^^
You're right Shetlander, there are many who don't need it, there are many who will get it because they are already on benefits of some kind, but there are a lot of proud old folk who will not claim, and it is those people who we should be concerned about
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It's a bit like the free school meals debate which has gone on in some areas throughout the UK. Some people don't want to display their poverty by claiming free school meals, so some kids go without. Hence some authorities opted for the free meals for all strategy.
It's always going to be an almost impossible thing to get right, but IMHO saving a few hundred thousand, compared to the millions being thrown away on hellery, just isn't right.
I’m not disagreeing with you – but just because it’s being peed against the wall for one thing doesn’t make it okay to continue to be peed against the wall for something else. I'm sure we both agree on where cuts need to be made elsewhere but pensioners who are better off need to show some willingness to bear the brunt just the same as everybody else.
Some pensioners may indeed be too proud to claim benefits that they may be eligible for but it’s not up to the local public purse to compensate for that. I would hope that all previous recipients would be given sufficient information by those who administer the bonus on what alternative support they may be entitled to and where they can go for advice on how to get it.