DaveLister
-
Posts
585 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
47
Posts posted by DaveLister
-
-
I'm sorry, if that's addressed to me I don't understand the question.
-
1 hour ago, DraytonBoy said:
However, if you did it for him you'd have to do it for the whole population and that would cost the taxpayer a huge amount of money every year for very little gain.
Not if the default was no pension. As I said I would replace the 'state pension' with a workers contributory pension. That would leave you with essentially three groups of people, your friend who can afford to finance himself, those who are two ill to work or have family commitments for which the state would provide, and the workshy for which the state would also provide but you could argue they do that already with universal credit.
Looking at it from another perspective, why should those people with good jobs pay higher national insurance contributions when they don't get a better pension for it? Also, as far as I'm aware, you don't stop paying national insurance contributions once you've paid 35 years worth.
-
5 minutes ago, DraytonBoy said:
So where would you draw the line, on income only or income and assets?
I don't know, how are means tested benefits normally calculated?
I think the problem is, when the state pension was set up, a political decision was made to fund it independently by creating the national insurance fund. Pensions were paid for by the then employees who, in turn, expected future workers to pay for their pensions. Over the years public perception has shifted and now most people think they are paying in for their own future not paying for someone's present. People are living longer and the national insurance fund is going bust. Something need to be done.
In my opinion, national insurance should be scrapped. A properly set up employee/employer contribution scheme should be introduced and 'the state pension' should be a safety net paid for by general taxation.
As an aside, if you've not worked much in the UK it's worth checking whether or not you can pay voluntary contributions to get up to the ten year threshold. A UK pension ( even a tiny one ) gets you an S1 if you were here before Brexit.
-
17 minutes ago, DraytonBoy said:
Call me Mr Thickie, doesn't 35 years of NI contributions guarantee you a state pension?
I think its 35 years at the moment but it doesn't mean it won't change again. Like the rates themselves it's a movable feast.
-
8 minutes ago, DraytonBoy said:
It does seem unfair that someone who has paid NI contributions all their working life then has the state pension means tested and would the means testing be done purely on income or are assets also taken into account?
That's because there are still people that think their national insurance contributions are directly linked to their state pension. They are not, the money goes to pay the pensions of todays pensioners not saved for future pensions. IMHO it's time the government got rid of the whole NI scheme and integrated the state pension in with the rest of the benefits and made it means tested.
Regarding compulsory private pensions, what I said was, if you are going to force someone to pay in " from the very first day a person starts to work" you're going to need strong regulatory oversight. It would be cheaper just to set up a new government scheme. Perhaps like the old serps ?
Then those people who wanted to and could afford it could add additional private pensions/investments as required.
-
I agree with the principle that the state pension should be means tested. Why should the rich be subsidised in their retirement? As to a compulsory private pension, how is that different from the state pension apart from the fact that private pension providers have to please shareholders. There would have to be some government oversight otherwise it would be open to mismanagement.
-
1
-
-
Congratulations. I gave up on fully comp insurance years ago after driving our new car to the supermarket. On coming out of the shop I discovered that some bar steward had driven between the spaces rather than around them and ripped off the rear bumper, probably with a trailer. We duly put in a claim and our insurance said it was up to us to prove the damage wasn't self inflicted. If we didn't accept at least 50% of the blame they would blacklist us. Rather than moving insurance to another company that could be just as ruthless, we downgraded the insurance to the bare minimum plus windscreen. Nowadays I'm happy driving tatty cars with low premiums. Scrub that, I'm just happier driving tatty cars😁
-
Just google Mairie ( followed by the name of your commune ) and the address will come up. If your property is actually in Champagnac la Riviere as opposed to just near it you're in luck as the website for the Mairie includes a newsletter from the Mayor in English😀
-
Fingers crossed for your mum Lori. Post when you have the time ( fosses are a regular favourite 😉)
-
1
-
-
No real surprise and I suspect this is now the beginning of the end for the protestors. The turnout is smaller on each day of action and the media are becoming bored.
It'll end in a whimper.
-
Apparently the plan is to pump water up from underground into these basins at the start of winter with the expectation that rain will then fill the subterranean voids. Those against the mega basins believe the water is better off staying underground until needed since as much as 20% could be lost in evaporation in a year.
What ever the pros and cons the black block have jumped on the issue to make trouble.
-
First mortgage I ever had was a simple repayment with variable rate. Only problem was, we completed on Black Wednesday
-
2 hours ago, Ken said:
don't take things too seriously in life and certainly not a public forum!
Frankly I wasn't thinking of your sensibilities. I would have thought, as a matter of courtesy to other forum members, you would have done everything in your power to stop this 'pond life'. As you appear happy to allow this troll to post in your name I, for my part, will continue to abide by my new years resolution.
-
24 minutes ago, Lehaut said:
Colour me stupid then. The UK Government pension scheme has kept us in the life style we are used to in France for the past 27 years
To be fair the National Insurance fund was in a much better state in the mid 90's. Women were also able to retire at 60.
-
3 hours ago, Ken said:
was posted in my name by some scumbag who has somehow managed to use my name, not for the first time either.
that's a serious claim Ken.
I assume that you have changed your password
-
22 hours ago, alittlebitfrench said:
everyone in our middle class circles (you know what I mean)…hates the man
I think the responses on this forum have shown that the opinion in France nationally is more divided. As anotherbanana has said something has to be done to address the pension deficit and Macrons reforms were in his manifesto so people can't say they weren't warned.
-
I've been monitoring the comments section of the local paper. The vast majority are appalled by both the violence and the actions of the unions. Most point to other countries where the retirement age is even older and the benefits are less. No one is asking for Macrons head, quite the opposite.
-
The French always hate their Presidents. It's a national sport.
-
1
-
-
7 minutes ago, DraytonBoy said:
She's referring to the huge number of young Albanian men coming across in boats from France, they've been recruited by the drug gangs that have taken over the supply of hard drugs in the UK.
Thank you for providing context. I came late to the debate. I'll take a look at Hansard later. I just hope the right wing press are as measured in their reporting.
-
Suella Braverman has just stood up in the house of commons and said - DIRECT QUOTE
" Criminality and particular (sic) drug supply and usage is now connected to people who came here on small boats illegally in the first place"
So now the people who arrive in the UK on small boats are drug runners.
Sorry Gary, it seems as if you still have some work to do.
-
Goodness me ALBF. What has Gary Linekar ever done to you?
Did you once nearly choke on a Walkers crisp or something.
-
3
-
-
Looks like the BBC has backed down.
Statement from Gary Linekar.
After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming. I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.
A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you. We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.
Can't argue with that can you ALBF
-
I don't know about you but I don't fancy having to spend three months living in a Premier Inn😱
-
8 minutes ago, alittlebitfrench said:
But there is language and there are actions.
Words and deeds yes. So, if the language of the current government doesn't bother you why should the words of a former footballer?
Why are you getting so upset, it's just words.
10 minutes ago, alittlebitfrench said:The actions of the UK towards migrants is far more humane than that of the EU.
Personally I think very few countries can cover themselves in glory over this issue ( Germany's maybe an exception ).
Being an asylum seeker in the UK can be a miserable existence. Just ask those poor souls who have caught diphtheria in overcrowded centres or had their accommodation firebombed by angry mobs. Not to mention the hundreds of unaccompanied children the Home Office itself admits to losing.
Oh, and Sarkozy didn't have Sangate knocked down, it was returned to Eurotunnel from which it had been requisitioned. Sarkozy was only able to do this because the British government promised to sort out it's dysfunctional asylum processing of Kurdish refugees. Sound familiar?
Habitation tax, etc.
in Other Topics
Posted
According to the Annuaire Mairie website you're in luck. The commune of La Boissonnie comes under the Mairie of Champagnac la Riviere with it's english speaking Mayor.
http://www.champagnaclariviere.fr/