No Better Off

[Arthur Little]

Yesterday, I received notification of an increase in the *State Pension.

So why the rant?

Well ... in theory, the amount I receive from *this weekly source (i) is non-taxable!

But ... my monthly Occupational Pension (ii) - for which mandatory superannuable payments had been deducted from my salary throughout most of my working life - has taken a severe dent ... ever since I reached the age of 65.

And ... although the gross annual amount appertaining to (ii) rose by five percent in the Financial Year 2009/10, the net figure fell significantly - from what it had been at the end of the 2008/9 period - due to the fact that w.ef. September 19, 2009, the tax that theoretically couldn't be applied to (i) was "transferred" [heavily!] onto (ii) ... if you get my drift. And, to crown it all, the corresponding fall in the Retail Price Index - resulting from the Gobal Recession - put paid to ANY increase in Local Government Pensions during 2010/11!

So ... in PRACTICAL TERMS, I AM definitely ...

... NO BETTER OFF!

[imagine]

RIP OFF BRITAIN , those that work hard all their lives get nothing , where as a professional bennefit claiment gets it all

[Arthur Little]

RIP OFF BRITAIN , those that work hard all their lives get nothing , where as a professional bennefit claiment gets it all

True, Stewart ... very true! !

[Arthur Little]

Yesterday, I received notification of an increase in the *State Pension.

So why the rant?

Beats me how petrol costs - and price rises for other essential commodities - are invariably implemented within hours of the Chancellor's announcement on Budget Day(s) ... whereas the average person inevitably has to wait several months for his or her revised pension allowance, tax rebate or child benefit increase - that [purports] to improve living standards - to become operative. Grrr!

[Arthur Little]

Beats me ...

... well, NO ... it shouldn't! Not if I really think about it logically ... which I'm better able to do after having my main meal of the day. After all, there's more than a grain of truth in the old saying: "A hungry man's an man!"

Now where was I? Yes ... realistically, I suppose, the Government per se doesn't have any money as such; not in terms of hard cash at any rate (as my Physicist son-in-law is fond of reminding me!) and depends a great deal on what's raised in taxes. But having said that, the revenue accrued by direct or indirect taxation ought to be disbursed through the proper channels ... instead of spending cuts being used to fund the lifestyles of the sort of people Dedworth rightly complains about.