- Feb 13, 2024
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I read somewhere that pensioners will get a free tv license , not just the over 70,s. Any truth in this?
Tv license
- Thread starter borderbilly
- Start date
There's continuing requests for this but I doubt it'll happen - although the Scots may do.
Free TV licences are presently only available to those over 75 AND receiving pension credit - so only the least well off.
- Mar 17, 2020
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Can't say I have any argument about licences being "means tested". I'm all in favour of helping those in genuine need but can't say I feel the licence should be free for simply because they are of a certain age.
Bit like the winter fuel. I have always received it and, since I don't need it, have given to a charity. Why should the tax payer be asked to pay me, and countless others, money they simply do not need to be able to stay warm?
Unfortunately the "means testing" that's going to happen from now on will work by taking money to the value of the fuel amount through taxation. Not going to make any difference to the cash coming into our home and although to give away to a charity can certainly be still done it felt a "cleaner" transaction when simply transferring money from our account when the winter fuel arrived - sort of straight in and out.
- Feb 13, 2024
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Unfortunately, not everybody is in the same position as you.
Just spoke to an 80-year-old man down the town and he showed me a invoice for £240 from his dentist for 2 fillings. Hasn't had them done yet, but they want payment up front. He already pays them £22 a month just for the privilege to be robbed blind. What is this country coming to!
- Dec 27, 2022
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£22pcm covers my 2 checkups and hygienist visits.
Yesterday £131 for a filling, earlier this year £600 for root canal treatment. The crown fell off that one a month ago so it's another £670 or thereabouts later this month for a new crown. Oh and another crown earlier in the year £670.
At least I only have to pay on completion and I've needed no major work for 30 years before that so it averages out.
Yesterday £131 for a filling, earlier this year £600 for root canal treatment. The crown fell off that one a month ago so it's another £670 or thereabouts later this month for a new crown. Oh and another crown earlier in the year £670.
At least I only have to pay on completion and I've needed no major work for 30 years before that so it averages out.
- Nov 11, 2009
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Our dentist is £90 for an amalgam filling and £120 for a white filling. So the prices that you quoted are not far out. But prices do vary. One practice inSomerset is £199 for any filling!! For NHS treatment our grandson has to travel to Gloucester some 40 miles each way. I assume that the elderly chap has to pay privately at that price. Our national dental services via the NHS are the pitts, but it's not surprising when you see the NHS charges are so artificially low.
I take the opposite view - the freezing of personal allowances mean that every increase in state pension is taxed at 20% which devalues the "triple lock"- basic state pension is only about half the National Living Wage and large numbers of pensioners are above the Pension Credit level but still not very well off.
It is also nice in its way to realise that the government arms, other than in taxing you, actually are aware you exist. 
- Nov 11, 2009
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I thought that the basic state pension is about 1/3rd of the National Living Wage. Not all pensioners pay tax so the Triple Lock increases are not all taxed at basic rate. Triple Lock has stood pensioners quite well over the period of high inflation, better than workers wages. But it really needs to be looked at on grounds of national affordability, but which politicians would have the courage to ensure that resources go to those most in need and not just everybody.
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