Free Bus Passes And Winter Fuel Allowance

A think tank group called Social Market Foundation has stated that OAP’s receiving free bus travel and winter fuel allowances, costs he government a total of £3 billion; £2 billion on fuel allowances and £1 billion on free bus passes.  Yet these costs do nothing for the economy.

I agree in a sense that these ‘benefits’ do not directly help the economy, but indirectly they do.  Plus I want these benefits when I reach the age of entitlement!

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I cannot wait to get my free bus pass.  Not that i want to get old, any quicker than I am, but I will use my pass to travel all around my area, and further if allowed.

But as usual, I digress....

Indirectly free bus passes allow seniors to go shopping, which is spending money which does help the economy.  I know it’s a stretch, but work with me here a bit.

As for the fuel allowance, many OAP’s are on fixed incomes and not receiving that much.  There is a strong correlation between the cold months and deaths of the elderly by hyperthermia and cold, and this extra bit of cash can be the difference between keeping the heat on or freezing.

There are in some instances, benefits provided to a group of people, in this case OAP’s, that is not going to directly benefit us all in some economic sense.

Should we stop free healthcare to the elderly just because they are no longer working and paying into the NIH?  I think not.

So while I can see where this ‘think tank’ group is coming from, they may want to go back to the tank to rethink their thoughts.