Poverty | Pensioner poverty | Senior Citizen | Hard Times | Living in the 1970s |1970's
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- Опубліковано 24 лют 2016
- Could you live on Seven pounds a week - that was the average UK state pension in the 1970's. Although supplementary benefit was available, many pensioners felt too proud to ask for it. This Thames Television documentary 'Hard Times' highlights that. First broadcast in 1970
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Quote: VT 57226
These dear old ladies took Britain through the war, in their prime, and they probably lost their husbands too. Heart goes out to them. Now they are gone.
@@helencoven stop having kids then,why should YOUR spawn be anyone ELSES problem?
@@helencoven Dunno what that is, but we can all agree that you fall in the former category. The world does not have time. NEXT.
@@esrapk ok boomer
@@matthewellis8025 The world does not have time. Go find a hobby to feed your kids.
Mark Twain I want to go back and help her. Bless her soul.
They’ve always had “money for war but can’t feed the poor”
It's called capitalism. They get the working class to fight the capitalists wars so they can then live on a shit pension. Te working class are so deluded they believe Brexit will increase their living standards!
@@drmontague6475 No government that's ever been in power has been good enough. Everything they said they'll do they do the opposite and as for people who say 'VOTE FOR THIS VOTE FOR THAT' it's a load of lies just to put money in politicians pockets.
@@HardcoreAssassin41 Because they are Bourgeois governments. But if you are not happy you can start your own political party. It all come down to money
@@drmontague6475 Fuck starting a political party. You'd have to corrupt yourself to higher seats these days. Plus, even if you do want to change something all of parliament have to vote for it to happen. They'll probably deny everything that effects their pockets.
DrMontague grow up
Breaks my heart seeing this, the people in charge didn’t care and still don’t.
It´ll never change my dear friend!
That's devastating.God rest her soul.
@M ZAKRIA Are you gloating???
Go and do something about it then
Hopefully if you are a miserable old cow who puts nothing into society that same society will pay for whatever existence you deem as 'fair' because hypothetically emotional anchor.
"If I were a millionaire I would just . . . . ."
Shes wasnt living. She was existing.
Yet she still can smile
She puts us to shame these days
*+Taffy Mackem*
It's all relative and it's totally fucked up. Nothing has changed and if anything, those who lack any sense of empathy or care, have actually become less interested. We are such a weird animal.
Taffy Mackem Precisely!
She keeps herself from getting lonesome by doing chores. Probably worked herself to the bone to take care of her family. Every ounce of her being she gave to her family. Her family must be blind. Yeah, she's living but what an existence ...just waiting til her number is up.
Gives me something to look forward to😞
The question is, where were her kids and grandkids? If she had children and grandchildren then they should have been visiting her at least twice a week. Bringing her cooked meals, making sure she was warm, putting some groceries in her pantry. Taking her out once a fortnight or once a month to have a meal or to have lunch at their place. White Anglo-Saxon people are too self-centred, not very family oriented and they abandon their elders. The pension is not the problem here, lack of love and support is the problem.
Sad that her generation has gone. Sobering to watch. Amazing lady.
Generation made of sterner stuff. .warriors
Don't worry. Soon you'll see similar generation grew up with Tories government.
Can't imagine having a Mother living & not taking 30 seconds to see her sparse cupboard inventory, & not doing something to increase it!
😥
@@pavise31 Tories! is that a new party or the one that's been around for hundreds of years
@@pavise31 your name is so..... polish.
This lady showed old school decency at its best and it breaks my heart that people like her are still overlooked. I really hope that the TV company gave her something for her time.
A better life will come for her. In another life with a new beginning.
My granny was from this generation. She was still cleaning houses to supplement her pension, in her 70s. Gave birth to 8 children. 2 died as babies. 1 killed in WW2. Daughter in the Land Army, another son at Dunkirk. My Dad was a bricklayer who rebuilt Britain. Granny also worked full time as her husband had shell shock while eldest daughter looked after the youngest 2.
It's funny how she pointed out that if you don't ask, you don't get, which is so true, but then she refused to bother her family members, when she clearly needed them the most. So sad, but what a strong lady.
They probably were in the same boat in those days. Mind you not much has changed.
The difference is that in the first instance the state is the provider whereas in the second she is/was the provider (for her family). I don't imagine she much liked the thought of her kids seeing her figuratively with her hands out when she'd once provided for them.
God love her, at her age she should have warmth and comfort instead of worry and hardship, my heart goes out to her 😔
Some people cant afford to save because of their circumstances either social financial or personal reasons only she knows, I wonder does she have a story to tell that has left her in such destituion 🤔
@Prince Talleyrand you're a shitty person
@Prince Talleyrand don’t be silly she has she has spent all her life just “existing” how was she going to put money away!!!
@Prince Talleyrand I feel sorry for you, no compassion for an elderly lady struggling.
@Prince Talleyrand No solution for her is it tho?? What a nasty cold hearted thing you are.
Such dignity in this proud woman of which we will never see again.
The WW1 generation had a rough deal throughout their lives. WW1, the Depression and then WW2 - they had to put up with it all. Then they reached retirement age and many had to leave the labour force just as post-war prosperity was beginning. Society just seemed to forget about them when they got old - the word pensioner became synonymous with poverty despite all they had given to their country. I remember a handful of these hardy souls when I was growing up - one still working in his butcher's shop into his 80s - he'd gone to the trenches when he was 14. They never complained - that was their approach to life.
And given a pittance pension on top off it all like the old woman in the documentary
Huge respect to those Pensioners who were brave and never complained.
I know. So sad and unfair..
They were made of sterner stuff than today's generation
I LOVED your comment, Paul. You make an excellent point about these men reaching retirement just as society was beginning to recover and prosper, after the Second World War. I couldn't agree more! Only this morning I was reading about this generation of our world's people and their struggles just to stay alive. I believe they were known as 'The Lost Generation'. Initially I assumed this referred to the large number of people who died around that time, of the 'Spanish 'flu', and as a casualty of World War One., but as you quite rightly point out, most had it hard for the majority of their lives!
Every school age child in the UK should be shown this video to make them realise the sacrifices made by previous generations and how lucky they are today with what we have..
It is truly sickening how the elderly have been & still are being treated when they are the ones who have worked their fingers to the bone to keep the economy going & lined the pockets of those in positions of exploitation.
She deserved a little comfort at her age, sweet old thing, deserved looking after. I’d never see my own mother like that all alone, soldiering on
That’s absolutely disgusting that she’s forced to live on so little. A subsistence life is not living. Bless this lady! I hope she is at peace.
What a wonderful, humble lady. These ladies were the backbone of society at one time, now sadly forgotten. She is amazing - 100% respect. 👍🏼
That granny would have been adopted by me, this is heartbreaking to see her cold and poor, alone in that flat.
I hope she's in a better place now ❤️
There are still thousands like her out there. Go and help some of those who are still alive to benefit from your sympathy.
Shes long gone
She’s long passed!
It´s indeed a shame. Watching this nobody want´s become old, but suicide is no solution like many japanese people do.
@Andrew Balletto I am sure about it.
We betrayed this generation. I can't help but think that we did. This generation made Britain, and they struggled immensely, and still they persevered. This lady displays a wonderful attitude to life. You'd be hard pressed to find this anywhere in the UK today. May she RIP.
I totally agree, pride is a rare quality these days, I am a pensioner, and think my pension is poor, but I wonder what that ladies £7.05 pension would be worth today, I think very little.
She didn't want anyone saying anything about her by not troubling anyone, bless her soul ❤
Heartbreaking...hopefully the producers of the documentary slipped this poor old dear some cash.
Mark Wardel - I was thinking the same thing.
They surely better have!
Why are you so rude ? I suppose you never make mistakes ?
I doubt it
And then voted for Boris!
I consider myself to be on the bones of my arse here in 2019 but after seeing this, I have much to be grateful for!
Ypo are on the bones of your arse because you are a working class arse hole. The notion of a working class revolution has probably never entered your head
@@drmontague6475 wow get over yourself you snobby old Karen.
@@desertrose1226 My arguments certainly appear to stump people. For example I will show that you have fascist tendencies just below your skin. What should we do about asylum seekers, economic migrants etc?
I hope you’re feeling alright.
@@drmontague6475 what’s your point, is this a misplaced call for a revolution?
2019 and old people still don't get enough
yet pensioners in the EU get more pension than the UK , basically subsidised by the UKs large contrbution
Way of the world. If you don't like it, go and live in a country that isn't England. Nobody forcing you to sit here and moan like a bitch about it lol 😁
@@Natashahoneypot Yes they do. A 1 second Google search confirms this.
Not only old. Young as well. This country treat human beings like shit, especially the working class.
Fighting back at social issues Bullshit. This country is a soft touch, we hand over far too much to people who are unwilling to help themselves. We are paying child support to children in Poland who have never set foot in this country. We are housing entire extended families of Romanians who came here purely because of the generous welfare system. We reward women who have multiple children with multiple partners by handing them more in benefits than they could ever hope to earn through working. There is only so much money to go around, believe me I'd much rather it went to pensioners than the terminally lazy.
Bloody heartbreaking but even worse when you think there are still elderly people in the same situation now.
I just am heartbroken about it
Because working class arse holes do fuck all about it
@@drmontague6475 you’re right, the working class of today should have learnt their lesson and provided for their future. There is no excuse for poverty in England today.
@@drmontague6475 were not all working class arseholes pay out taxes some people don't have the means to save for retirement so don't judge
@@redbeard3923 You have missed my point. The majority of the working class are arse holes for not fighting for and supporting true socialism. The word poverty and charity should not exist in the human language
Elon Musk has become the world's richest person, as his net worth crossed $185bn (£136bn).
If you cannot grasp what I am getting at the you are an arse hole!
Seniors back then couldn't afford food, rent, meds, etc. Seniors today can't afford the same. Nothing's changed.
If the ENTIRE working class stood up and beat the shit out of the government
What could they do?
@@youknow227 People are too busy running on the spot to stay alive to have the time to do anything to 'fight back': even if they all wanted to take down the set-up that steals their lives, how would they effect an uprising against it ?
And 50 years later, nothing has changed...
10 years ago, I lost my job. I lived alone and was entitled to £90 a fortnight. 3 days out of the fortnight the electricity ran out so I'd just read books then when it got dark I'd use my wind up torch and candles so I could see. I didn't use the heating at all. Food mainly consisted of beans on toast, rice or pasta with gravy. Meat was a treat. I walked miles to get anywhere as I couldn't afford the bus and didn't live close to amenities. I can definitely empathise with this old woman, however I was lucky to be in my 20's and had the luxury of eventually finding a new job and getting myself out of the situation whereas this old lady had no hope 😔
Her age is against her like a raging storm. Very sad Indeed.
Sad seeing this, God bless her and All who suffered ❤️🙏 MAY SHE AND ALL RIP AMEN, folks say white privilege, poverty has no boundaries, but the past generations were tough cookies, made do and never really complained
How are you doing now Anna ❤️
@@tariqmahmood6497 I'm doing well! Good job, nice house, I'm comfortable and happy 😊
Glad to hear Anna ❤️👌👍
Yep I remember having no choice a few decades ago to live and feed, and heat myself with £9 a week, for many months, it meant electricity and heating £6,and the cheapest of cheap food, bread at 10p a loaf and the 6p tin of beans etc were staples of my life. Yep when I hear people talk of hardship when eating takeaway food, and being able to catch a bus, well I can't help but raise an eyebrow.
Respect to you my dear.
@Janey Jester Rents are so much now that they still will not end up with a great deal to live off. Once you add up all the costs. If working people claim everything they are entitled to they would usually not be worse off.
What? How are you still alive?
@@brandontrehearn2 In the mid 1980s £9 per week was what single unemployed people got to live off in the U.K, in the form of Supplementary Benefit, which was originally designed as a supplement to other income. Of course it was not much to live off.
We rationed the heating to two hours a day & then only used it when frosty & put extra jumpers & socks on & kept moving. We went to bed early if we felt cold & good friends sometimes got into bed together on a strictly platonic basis just to keep warm. We shared houses to make the rent & bills affordable. Something which landlords will often now not permit.
We ate a lot of porridge, potatoes, carrots, baked beans, lentil soup & fried rice with onion & peanuts in & picked Stinging Nettles & Wild Garlic greens to eat. An egg or a tin of sardines was a treat but we made yummy flap jacks sometimes. My two friends & I who shared a house cannot now face fried rice as we did eat rather a lot of it, even though we sometimes put peas in instead of the peanuts.
We bought clothes & bedding from jumble sales & charity shops, repaired everything many times & made our own bread. We walked around the town & bought each thing from the shop that had it cheapest. Sometimes we had to use newspaper as loo roll. It was a bit of a disaster if more than one lightbulb went pop in a week. Shoe repairs had to be saved up for.
We never locked our doors as we had nothing worth nicking & at that time the crime rate was extremely low in rural areas. Gangs of criminals had not started coming down the moterways from big towns. After about 1990 we had to start locking every thing. We felt safe back then & it was nice to come home to find friends on our sofa drinking our tea.
If you were young & well it could still be a good time as long as you had good friends to share your bread & soup with & the hope that the job market would improve sometime. We didn't have a T.V but we went for walks, made our own birthday & christmas cards, made music, invented jokes & games, sang, wrote poetry & stories, entertained each other, read a lot & talked about everything under the sun & did voluntary work. Thats how we survived. It was part of my education.
Then £9 a week was an amount you could manage to live, or at least survive, off if you were very disciplined & budgeted strictly. I think that we were better off than those who now get Jobseekers Allowance if you take into account the rise in the cost of living. It does not help that things that were cheap alternatives then, such as lentils, have now become more popular & risen in price. No-wonder people now need food banks.
There was high-unemployment so a lot of us survived on £9 a week & were greatful for it, though really upset that our career plans had come to nothing. It was depressing to walk into the Job Centre & find absolutely no jobs on offer, but that is the way it was some weeks. Nothing at all on the noticeboards. The lack of choice in the matter was demoralising. Thatcherites would yell,- "Get on your bike". Our reply was,-"Well give us a job, then, we will happily ride to it."
@Sarah Strong Same thing happened in Australia. Once well off people found out how healthy the food poor people had to live off was. The prices for them went through the roof
To proud to ask for help from her children, what's wrong with them. How can they not see!!! Poor soul .
She shouldn't need to ask them. Her children obviously turned a blind eye and didn't care.
My great aunt had her family around her. She had a stunning, modern home, ate very healthily, and had a part-time job staring at 5 a.m. When she died, she had £7000. Her husband died in the war and she never remarried. Can't think why this lady is so poor.
Bloody kids should just see and help her out.
@@manichairdo6346 this lady might have been on the verge of poverty her whole life, therefore unable to save thousands like your great aunt did. It's not her fault that she had a hard life; it takes a lot of resolve to 'carry on' like she did. She didn't grow up in a rich family, and it's clear that her remaining family didn't care about her- only her nephew's wife sent her things for Christmas (not even her own blood cared to send her some food).
Hatred of poor, old people is quite pathetic but nonetheless prevalent in our materialistic society. Perhaps you need to re-assess why you can't think she could have been this poor, because it comes across as dismissive and victim blaming.
Children must have been blind
What a proud and dignified lady.
we need more people like elon musk and less like this!
1970. You would think it was the 1800s. This takes me close to tears. This reminds me of my mom. She was always telling me she had nothing. But as a child you never believed her. £5.70. Was a fortune to a 7 year old. But this is a shock to the system. How demanding I was. While she struggled to feed us. Which she did well. Often going without herself. Telling us she as just had her dinner. But I never remember her eating it. The government simply don't care. They need to walk a mile in there shoes. So sad. I wish I could say its better. But it's not. They get more money granted. But not in line with inflation. They still go cold. Frightened to death of turning on the heating..from 1970. To present day. Nothing as changed. Just the price of living..so sad
Aye, my mum went through the same thing. I now understand why she screeches about the heating bills. But as for the pollies, we had one who was actually worth his salt a while back. Forced his ministers first day on the job, when his government took office, to visit hospitals and nursing homes and schools, then report back. What happened to him, you may ask? Got booted out by the next tory government who made him look ridiculous in the media. That's always the way when someone genuine comes along who could really help. That's why things never change.
@@Growndweller trouble is. When you get a politician. That care. They see it as a weak link. Because caring means spending. And they really don't want that boat rocking. It may affect there expenses bill. So they're far someway to discredit. To get rid of the good apple. Most politicians start out with all the good intentions. But as soon as they reach the dizzy heights of having a seat in parliament and mixing with all that raval. The learn all the Littlewoods Pools of making more money undetected. Like putting a £30,000 gardening bill on the tax payers. Nearly £2000. For a duck House so they won't get wet. There are many ways a politician can dip into the taxpayers money. Meanwhile back on planet Earth people are going hungry. We are the 6th richest country in the world. Yet people are relying on. And children going to school hungry. food banks as if we was a third world country. Makes you wonder what the contra is head
Terrible to see people who have worked hard all their lives struggling on a state pension in such a wealthy country
Wealthy for whom? That is the question. Inequality has multiplied more in Britain than anywhere else.
That isd England for you. Pretend to be rich and the people follow them with the pretense instead of rebelling!!
jonathan downs this was 1971. We were still impoverished after the war only 25 years earlier. Things didn't really start to look up until the thatcher years in the eighties.
@@spencerwilton5831 The Thatcher years, it wasn't great then, I know, I was one of 4 million un-employed at the time & supplementary benefit was not a lot to live on but it is easier when you are younger, you do not need so much heat for example. I was able to collect firewood & pick nettles to eat.
No matter what I did I couldn't get a job. Worked hard to get qualifications & then got rejected for jobs, told I was 'overqualified'. I tried to argue that having worked hard to get qualifications showed I was well motivated & willing to learn as well as to work hard but got no-where. In the end after applying for well over 300 jobs the constant rejections, possibly compounded by poor food, living conditions & lack of support made me very ill.
@@sarahstrong7174 It was Thatcher's regime that destroyed British Industry. A strong pound and high interest rates killed manufacturing. It was the Tory method of breaking the unions that had made a mockery of employment rights in the car industry. All other industries got tarred with the same brush. The wealth of the country got locked up in financial corporations in London that make huge profits for shareholders but don't make anyone else richer.
Depressing watching that poor old soul, family should be ashamed.
The old lady was getting £7 five shillings a week, my mum was earning £10 pw for for 42 hours and out of that paid tax and insurance, in 1970 my wages were £7 five shillings per week, [new job[ and an increase from £6/15 shillings per week
I couldn't see any old soul suffer. What civilised person can see this without being affected?
These women are our mothers and should be given the best retirement.
@@macraghnaill3553 My mum was earning £17 per week and dad was on £27 per week back in 74. It was tough for a family of four with rent to pay but we got by , like this lady, by being careful on spending. As a result , today, I respect money and never forget the days of struggle. There's something positive coming out from austerity.
Well dont worry god has her now shes probably been dead for 40 years
This wonderful Lady was the antithesis of her generation. They built and defended our society. What we have today. We owe to them. They were the 'Salt' of the Earth. I wish we could have them back!
Damn, this made me sad. To think this lady suffered until her final days, malnourished. poor and lonely. She went through 2 world wars and a great depression - so much respect for her generation
jimmy Russels i agree with everything you said I would like to endorse it .further by stating the pain, she was going through in revealing to that reporter from the tv company if i can get out of bed i then call someone for help if she took ill or summit.
These people served their country in difficult situations, this is the thank you, it happens all around the world, when they need you, you are obliged to show up, when you need them, they are on vacation
So true!
The government don’t give a shit about the working glass people never have and never will. This shit still goes on today and it’s 2021.
She has beautiful hair.
Anyone who thinks governments give a stuff about the elderly is deluded. This was the thanks they showed this poor dear woman, may she rest in peace god love her .
They don’t care about any of us, that’s why they are fine with replacing us.
True
@@dylanmurphy572 True. That's why they want to us robots as waiters
Absolute barbaric disgusting! Trust me there are some dysfunctional families like I do.I cut them off years ago but I have my children.Most people are very selfish and this video was disgraceful and what's worse people are homeless It's 2024 wake up world!
A very proud generation who we all would benefit from being educated to understand. I have known those times and people just like this wonderful lady, a privilege for me to be able to say.
Let's use her story to help others in times of need like she was. Her struggle shan't be in vain, let's use it to help people who are hungry today
I feel really sorry for this old lady and all the others like her. I remember my own grandmother
in the 70s was living on a modest pension. It probably sounds strange nowadays that so many pensioners decided not to claim extra money since it was there to be had, but it also shows how different people were back then.
Come back to 2019 my angel and i will help and look after you my sweet heart xx
We were born to love everyone.........you would never know it, would you.
John Burman I agree my friend.....! It’s a bad world 😢
Cringe.
DANNY DIRE Wow. Thankyou! That’s a wonderful reply my friend 👍
She is dead dude.
We have gone to Victorian times in this Country, and yet the Government spend billions on weapons for war, whilst our elderly live in poverty.
Agree with the sentiment but I don’t think the elderly are necessarily the hardest done by in today’s Britain. In fact, I think the youth get a pretty shit deal of it. I also suspect there’s a lot of regional aspects at play too.
SensaiMan agreed - if the idiots can build bombs they can build hospitals!
@@MrBren777 eu to thank for it all. The country is a skint mess thanks to eu
Fat Lad - that’s some fat thinking. The EU has invested in impoverished areas of the UK. The UK is in the horrendous state it’s currently in because of its own government’s continued mis-management. You need to stop reading the tabloid press and try to develop some critical thinking.
@@MrBren777 The EU has invested about a third back of SOME of our massive contribution back into" look at me" vanity projects and spent the rest on about a half of the other 26 other EU countries who know a good thing (for them) when they see it as they are takers of EU money not givers. The Daily Telegraph is pro Brexit and not tabloid btw.
This country like plenty others don't recognize the contribution made by this generation. I'm not afraid of many things, but old age alone is very scary. This woman deserves so much more than what Whitehall deemed her lot.
She reminds me of my great grandmother , she had the smallest of pensions and I can't imagine how she would have suffered if we didn't help her. And she always said she didn't want any help so every time we had to persuade her to just accept the money. Brought her groceries every week . She wanted to leave her house to us but she never made a will . Then at 97 when she passed away her daughter's side of the family, decided they were entitled to her house. They never once cared to visit her and when they did it was either for money or food, both of which we got for her .... She was too naive and too nice to see how they were using her... They made the wedding of her grandson the day after we buried her .... In the end we decided not to tarnish her memory and just let them have her house , n the condition that we never see them again .... I stay awake sometimes thinking how these vipers would have probably killed her decades earlier if we weren't there....
How horrible. You made the right choice. By rejecting controversial crumbs, you opened yourselves up to majestic measures of treasure. And those vultures will never get to see one penny of it.
You and your family have hearts of gold, you cared and loved for the right reasons. I too have seen first hand what families are prepared to do. This happened to a dear friend of mine after she died relatives came from all over the place demanding property, cash etc. In almost 30 years I had never heard of these people.
@@Growndweller tbh they are getting what they deserve already , their kids are treating them exactly how they treated great Gran, only difference is they have no one to fall back on
Preying on the elderly, shameful. God is watching and notices how we treat the most vunerable in society.....
The horror these older people in the UK went through, we couldn't even imagined such hard work , hardly sufficient nourishment. Oh it hurts to phantom the idea of such suffering...Bureaucracy is a killer
Dr. Carr Again, why are her kids not helping her? Why doesn't she live with them? They should be ashamed!!!! Too many unanswered questions here.
Chicago Gyrl they may well have come up and helped her after seeing her on the tv. We have to remember that she was from an era where you make do & mend and you didn’t complain because there really were people worse off than you, especially during WW II through the early 1950’s while the whole of the UK were on rationing. It is also cultural “stiff upper lip” is a cliche of old school Britain for a reason she was brought up to be proud of who she was and what she did for herself so asking for help, especially if it is from your child could make her feel as though she would be losing her independence. Also, this was the era of power cuts and 3 day work weeks so even if she did ask for help from her kids they may not have been able to help her financially or accommodate her in their home.
I agree with her that pensions are not livable amounts to sustain you, neither then nor now (I have relatives who are retired). A tin of soup which is priced a 5p (based on the shop windows the film is pre decimalization in the UK so my figures may be off) eats up, proportionately more of her income than it does a person who is working and is receiving £25 a week.
Chicago Gyrl she just told you where her grown up children are.
The courage of the old and frail and the poor will always show the worlds rich and the socalled royalty what living is really like theses are real people...a great old people...
Talk about history repeating itself 😔
This 🇬🇧 only knew their name when the politicos needed staff to commit their policies, game over.... Who ?
Supp Ben back then, Uni codcrapp now. Viscous, mendacious Tories.
'Knees Up....', up yours !
I think it's worse now, in some there's a horrible undercurrent of resentment of elderly people because they blame them for the lockdowns.
my heart bled for this poor old woman, well, she's in a better place now.
God bless rest easy beautiful woman. Thankyou for carrying children through the war. You did a service to all of us.
In the 1990's when I was at college I lived on 47p for food for one week as that was all that was left after paying bills, Luckily, Netto and Kwik Save supermarkets had a price war on and I could get a loaf of crap white bread for 7p and tins of beans for 3p, at the end of the week I had every combination of Beans on toast & bean sandwiches, I was so glad when I got paid my money £28.00 the next week. People spout poverty when they are fat ,have a car , smoke , drink and eat take aways. You live on beans the whole week and by god , you know about it!
But smoked weed probably
No, How dare you presume that ! I have never smoked weed or done drugs . @@shaunpmarshall
Aaah yellow bag Netto
You could have got a job, the pensioners are stuck in that position., and have worked and paid their dues all their life.
All skint students have got to do is get a part time job, and better their finances instead of winging, and pay in to the system that they think Owes them
@@Naughtybaz I worked And studied... Nothing handed to me
Listening to this lady breaks my heart but also makes me feel so proud of her! Seeing people in today's generation complaining and demanding with no reason for just because of today's entitlement culture makes me so angry! So much could be learned from this amazing lady!
And now we have food banks everywhere. A great 'temporary' solution now has become an institution. Breakfasts for kids. No more social housing or youth programs. Everyone has been shafted by austerity, not just the elderly.
Just as planned by the corrupt!
Look into the food banks you may be shocked by its design and its backers.
👁️ can you elaborate more on your comment? I volunteer my time at a local food banks, I see no corruption. Just lack of funding and donations.
@@betsyofarrell6134
Food banks have become a back drop for poverty by design, look at all the smiling Torie photo shoots in Food banks its fantastic!
The poor house should not be accepted in this age. Treasonous MPs using P. O. W tactics to break the poor and a willing public to police it!
BTW I have used a FB and it destroyed me, for those who help as yourself well done but you are helping a twisted system to stay in place.
💚😔☝️
Don't those food banks only have tinned foods like baked beens and tinned veg. Also sweet cereals. All the stuff that is bad for you.
The outside of the buildings look like the suffered damage from WWII V-bombs.
The lady sounded like a Liverpudlian [the accent has changed a lot over the decades] so guessing the area would of been Scotland Road area, demolished I believe to make way for the new Mersey Tunnel in the 70s
Reminded me of how airstrip one is described in the book 1984.
These people deserved better, even now there are many people living like this. Honest, hardworking people, lived by the rules, paid their dues and had respect. This is their reward ??
In the early 1970s my dad was working full time for £5 per week and this was in the South, in a rural area. My parents and one set of grandparents kept chickens and my parents and both sets of grandparents grew vegetables to help. It was hard whether you could work or not, and whether you were young or old.
Lovely lady I hope they gave her some money for that interview at least enough to fill her cupboards up of food for a month nobody should have to live like that what ever decade they lived in
If it was the BBC they probably sat and drank her tea and ate her biscuits during the interview and then left her with nothing. A few days later she might have received a knock on her door from an obnoxious man asking if she has a television licence and wanting to give her a fine.
I would ask people who have an elderly neighbour living alone, please please look in on them a few times a week, especially in the cold weather. Make sure they have heating on, bring them some tea and sugar and milk, when you notice they are low on food, bring them some food and say you bought too much. It will be good for you as well as them.
Bless you, Ella. The world needs more people like you.
@@tiberfoaming4191 Thank you. That is one of the loveliest things anyone has ever said to me.God bless you and strengthen you too, my friend. This life is hard. My beloved father R.I.P. was a very kind person, I learned from him.
Invite them to dinner and for a cup of tea. They need company not just food and heat. Part of the problem is that the government only cares about or addresses physical needs while putting the poor in ugly tower blocks (like beauty is wasted on them, but the poor have soul too), isolated from familiar community (but the poor need human contact and a sense of belonging, too), with nothing to do but listen to media and scrape along physically surviving.
Sweet lady, reminds me so much of my great grandmother. So sad she lived like this and there is no way of knowing if her life got any better...
Makes me cry
That poor woman , I’m sure she’s passed on now , but she should NEVER have had to live like that ! Shame on Britain then & now , after all it is one of the wealthiest places n the world albeit at others expense,,,, but none of its elderly ppl then or now should have to chose between eating or being warm , it’s an absolute disgrace..... I suppose it’s FAR more important to keep all the Royal’s n the lap of luxury & spend trillions for the upkeep of their countless castles , palaces , cottages , estates , private jets , staff , cars etc etc etc ,,,,, so glad I’m NOT a part of this nation ...,
Well said- absolutely.
Not much changed it that socialist country!
Working class arse holes did nothing. Why? Because they are working class arse holes
Anti Brit
@@drmontague6475 Looks like you are looking for a fighty response in every comment the way you carry on! XD you seem to comment on every comment here!
The imaginary "good old days" .
George Orwell I agree mate..well said.
totally agreed. Today people are always saying that and I am guessing they don't know history of humanity...then they will realize there is not such thing.
@George Orwell I thought you were a democratic socialist
@Paul Walker are you for real? Malnutrition of the elderly. Appalling education. Very short life expectancies. We still have a very long way to go, but for god's sake - take those rose tinted spectacles off. Pensioners in particular nowadays have less hardship and longer lives than they've ever had.
@Paul Walker so i suppose you would be an example of one of the cold and greedy people then? after all, when you think of the poor you instinctively think they are scroungers taking "your" taxes?!
These people really suffered you had the war then after the war they were hard women not like today that’s for sure
Remember this is what life was like for the victors of that war!! God only knows how much worse it would have been had that generation lost the conflict.
Two wars I’d say, along with the depression. Poor girl.
@Andrew Balletto I don't think Peach meant "hard" like Jason Statham.
@Andrew Balletto Then give me your interpretation.
@Andrew Balletto I admire how tough these women were, but also hope none of today's women ever need to be that tough.
This is real poverty
Not now days when poverty is classed as not having a tablet or phone
You are ignorant and cruel
look at this and realise that nothing has changed.
Very true indeed......sadly.
Not much has changed it’s called Tory Punishment.
Now a new virus deliberately released is killing our old. I hate the U.K.
@@desertrose1226 I think this video shows a much more disturbing fact. Quite clearly the people of this country have been impoverished by a tyrannical government that would pick on your grandmother. This virus is sod all compared to the poverty and starvation that has taken away families.
Statistics show that the top earners wealth has steadily increased by around 40 per cent over the last 40 year's but ordinary people's earnings have been consistently eroded over the same period. This is deliberate , designed to impoverish people one chip at a time. That's why everything's run down . Nobody can afford a civilised life anymore.
The Good old days? Is this when Britain used to be great? Think we all need to be great full for living in such a great time.
But how about the glorious period of the post war consensus?
How do you know you never lived it ldid best years of my life I have to say 😄
Post war poverty. Britain now is much richer. Oil wealth. Wealth from improved productivity. The older people in the USA and Britain are some of the wealthiest segments of the population, but there are always exceptions.
1970's > 2019 hasn't changed for many.....
Wish I could go back in time to help this wonderful resilient positive lady.
Her kids should have been helping her!!!
Chicago Gyrl .how do you know if she has children?
Les gibson She mentions at 4:40 that she has a son..
Les gibson you didn’t listen well did you.
Probably couldn’t help as was in a similar situation himself maybe out of work and with kids to support many were back then
Your “should” isn’t going to pay her bills.
Heartbreaking. The way the money would run out and she'd have to go without tea or sugar or enough food until the next payment. It makes me angry. Why are so many elderly alone and uncared for 😭
The saddest thing was the misjudged pride. Her family might not have known how hard-up she was. There’s nothing shameful at all about asking for help.
I did not see pride in her I saw she was considering other people.
Her family would of seen the empty cupboards I'm sure, but she probably went and spent her bit buying something in for them
@@dylendog Maybe they would have liked to help but feared offending her.
Her dignity is amazing ❤️
Today she would be expected to get a job to supplement her income.
No she would not
@@raydematio7585 I don't know where you are but it's happening all around my neighbourhood, old girls in wheelchairs told they can't keep their homes unless they get a job... meanwhile down the road, new luxury apartments are being built by bloodsucking developers.
@@Sawrattan you must live in a dump bro go to canada our grannys are living good lives
Samuel Duffney dickhead
M ZAKRIA wow! Another dickhead
I don't like watching stuff like this...One of the richest countries in the world and it can't have a social security system generous enough to address these issues?..
Well the way things are going its unsustainable with more people flooding in to rich countries, parts of Sweden are feeling the burn already, guess who is paying.
It's the same in every country. I've seen this type of thing myself in France, Germany, USA etc.
@@bettyblack2781 Oh please stop blaming immigrants for the faults of government not supporting its older population. The government's austerity measures a fucking up this country and you know it.
@Lady Trek2space " We have very little money nowadays as it is being handed out to economic immigrants ! " can you provide statistics ( official from a legitimate source )
She could have saved on the gas.A huge kettle of tea she made. Shed never have finished all that
Nothing has changed from 1966. The elderly still have these same worries. WHY?
Because of capitalism .
Capitalism is evil
@@drmontague6475 She had a labour council and government.
@@salfordlad3829 Capitalism is the problem. When cuts backs are made the working class suffer. If they try to tax the billionaire then working class people like you feel sorry for them.
@@drmontague6475 You've mixed up cause and effect. Capitalism developed because of poverty. The clue is that there was poverty before there was capitalism, for thousands of years. How can A cause B if B comes before A?
A different generation, staunch attitude and a reluctance to claim any extras. I feel sad and proud all at the same time.
Fortunately it's a lot better for pensioners these days with the winter fuel allowance, free bus passes etc. People should claim what they are entitled to and not be too proud.
So sad these elderly people has to struggle on their own .They don't need to ask for assistance from their children or government. It should be a priority to provide them with their needs.
Or even if the kids of this lady were not well off they should have at least gotten together and each sent a little each month so one would not have to do it all, and they should have not asked her, just did it.
@@chrisfry436 that's so true..it would made the world of difference to the elderly if there is someone that cares
I wish i could go back to this time and help. Help those who were genuine and appreciative. Not like today.
I hope the interviewer gave her some money...I would have given her some...
Agree Donna, I would have given her some spare cash to get her through the cold winter for extra food and fuel.
I would of left, big bag coal, tin food, bread, butter, cake, biscuits sugar, tea and a tipple of some sort with chocolates
If 39% of pensions are suppose to get “supplemental benefits” why doesn’t the government just give it to them automatically?!? These poor old people probably don’t know very entitled to it! Watching her pull out a single can of Chicken Soup... I wonder how many meals she had to make that last for?! This was heart wrenching to watch! 😢😢😢
It’s true I agree why ask for the supplemental benefits why not just give it most went with out being too shamed to ask or proud so sad to see those amazing people suffered so much in those old age homes were extremely cold not much food making ends meets was a very heated time no way out . My heart ❤️ goes to all those people who suffered so much in live no faults of there’s !!😢😱😱😱😡😡
Many people is not aware of benefits.
UK has always been a nation of ignoring the elderly and always will be.... nothing changes... SHAME on politicians...
Agreed, it's appalling.
And it's children
Its because it is capitalistic oriented society, every eldery is looked by the system as national enemy, because they have no shame live so long and take back money from pension system.But kids is investition in future, future tax payers,workers
@@dogogang85 The older generation have paid their share of tax/insurance in their lifetime, it's not just the younger generation but EVERY generation pays, which is why it's disgraceful they aren't looked after cos the money is spent goes elsewhere....
R.I.P. Mrs king you where of course a very proud woman.
Saddening..I hope this documentary helped her , surely they couldn't walk away and carry on with their cosy lives .
Still the same shit
Going on in 2019
Honestly. The way stuff is happening now I believed it was all because of foreigners but it really isnt
Send this to HM the Queen with a question in a Christmas card ''What have you done for your people ?''
George Manus what has her elected-by-the-people government done?
George.. - What a stupid comment. Educate yourself before making further fool of yourself.
Like that German cares about the English 😂😂😂
@@electricsense9501 What have you done for your country Ben?
God bless you love 💚😷☝️ Great Britannia one of the richest countries in the world ?
Look how they treated and still treat the old and elderly 2019
Poor these days means not having the latest iPhone or not being able to buy Jaydan and Chantelle a quad bike for Xmas.
Let's not forget, this happened under Labour, 'the people's party'.
Well it os still happening today under a tory goverment that has been in power for almost 10 yrs.
God love her. I'n 2019 the poorer families STILL have to think about how they spend their money. I'm single and in 15 years, I can see myself being like this lady 😔😔😔😔
Such hard times. Insightful footage
What a difference to the benefit scroungers we have now with many who have never done a days work. These people were proud then and made do with what they had living within their means. Sadly a generation now long gone.
We have no real idea about poverty today.
I agree, poverty in the UK back then was “grinding” poverty, wearing a person down. I remember my grandparents after they retired gradually slipping down into poverty. They didn’t have private pensions but owned their own house, that became a liability as they were unable to access benefits as they owned a property. I feel sad remembering their last years as being difficult as I watch this, I was only a kid and although my mother helped them there was only so much she could do as she had 6 of us kids to look after.
Old people really looked old then, just as far back as the 70's.
She was 46 then !
As recently as the 90s old people really looked old😂
Oh yeah, so when exactly have old people looked young?
jimbobalob 🤣 well they did look older then than they do now, you gotta agree :P
@@gra-emed3617 Yeah, what manofweed probably meant was that back in the 70's people looked old when they where in their 40's.
No elderly person, no matter where they live, should live in poverty. They are living history, the backbone of many civilizations. They have lived through the hardest times and should be afforded dignity.
God I wish I could have met her. Helped her out I bet she had some great stories to tell. Seemed like a lovely woman.
Britain has always had such inequalities its awful
And in that, Britain is hardly alone. Wealth disparity is a global phenomenon, and is only becoming more pronounced.
@@tiberfoaming4191 the difference being that in Britain, inequality is worse than a lot of other comparable countries.
Tory voters, plain and simple. And even then, Labour had plenty of opportunities when in government to really address this shit but other than in the late 40s only did half a job. Better than nowt i suppose, but not even remotely enough to tackle the serious inequalities this country has been plagued with for centuries and continues to suffer.
This makes me sad. I know I don’t know her but I empathise because she reminds me of my granny. ❤️
Roll on to 2022 and the Elderly are still in the same situation
How could her family not bother with her, it's heartbreaking and still going on today, and the poor dear is even going out in her slippers, shame on that family
2019 South East London...have things improved...people are dying in their own homes waiting for Universal Credit (Chaos)👉🤢👈💣
alex Marshall help is coming. #jc4pm2019
Just say that you are a somalian, and they will help you,
Good. One less benefit scrounger to fund.
summerrr1 I hate somalians
@DANNY DIRE they take up the majority of social housing, they have no respect for the uk, where ever they go they are not liked, they are the most arrogant scum bags i have ever come across,