Smile of the day - What is yours?

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

By way of a qualifying statement, I have to say also, that I would really rather not be in this position of having to claim stuff like housing benefit/council tax assistance, but I am at a loss to know how else to deal with the situation in which I find myself.

Dont feel you need qualify anything. You have paid into the system and now its time for the system to pay back. I'm happy for the country's wealth to help people who need it.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

By way of a qualifying statement, I have to say also, that I would really rather not be in this position of having to claim stuff like housing benefit/council tax assistance, but I am at a loss to know how else to deal with the situation in which I find myself.

To me, this is the whole point of people banding together to form a society. If we are not going to provide help for those who need it, what's the point?

[garynortheast]

That's appreciated Mike. We have had so much of the "benefit scrounger/skiver - striver/people living lives of luxury on benefits" message fed to us by successive Westmonster governments for the last 40 odd years, that I now feel permanently guilty and undignified about being in this position.

[garynortheast]

Originally Posted by Seeker

To me, this is the whole point of people banding together to form a society. If we are not going to provide help for those who need it, what's the point?

This would seem obvious to many of us Seeker, but it's an idea which was ditched by Thatcher and her cronies in the 80s.

[admin]

Originally Posted by garynortheast

That's appreciated Mike. We have had so much of the "benefit scrounger/skiver - striver/people living lives of luxury on benefits" message fed to us by successive Westmonster governments for the last 40 odd years, that I now feel permanently guilty and undignified about being in this position.

That's our wonderful press for you. Funny how they never mention how much money is lost on tax avoidance by those that already have plenty.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

[redtrummy]

Originally Posted by admin

That's our wonderful press for you. Funny how they never mention how much money is lost on tax avoidance by those that already have plenty.

Sent from my SM-T510 using Tapatalk

And about to get even more.

[Seeker]

RAF Luton

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05...itter-account/

[garynortheast]

Originally Posted by Seeker

RAF Luton

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05...itter-account/

Very good.

[garynortheast]

This is now starting to amuse me just by the sheer ridiculousness of the situation.
This from last Friday.

Originally Posted by garynortheast

Just had a letter today from the DWP telling me they "have located a private pension that I may have some entitlement from" (sic). It's apparently with.......Powys County Council!

I do recall doing some work for them in a couple of different guises in the 90s so I can only imagine it's from that. I'll phone them on Monday and see what it's about.

So I phoned the PCC Pensions section today and spoke to a very pleasant chap who had a look for me. Apparently, because I worked for the council for fewer than 11 months I have what is called a "frozen refund" of the contributions I paid back in 1993. The amount is about £500 - plus 30 years of interest!!
The chap there is going to run the calculation through the system, while earnestly praying that it works and he doesn't have to do a manual calculation (I'm with him on that!), and then he'll send me the amount I'm due and the refund application form.

Hopefully this will be enough to cover the tax bill I have had from HMRC for my final year of self - employment.

In one hand and out of the other........

[Sir Trev]

Originally Posted by Seeker

RAF Luton

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2022/08/05...itter-account/

Absolutely hillarious. Loved number 4

Photo of the Day: A team of Super Army Soldiers aka The SAS take out Wolf and Rhino on The Travelator for a special charity edition of hit TV show Gladiators! #Awooga

Lady Poppy loved that show and even dragged me to Wembley Arena to watch their tour (we were the oldest people there without kids in tow!) so I may just show her that one.