Reply to: Germany’s trade surplus is a threat to global stability, and must be fixed

[SueEllen]

Can I come talk to you?

I don't count as I'm not an OAP.

And no you can't come and talk to me - that's just creepy...

[PurpleGorilla]

You need to get out more and talk to OAPs.

Can I come talk to you?

[PurpleGorilla]

Even if you're an elderly spinster living on a state pension who just happens to have no mortgage and is struggling to get by...

That old chestnut [emoji23]

[SueEllen]

Lol. All I'm saying is if you live in a massive house then you clearly are wealthy enough not to need heating allowance..

You need to get out more and talk to OAPs.

[AtW]

Fairness in society should be in the first place to those who help keep it - taxpayers.

[AtW]

Lol. All I'm saying is if you live in a massive house then you clearly are wealthy enough not to need heating allowance..

Their wealth is none of your business, as long as they paid all taxes it's totally irrelevant issue - the entitlement to any benefits should maybe depend on taxes paid, but not on what current wealth the person got, again, as long as taxes were paid.

[shaunbhoy]

Lol. All I'm saying is if you live in a massive house then you clearly are wealthy enough not to need heating allowance..

Not always true, there are plenty of people living in massive houses that are barely making ends meet.

Just saying.

[darmstadt]

Lol. All I'm saying is if you live in a massive house then you clearly are wealthy enough not to need heating allowance..

Even if you're an elderly spinster living on a state pension who just happens to have no mortgage and is struggling to get by...

[PurpleGorilla]

Your envy will consume you

Lol. All I'm saying is if you live in a massive house then you clearly are wealthy enough not to need heating allowance..

[AtW]

Tie it to council tax band then. If you are in a high band - you are rich. So no winter fuelZ

Your envy will consume you

[PurpleGorilla]

Germany’s trade surplus is a threat to global stability, and must be fixed

Means testing is totally wrong - it costs money and most importantly cuts off those who pay tax to support the system in the first place.

Tie it to council tax band then. If you are in a high band - you are rich. So no winter fuelZ

[AtW]

I'm all for taking away all soft benefits and means testing the rest.
Why a boomer in a 6 bed detached on 3 acres needs heating allowance is beyond me!

Means testing is totally wrong - it costs money and most importantly cuts off those who pay tax to support the system in the first place.

[Platypus]

I'm all for taking away all soft benefits and means testing the rest.

Why a boomer in a 6 bed detached on 3 acres needs heating allowance is beyond me!

Often, means testing is more expensive than just giving the money away to everyone, no questions asked.

[scooterscot]

When you consider that chart above, it's not just that Brits have suffered a -10% wage growth but they now find themselves with a difference of 25% wage growth compared to some of their EU counterparts. 25%

I'm not sure what the UK's game plan is but I hope it works out for them!

[PurpleGorilla]

All spending should have been reduced pro-rate by 10% over 5-10 year period, that would have given nice budget proficit.

I'm all for taking away all soft benefits and means testing the rest.

Why a boomer in a 6 bed detached on 3 acres needs heating allowance is beyond me!