Suggestions to reduce pensioner benefits to pay for care should be approached with caution says Saga
Sir Andrew Dilnot's calls for the new government to put social care at the top of the agenda will be welcomed by people of all ages who have seen the very real impact that our ailing social care system is having on the live of some of the most vulnerable in our society.
However, the suggestion that this could be done at the expense of pensioner benefits might prove to be incredibly unpopular with older voters unless there were some commitment to ring-fence the funds for social care.
Saga's latest Populus survey of almost 10,000 people said that these benefits were of huge importance to older people, with widespread opposition to giving them up or paying tax on the value of the benefits. In fact half of over 50s were opposed to giving up or paying tax on their winter fuel allowance (50%), their free bus pass (52%) or the free TV Licence (28%); and three quarters (74%) wanted to maintain free prescriptions. However, they were significantly more likely to consider a reduction or change in benefits when asked if they would do so if the money saved went directly towards providing better care for the elderly.
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Would be willing to give up, or pay for tax on the value of the following benefits?
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Would be willing to give up, or pay tax on the value of benefits if the money was going towards providing better care for the elderly?
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Winter Fuel Allowance
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28%
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40%
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TV licence
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28%
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42%
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Prescriptions
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13%
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22%
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Eye tests
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16%
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30%
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Bus pass
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28%
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42%
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Lisa Harris, head of communication for Saga commented "Those in receipt of their state pension have paid their contribution towards the gradually improved benefits and pension levels of the elderly generations preceding them. A true inter-generational contract would acknowledge this, and ensure that they and the generations following them, should be entitled to at least the level of benefit that they were funding during their working lives.
“Any tinkering with these benefits should be approached with caution, after all, what lesson does it teach those young and in work if they see the State taking away benefits for those about to reach this age when they have spent their working lives sustaining those very benefits?"
