OT What's the point of working ?

[Andy Cap]

My neighbour, a guy just over 65, lives in his private house, along with his son who works, his son's partner and their two young lads.

I noticed they were having their boiler replaced and then met him in the street. Apparently, a Council representative knocked on the door, explaining there were grants for CH and did he have any problems.

Well, the boiler had been playing up off and on and he explained this and that he had spent a few hundred, attempting to get it sorted. It was then arranged for a contractor to examine the boiler, who reported there was no point spending any more money on it.

The Council then said they would consider him for a grant, but because it took so long to approve, he took himself off to the Council Offices, explaining there were two young boys in the house and they had no heating or hot water. On his arrival back home, he had a call to say the job had been approved and it is presently being replaced free-of-charge.

He has recently built a small brick-built office in the garden. A fully insulated, double skinned cabin and turned his garden into a mini version of Hampton Court, so clearly he's not short of a bob or two !

Why should other people's tax be used to subsidise such work ? I just don't understand why this is thought to be OK. Meanwhile the infra-structure, roads, pavements, verges, signage, looks like something from a undeveloped third world country.

What's the point of working and paying taxes for these communal facilities, if it's spent on individuals, who can't sort their priorities out ?

Andy C

[Appelation Controlee]

-------------------8><

Sounds like his priorities are just fine as they are. Your ire should be directed at the appropriate government minister, for poorly framing whatever legislation, etc., etc... Not his fault he is part of the eligible group but, as he is, he would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Funnily enough there was an item on last night's The One Show about this scheme, and it's shot through with corruption on the supply side - allegedly.

[Andy Cap]

It wasn't meant to be directed solely at him - I actually like the guy and we get on well - more the principle.

[TheScullster]

"Appelation Controlee" wrote

It all boils down to whether you feel this stuff should be means tested. This guy could well have been a high tax payer all his life and contributed far more than some of the "apparently" more deserving cases. Should he be penalised for this?

[Appelation Controlee]

Yeah, I know. :-) I don't need a bus pass, but I'm 63 so I'm eligible, and I've therefore got one. On the half-dozen-or-so times I use it each year, I really enjoy the journeys. The bus services in this area are pretty good - reasonable frequency, and decent, clean vehicles.

[PeterC]

Agreed. 'work' is a 4-letter word, TAAAW (so are 'iron' and 'dust' (as verbs)).

[clumsy bastard]

yes, the minute you means test, the benefits only go to those who never accumulated any wealth, whom you may or may not approve of, or those who hide their wealth and still claim. As to the point of working, look at the lifestyles of 95% of those who never do.

[chudford]

Don't knock it we oldies need the =A3250 heating allowance and =A360 Christmas bonus to pay for our drinks while we sun ourselves in the Canaries.

[Andy Cap]

One issue could apply to me.

I'm keeping a very old boiler going and I'm approaching 65. According to all the blurb, it should probably been replaced 10 years ago, but now, why would anyone bother, if at 65, the Council are going to do it for free ?

[Adrian C]

But out of the main cities, blooming expensive fares and long tiresome routes, crazy bus drivers and screaming school kids :-(

However in London, I think the bus/tube pass scheme is perhaps a bit too generous. It's pretty much covers the whole of London!

If I were a council treasurer minded to fiddle with policy, bus passes could be handed out at discount (or still free to the elegible) to _all_ people who *don't* run cars. The pass would not be free / discounted for _anyone_ if there was a car in ownership not shared with other people, or kept for accessibility reasons.

Now would that measure cause a rise in bus use, more transport revenue income _or_ an increase in car use _or_ the person responsible lynched for introducing this?

[The Medway Handyman]

Wot the kinell does TAAAW stand for. I googled last time you sued it & found nowt.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Ou local council has reeived £753,000 to turn a gyspsy site - originally ONLY approved for ONE family with 'sepcial needs' into a drop in center for half of east anglias diddy population.

Once its complete they will give it all back to the family.

[Bob Minchin]

Obviously did not google deep enough

Too, Also, And As Well

[dennis]

It is means tested.

[David Klyne]

Surely to qualify for this sort of help he needs to be on Pension Credit, if that is the case his income is pretty low, ie only the basic State Pension.

David - Milton Keynes

[Rob]

Indeed - and non-dependents living there would be covered as part of the assessment.

[dennis]

With the warmfront scheme certain benefits qualify. Those benefits do not depend on the income of the claimant e.g. attendance allowance.

[The Medway Handyman]

Wasn't on the first three pages - therefore it doesn't exist :-)

Ta.

[The Medway Handyman]

Then again he has probably shelled out fortunes in Tax, NI & Vat during his life & F*ing well deserves to get a bit back.

[OG]

It (or a variant) worked in Sheffield when Blunkett was in charge; any fare on a bus was 5p, and lots of people found they could get by without a car, which suited a city made of narrow streets of terraced houses.

Of course the 80's Tory government decided that the answer was 'deregulation of the bus services' so that council subsidies were (largely) banned & operators brought in, who found they could cut services and increase fares; resulting in families realising that they now needed 2 cars so Mum & Dad could get to work; so now paying 2x depreciation, insurance, tax and fuel and no bloody space to park on the street outside.

Don't forget that Tory governments are not so much /your/ friend, as the friends of the buggers with the expense accounts who run things /on behalf/ of pension fund shareholders.