60 year old pensioners?

Since when are people pensioners at 60?

There is a news story on now about winter fuel payments for pensioners - 60+.

Most people at 60 still work i.e. they have an income.

My parent's and in-laws have just turned 60 - they are as active and mobile as ever, better off that they have ever been in their life, and they are all chuckling about the stuff they are starting to get for free - bus passes, etc.
It would cost me more than £10 to take the family into town and back on the bus - yet my parents, who go hiking, go to the gym, have a car each, travel abroad about 4 times a year, now get their bus travel subsidised by paying punters!

I think it's great that vulnerable old people get help - but 60 isn't old anymore!

Anyone think they free bus travel will exist when they are 60?
I can't see it still being in place when I am - but although people talk about raising the retirement age, no one mentions this?

I think this generation of 55-70 year olds has it the best ever. My grandparents had things much tougher, and I'm sure it'll be tougher when I'm retirement age.

Yes it will be very tough for our generation. The only ones who have it easy are the public sector workers.

I believe women can claim state pension at 60, hence they are pensioners, but totally agree with the above.

My dad's 67 and just found work on a building site which he loves.....He still gets the "pensioner perks",but i don't begrudge him that.

 He's worked all his life and paid his N.I contributions so he's entitled to something back.

 There are young people who have never worked a day in their lives and treat pumping out kids/claiming benefits like a career option......They anger me more.

Women reach a state pensionable age from 60, men from 65. The reason being is that traditionally, men married women 5 years younger, therefore they could retire at the same time.

As this is no longer the case, the retirement ages are being equalised, though I cannot remember by what date/marker.

The term pensioner does usually refer to when the state pension can be drawn, but really is a catch all phrase for 'retired people', or people of a senior age.

You can acutally retire and claim a personal pension from 55. Some schemes may go earlier, schemes for top end sports stars who have a limited window for investment and working will have increased allowances and possibly the ability to draw earlier.

I will become a pensioner at 70.
I'm working til then.
60's not very old. People are still training/competing/on steroids at that aqge.

Rocky

He's worked all his life and paid his N.I contributions so he's entitled to something back.

There are young people who have never worked a day in their lives and treat pumping out kids/claiming benefits like a career option......They anger me more.

This is pretty much exactly what I was going to say mate.

rightyho


I will become a pensioner at 70.
I'm working til then.
60's not very old. People are still training/competing/on steroids at that aqge.

That's the thing.
60 is not old anymore.
Sooner or later, there will be more people over 60 than under 60, and retirement age, etc. will have to change.
Those who it affects first will rightfully feel hard done to.

I just wonder what the rationale behind free bus fare is?
Heating allowance I can understand - well for those who need it.

Retirement age has already been raised,in 20yrs state pensions will be a thing of the past

Varg

rightyho


I will become a pensioner at 70.
I'm working til then.
60's not very old. People are still training/competing/on steroids at that aqge.

That's the thing.
60 is not old anymore.
Sooner or later, there will be more people over 60 than under 60, and retirement age, etc. will have to change.
Those who it affects first will rightfully feel hard done to.

I was born in 69 and the sliding scale that's been introduced means I retire at 67 years and 9 months of age.
Anyone born after 1970 will have to work until at least this age to qualify for a state pension.
I'd rather it to be honest - fcuk waiting around to die aged 65 and a day....
Being nearly 41 now, I still act, think and look like someone aged 30-32.
I am fighting getting old (only my hair is losing).

isnt there a ctriteria "pensioners" have to meet to have there fuel bill paid? i.e if they have a secondary income they  dont qualiy.
 
I thought it was only pensioners that struggled with money that had there heating bills paid?

I'm 61. I'm not a pensioner. I do train. I don't consider myself to be old. I have never claimed a bus pass. I do however have a winter fuel allowance. You do have to claim the allowance(you get a letter asking you to claim). You don't get your fuel bills paid.
I have contributed more to the state than most including 40 years of low NHS pay compared to similar private jobs so I am happy to take the allowance.

The MP's and fatcats take ,take,take im happy to see those that have paid in get a little slice back,IMHO OAP's should get a free basic food allowance

I would like to see people who need it get support.
But most of the 55-70 years olds I know are very comfortably off.

I think if you have paid in you should be entitled to something in return, but if it wasn't being given to people who didn't really need it, you might not have to pay in in the first place!