Pensions, Blair's poll tax.
Discussion
Interesting article in the Times today here
In essence pointing out that Brown has screwed private pensions, he is now out to sort out civil service, yet politicians very nicely looked after thank you. Not to mention caving in to the judiciary at the merest wave of a wig.
So this house proposes that the Pensions issue will turn out to be Tony Blair's poll tax, and serve him bloddy right in my opinion.
Discuss.
In essence pointing out that Brown has screwed private pensions, he is now out to sort out civil service, yet politicians very nicely looked after thank you. Not to mention caving in to the judiciary at the merest wave of a wig.
So this house proposes that the Pensions issue will turn out to be Tony Blair's poll tax, and serve him bloddy right in my opinion.
Discuss.
As I have been unemployed recently, or should that be "Jobseeker", I have not been bothered to collect my due benefit. (It might have helped if I was a left handed lesbian trombonist, or an asylum seeker, but an out of work well qualified decent Brit, doesn't get the same treatment. I'm not going to be 
ed around and treated like a by their joke of a service, even if I have to go without.
So anyway, whilst I have been looking for jobs (surfing, walking, generally enjoying a good period of my life), I have been "Shuffling" my stuff collection to make money. It works.
So, a letter arrives on my doorstep "According to us, you have not paid enough money to us, (inland revenue)we are worried that your pension may suffer.
I was worried and then I thought " it". As if there is going to be anything left by the time I retire. I'm sure I will be able to make more than enough money. Otherwise, I shall just declare myself a freak and get priority treatment.
ed around and treated like a by their joke of a service, even if I have to go without. So anyway, whilst I have been looking for jobs (surfing, walking, generally enjoying a good period of my life), I have been "Shuffling" my stuff collection to make money. It works.
So, a letter arrives on my doorstep "According to us, you have not paid enough money to us, (inland revenue)we are worried that your pension may suffer.
I was worried and then I thought "
it". As if there is going to be anything left by the time I retire. I'm sure I will be able to make more than enough money. Otherwise, I shall just declare myself a freak and get priority treatment.I can see why the government want to reduce the cost of civil service pensions (what about ther own? 
) because there has been for years widespread manipulation (abuse?) of the system (as if the pensions were not already generous enough).
The government wants to make the value of a civil service pension based on the person's average earnings over working life, instead of the last 2 years as it is at the moment.
Often, as is the case at the moment, a civil servant nearing retirement age, will somehow gain a sudden promotion, thus boosting their pension (because of the increase in earnings over the last 2 years' working life), thus loading the taxpayer with additional burden.
However, the lower ranking civil servants are not exactly paid much and a decent pension goes some way to addressing this.
) because there has been for years widespread manipulation (abuse?) of the system (as if the pensions were not already generous enough). The government wants to make the value of a civil service pension based on the person's average earnings over working life, instead of the last 2 years as it is at the moment.
Often, as is the case at the moment, a civil servant nearing retirement age, will somehow gain a sudden promotion, thus boosting their pension (because of the increase in earnings over the last 2 years' working life), thus loading the taxpayer with additional burden.
However, the lower ranking civil servants are not exactly paid much and a decent pension goes some way to addressing this.
Eric Mc said:
Have you properly signed on?
The Job Centre should be paying your NI for you while you "seek" work.
No, I filled in the forms, did the menial "Proof of looking for a decent job", had an interview where I was told "Sir, if you can'f find a job doing X,Y,Z, you will have to dig holes". After 4 weeks, I had still recieved no money. I went in and wasted more time, got spoken to like a child, made to feel like a piece of diseased filth. Decided that I wasn't prepared to be treated like an arse.
Let's face it, the public sector as a whole is a total shambles. My reason for signing on was that I had decided that teaching was a crock of shit and that I would try my hand in the public sector (civil service).
When I told this to my back to work interviewer chappie, he said "You are wasting your time applying for these jobs, they are only advertised to satisfy a legal requirement" He then suggested that I "Go and do something like digging holes".
All for Blairs stats. After 2 months of signing on, I recieved £50. I have since decided to go back to teaching.......I would love paying tax to be something which I had an option to do. Of course, if I had been a slutbag with 3 diseased kids and a smack addiction, they would have been throwing money at me. Makes me hop.
love machine said:
No, I filled in the forms, did the menial "Proof of looking for a decent job", had an interview where I was told "Sir, if you can'f find a job doing X,Y,Z, you will have to dig holes". After 4 weeks, I had still recieved no money. I went in and wasted more time, got spoken to like a child, made to feel like a piece of diseased filth. Decided that I wasn't prepared to be treated like an arse.
I was in the same situation. Left the Army after 15 years and was treated as if I was a piece of s
t.Whilst scum bag tossers who never worked their whole lives just walzed in, signed and went to pick up their cash without a single "have you been actively seeking work? Have you filled in your jobseeking diary with every little minute detail of exactly who you've written to, spoke to or even looked at?". Exploded in the job centre and told them to ram it up their aes.james_j said:
I can see why the government want to reduce the cost of civil service pensions (what about ther own?
The government wants to make the value of a civil service pension based on the person's average earnings over working life, instead of the last 2 years as it is at the moment.
Often, as is the case at the moment, a civil servant nearing retirement age, will somehow gain a sudden promotion, thus boosting their pension (because of the increase in earnings over the last 2 years' working life), thus loading the taxpayer with additional burden.
However, the lower ranking civil servants are not exactly paid much and a decent pension goes some way to addressing this.
You might care to note that, in the year to March 2004, the pension paid to the average new Civil Service pensioner was only £4,800 per year, that only 6% of Civil Service pensions were worth more than £20k per year and that the average civil Service salary is £17,770....a mere £8k (~30%) less than the national average salary. The current pension arrangements go some way to making up for the low pay, but I don't somehow see the average salaries being raised to compensate for the change in pension deal. However, if they aren't raised, I have a suspicion that the skilled professionals will leave in droves.
"Highly-paid officials such as the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor and the senior judiciary have recently been given juicy uplifts in their entitlements — on the ludicrous ground that otherwise they might take jobs elsewhere"
Especially like the "on the ludicrous ground that otherwise they might take jobs elsewhere" - who'd give Bliar a job - well I suppose with equal opportunities and all McDonalds might set the ct on a late night drive-thru. 
Especially like the "on the ludicrous ground that otherwise they might take jobs elsewhere" - who'd give Bliar a job - well I suppose with equal opportunities and all McDonalds might set the c
t on a late night drive-thru. wolf1 said:
No, I filled in the forms, did the menial "Proof of looking for a decent job", had an interview where I was told "Sir, if you can'f find a job doing X,Y,Z, you will have to dig holes". After 4 weeks, I had still recieved no money. I went in and wasted more time, got spoken to like a child, made to feel like a piece of diseased filth. Decided that I wasn't prepared to be treated like an arse.
I was in the same situation. Left the Army after 15 years and was treated as if I was a piece of s
Oh great.
Having been "laid off" yesterday I am now about to do undergo the above proceses.
It does not fill you with joy.
Mojo.
mojocvh said:
Having been "laid off" yesterday I am now about to do undergo the above proceses.
Bad luck.
Tell you what, though, if you've got to go down there, make the most of it... arm yourself to the hilt and go inflict some gunishment on the peasants fornicating in the beige-clad walls of our hallowed DSS on behalf of the rest of us.
love machine said:
As I have been unemployed recently, or should that be "Jobseeker", I have not been bothered to collect my due benefit. (It might have helped if I was a left handed lesbian trombonist, or an asylum seeker, but an out of work well qualified decent Brit, doesn't get the same treatment. I'm not going to be
I was talking to a guy last week. He is a lorry driver in his early 40's who suffered a stroke in August. As a result he has been banned from driving his lorry for 12 months. He has a young family to support and has no work.
The poor guy was almost in tears as he described the frustrations that he has suffered and the obvious feeling of being cast adrift by a system that, in his words, "looks after asylum seekers and foreigners but doesn't give a shit about a working Brit". I am sure that is a simplistic argument but it was difficult to argue against it (not that I tried, I could do no more than sympathise). We've gone badly wrong in this country, even if it is only in the perception that is given.
I would always claim benefit if I was out of work, and I have in the past. They make it difficult on purpose to deter people but seeing as I've been paying taxes since I was 16 I will damn well claim if I need to. Just dig your heels in and don't let them get away with trying to put you off.
Also it helps if you acty like you don't care about anything..
Just stare into your lap and mumble "hhmmm" "Yeah" "nah" in response to any questions. Do not offer ANY information, it just confuses them.
If they ask you to provide proof of job seeking, tell them you left the paperwork on the bus etc.
Most importantly, do not make an effort to look presentable..trainers , baggies and baseball caps work best and make you look like an expert in the field of benefit collection, they won't mess with you at all if you look like you fit in
I have been temping and contracting for so long I am now quite used to having to deal with these gits...
Just stare into your lap and mumble "hhmmm" "Yeah" "nah" in response to any questions. Do not offer ANY information, it just confuses them.
If they ask you to provide proof of job seeking, tell them you left the paperwork on the bus etc.
Most importantly, do not make an effort to look presentable..trainers , baggies and baseball caps work best and make you look like an expert in the field of benefit collection, they won't mess with you at all if you look like you fit in
I have been temping and contracting for so long I am now quite used to having to deal with these gits...
Wouldn't be so bad, except those that are already in a final salery scheme and have organised their finances accordingly, will be forced into the new average salery scheme in 2013 
I don't see them improving average saleries though
Oh yes and you have to work to 65 now to get a lower pension!
>> Edited by AJLintern on Tuesday 21st December 10:40
I don't see them improving average saleries though Oh yes and you have to work to 65 now to get a lower pension!
>> Edited by AJLintern on Tuesday 21st December 10:40
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