Free prescriptions in UK could be reduced

[piglette]

There is a proposal to change the rules on who gets free prescriptions in UK.

mirror.co.uk/features/topic...

[Bcol]

I took part in the original consultation, and was very against. I feel that many younger people will not be able to afford their medication, particularly at the moment, and that in the end it would cost the NHS far more in increased hospital admissions and illnesses that became far more expensive to treat because they were not treated earlier. A retrograde step in a service that will end up costing far more than it saves on top of the distress it will cause individuals and families who have to make choice between eating or medication.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

No real surprise I guess....just wondered why it's taken them so long after they changed state pension/retirement date.

[Seacat30 in reply to DorsetLady]

Me too. I am still too young but couldn't see the over 60 eligability lasting. I am one of the people who don't get their state pension until age 67.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I think the system here for free stuff is better - depends on household income based on your tax return.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

That makes a lot more sense… but you know our system -absolutely useless.

Reading something this morning about another pensions c@&k up.—affecting mainly women (of course) … linked, not sure if you can access - guess who’s likely to be one of those affected 😳-

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61829661

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I cannot see many people doing tax returns here!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

It is a legal requirement I thought?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

No…not in all circumstances. Had to do one when OH died but not since -no unusual income or outgoings. I’m too boring!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

But HMRC know what your pensions are and take deductions. It is your legal duty to declare other stuff ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

…as I said -too boring, no second home, no offshore accounts - nuffink!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Supposed to tell them about interest on bank accounts and stuff. But my point is - HMRC does know what your pension income is.

I got a notification a few weeks ago about my survivor's benefit from OH's NHS pension. If only it were correct: they have added the tax to the gross figure to give the net amount at nearly £600 per month more than the gross ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

What interest? 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

It isn't a lot!!! About £10 ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Wow..lucky you😂🤣

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

My MIL went on about living on your interest!!!!! Mind you - it was 15% at the time ,,,

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Far from that nowadays…:.😞

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I'll never forget a bank manager asking OH how he felt about mortgage repayments that were about the same as his salary!! That was at the peak - 1990-ish???? They fell steadily thank goodness!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Just gone up to 1.25% here and that is high! My mortgage was never below 8.5% and went up to 15% at one point.

[LBM1953 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi. Yes you are correct. The individual is solely responsible for paying the correct amount if tax in the UK. However, banks, building societies and the like declare any interest they pay you to HMRC and HMRC will inform you of any tax you owe them. You are now allowed to earn £1000 interest tax free and your interest is now paid gross to you so you are liable for any tax above on interest above £1000. I was self employed for the last 10 years of working life so obliged to do a tax return. However now I only have pensions and investment income I no longer have to do one and the tax man tells me every year if I owe him any tax. The vast majority of UK people do not do one.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to LBM1953]

Yes - we had freelance income for years. This year is a pain because of OH dying last Ocober and we had property that is let.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

HMRC have got it set up so it is not necessary for a lot of people to do a tax return, they offer zero tax on interest up to £1000 and a lot of info is linked to HMRC including PAYE for example. Around ten million fill in tax returns and the rest do not.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Mine is still complicated with 2 countries ...

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I spend my time filling in stuff on-line and not being able to get in initially. Everything that should takes five minutes takes all afternoon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Up to the accountants - but the performance to get it to them is pretty foul! I've never done it before - it is terrifying!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I used to use an accountant and at one point he said I owed a fortune to HMRC. I sussed out he was WRONG! So I have done all my own stuff ever since. I did do a degree in Economics and Accounting on the other hand which does help.

[HamishPMR in reply to PMRpro]

I made a wild guess at where Dorset Lady lives. May I ask where you abide? Hamish, Edinburgh

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HamishPMR]

Moi? Northern Italy, the autonomous region of South Tirol/AltoAdige Very like living in Scotland in lots of ways - but the weather and wine are better

[HamishPMR in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that and especial thanks for all the work that you for all of us.

[jinasc]

Why am I not .................😨 😱 😵 😲 😦 😧 😮 😕 😯

Scotland will have a population rise...............

[Rowergirl]

Prescriptions are free for everyone in Scotland.

[piglette in reply to Rowergirl]

And Wales.

[Poshdog]

No more 'women' either, only 'people who menstruate'. What does that make me?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Poshdog]

Probably didn't think of that did they!!!!!!

[Slowdown in reply to Poshdog]

Forgotten👻 As usual

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

Well we know we don't really count ...

[Slowdown in reply to PMRpro]

Neither productive nor reproductive so obviously just a drain on the economy

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

And even have the cheek to take our pensions ...

[Slowdown in reply to PMRpro]

Don't get me started on that!🙄

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Oh dear - I was old before my time then! Being like that most of my life!!!!

[piglette in reply to Poshdog]

What about “elite”?

[Poshdog in reply to piglette]

Beats old, senior or veteran - good one!

[whitefishbay]

Life just gets more expensive in the UK. If you take Levothyroxine you get free prescriptions. I remember not being able to always afford getting all my prescriptions when I had two children in nursery (£££).