Universal benefits are daft - how can it do any good to give well off pensioners more money they do not require?

Those who are well off and receive these universal benefts, they usually or probably donate it to charity, at least that's what they are saying.

We are living in cloud cuckoo land if we think we can go on supporting the welfare system make life easier for older people, but only in the UK.

Look everywhere else in the world, people look after their own, because the state does not provide this comfort.

I believe our taxes should be reduced, national insurance should be abolished, & people should make their own arrangements for their old age - take a look at what it is costing us to keep people alive at any cost - this may sound cruel, but how on earth are we supposed to keep people in comfort from the cradle to the grave, when many of them no longer contribute to the system - not only the work shy but how about the millionaires who can and do keep their money in tax havens, paying little or no contribution to the UK!

I believe that keeping people alive at all costs is what has got us where we are - it is costing millions to treat dementia, alzhemer's and other chronic debilitating diseases - the medical profession should come clean over what they have become responsible for - keeping people alive on costly medication & other technology, only for the survivors to end up in care homes, most of which are mainly private - not accountable to anyone, where care is if not sub standard, then criminal in the cases we have had reports on. CQC are not fit for purpose, because then do regulate but private companies only have to change their names & continue trading, provided they have the paperwork to prove that they are tackling the problems.

We have an overburdened public sector, trying to play god, & not succeeding very well. Let people take care of their own & it is quite possible, they will be less reliant on others sorting out problems created by those with vested interests.

I have told my son repeatedly, please do not take me to hospital, if possible. Trusting clinicians to do the right thing everytime is unrealistic - these are just ordinary folk like you and me, with a little more experience in cutting up people (surgeons anyway) & sewing them up again - mistakes are made time and again, inspite of the bureacracy created to prove the right paperwork is in place, but the systems are the same old.

The backbone of the NHS and most emergencies are handled by junior staff, sometimes without the experience, training or supervision necessary to undertake procedures with consultants off site, with on call protocols that frequently let very ill patients down.

We are at risk of trusting officialdom inspite of being let down time and again - no man is an island, but making sure you have a supportive family is half the battle. The state should not be providing everything from nappies to incontinent pads to its population - there are some things which the family should take care off!

Surely the State pension is taxed?! That levels the playing field somewhat, without going into the ethics of penalising people who have been thrifty.
Regarding the ' freebies' of winter fuel allowance , bus passes and TV licence ,I agree the fuel allowanceand free licences should be stopped, but bus passes give pensioners the freedom to go out and about without worrying about the cost, and must be a healthy option, Alsos i guess very rich pensioners never use a bus!

One answer would br to make them taxeable - but that would cost too much.

It is wrong to tell those who contribute more to the state during their working life in tax and NI that they will be helped less in their retirement. Where is the incentive ?
To scrap NI and tell people to provide for themselves is to perpetuate poverty for the less fortunate into old age: bring back the soup kitchens and workhouses ? Let the problem of poverty resolve itself ? Our society has progressed beyond that approach thankfully.
The current system is open to abuse through fraud, but it is fair. To improve the situation for pensioners and workers, benefit fraud needs to be stamped out, not by more bureaucracy but by harsher penalties including total asset confiscation and imprisonment, not just for culprits but for their families also as they benefit from the crime. This should be extended to tax evasion by small businesses and individuals.
Let the criminals suffer and starve, not the elderly.

Waste of time and money trying to means test the "universal benefits" easiest and best way is just to tax them. Then the poor who pay little/no tax anyway will not be deprived and those with more income receive less.
Agreed that benefit fraudsters should be routed out and stopped.