Th eonce respected Nuffield trust has becoem the latest think tank to join in the attack on old age pensioners. In a report they suggest cutting winter fuel allowance, bus passes and free TV licences to pay for social care for the elderly.
They seem to overlook the fact that the UK state pension is about the worst in Europe and these benefits are merely crumbs from the table from politicians seeking sound bite headlines. Give us a basic universal pension of £170 per week (the official poverty line) and maybe then we can discuss giving up benefits staring with the 20p per week over 80 age allowance.
They suggest as an alternative that retired people should pay National Insurance to fund care.
Well, maybe - if of course older people are excused taxes for education, for example, which goes solely to younger people.
