future.
Stop the mudslinging - some politicians are trying to help
Any politician who sees an error in his ways and has the courage to try and make amends deserves to be congratulated.
A solution to Mr Brown's 10p problem...
Now that the 10p tax on pensions has arrived it is easy for Gordon Brown to extract himself from the home goal he has created for himself.
Promises, promises ... the politicians who don't deliver on our overseas pensions
Over half a million ex-pat British pensioners have had their pensions frozen - some by more than £55 a week – because they are now living overseas in Commonwealth countries rather than the EU. But, writes Brian Havard, if UK Government Ministers were to implement the promises they have personally made, our pensions would not be frozen.
Government petition for frozen overseas pensions
The Mature Times has highlighted the unfair freezing of overseas pensions. So I am writing to alert people to the fact that there is now an e-petition on the subject.
How do you live on a pension?
With no exisiting link between average earnings and the state pension, MT readers ask 'how are we supposed to live?'
Where is the justice?
Following my heart attack I tried to claim Attendance Allowance and was refused. Yet an Al Quaeda terrorist who has never paid a stamp or taxes and was convicted of plotting to kidnap and behead a British soldier was in receipt of benefits to the tune of more than £20,000 a year.
"Lies and half truths" from Pensions Minister
I have just read the article by Mike O'Brien of DWP and cannot believe the scam...
What planet is Alistair Darling on?
I’ve just listened to the Budget speech in dismay and disbelief. What planet is the Chancellor on?
Injustice, inequality... we paid our contributions but our pensions are frozen
Jim Tilley has drawn attention to the scandalous situation whereby some pensioners overseas receive fully indexed pensions and others like those of us in Australia do not. We all paid in the same way and there is no just reason why our pensions are frozen.
The scandal of overseas pensions being "pilfered" by the Government
“Our shared aim should be to ensure that pension promises are kept and pensioners are secure in retirement...” But what is Mike O’Brien doing to implement his beliefs? Evidently nothing.
Overseas pensions campaigner slams Government promises
It is appalling that Minister Mike O'Brien fails in his article to mention the penalty with which some pensioners are slugged because their UK age pensions will be frozen if they choose the wrong countries in which to retire.
NI surplus? It's worse than that!
The balance of the National Insurance Fund is predicted to be around £70 billion by 2008, £81 billion by 2009, over £121 billion by 2012 and £136 billion by 2013.
MPs' Pensions - are they what they seem?
Recently MPs decided to increase their salary only at inflation level of 1.9%, however they also agreed to raise the Basic State Pension (BSP) at 3.9%. On the face of it, the BSP looks more generous - but is it really?
