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I admit I am naive but...

  • RachelPotter
  • Topic Author
13 years 5 months ago #32281 by RachelPotter
I admit I am naive but... was created by RachelPotter
I admit I am naive and am asking lots of questions but I want to educate myself. Thankyou for your understanding!

Please can someone explain why being means tested is humiliating?

Best wishes,
Rachel

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  • glen
13 years 5 months ago #32289 by glen
Replied by glen on topic Re:I admit I am naive but...
Personally i think it mainly applies to older people,the take up for child benefit is near on 100%,but a lot of pensioners don,t take up their rightfull entitlement,maybe this boils down to the "stand on your own two feet" way of thinking,which a lot of older people still have in their minds,probally due to their childhood,when they would hear stories of the shame of people recieving money off the parish or charity,and that was obviously a demeaning way to survive,so their thinking might be that apart from their pension,anything else is not really necessary,therefore claiming any extra,even though they are entitled to it,"would not be right"

Saying all that,i,m probally totally wrong :S

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13 years 5 months ago #32293 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:I admit I am naive but...
Hi Rachel

Please can someone explain why being means tested is humiliating?

I'm not sure why people would find it humiliating but it is certainly frustrating.

It is a catch-22, many people will have saved for their retirement, they are now faced with a situation that if they have savings of more than £15,000 and/or a weekly income of more than £90/week, then you are not eligble for means tested benefits.

So do they "burn off" the savings or forgoe the benefits, either way they lose.

I can certainly relate as I had investments that were intended to cover a 30K shortfall on an endowment mortgage with just two years to go, now I am having to look at selling my home in a depressed market, in an attempt to downsize.

Stephen

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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  • Ranald
13 years 5 months ago #32294 by Ranald
Replied by Ranald on topic Re:I admit I am naive but...
At what point would you allow people to claim state benefit? How would that look if someone with 100 grand in savings was able to claim ESA indefinitely? You are allowed to have 6k in savings and they deduct £1 of benefit off for every £250 over the 6k up to 16k where you would get nothing above that figure.

I was in a similar position after my divorce and subsequent sale of the Marital Home. It is just the way it is, you can't make a claim until the pot is below 16k.

I was less than happy about it at the time but i am afraid we won't get much public sympathy asking for state benefits with many thousands in the bank.

Ranald

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13 years 5 months ago #32298 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:I admit I am naive but...
Ranald

Wasn't sure if you coming back to me or Rachel.

They may be the rules, but that does nothing assuage the feelings of failure and fear for the future that have resulted from my becoming ill (again). I have gone from a feeling of control to one of no control and more importantly no hope of ever regaining control.

And whilst it does not effect me I have real concerns over the earnings cap. You could have a couple, one on IB the other earning minimum wage, who's income could be effectively halved as a result of the cuts coming into effect.

Doesn't sound fair, and doesn't sound like we're all in it together.

And as bad as I might think my situation is, I doubt I'll have any problem finding someone who is worse.

Stephen

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13 years 5 months ago #32305 by sfros46
Replied by sfros46 on topic Re:I admit I am naive but...
It's just occurred to me if I get put onto JSA my savings would count against me receiving any benefit money, if I took a part time job I could end up working for nothing.

What a nightmare scenario that would be.

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