Is disposing of assets to avail of the Fair Deal Scheme fair?

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I suppose it really just comes down to whether you are a person of integrity or not. If you’re not then dispose of your assets and live off your neighbours. If you are then don’t.

I like to be able to look myself in the eyes and know that I am at least trying to set an example for my children.

I understand resentment of those who live off the system but the solution is not to lower yourself to their level. And that’s exactly what is being proposed in this thread.
 
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I'd say your children would prefer you didn't set them such an expensive example!
 

It's hard to blame them when they're being fed that line all of the time by both RTE and various political parties! And I can't wait to see how much more the bountiful Minister for Handouts is going to increase my weekly State pension by on budget day. And there's only a year to go before I get the free TV licence, free electricity units and a free GP card! Yee-haw, it's raining money!

The mother in law (sorry to drag her up again, but she's still going strong at age 94) has NEVER been wealthier than she has been for the past decade. She's got money to burn - and if we could only stop her from lighting candles, buying Mass cards and throwing €20 in the collection plate at Mass every Sunday, then she'd have even more! And, when she finally calls it a day, we'll be able to flog her house (purchased from the Council for a pittance, 40 years ago) for a huge sum, as it's located right beside Beaumont Hospital.

Meanwhile only one of her six grandchildren has his own house, and only one of the others has any prospect of ever owning one.
 
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You forgot to mention the free travel pass...for yourself and the wife....
 
From the many comments there seems to be 3 choices:
1. Change the system to be more equitable.... disperse the wealth from those who have to those who do not, in a fair manner, without double penalising those who work hard and save hard (sorry @Purple , some of them do and did work hard!).

2. Do nothing. Use one's own savings, and indeed own home, that were accumulated through hard work and frugality through life to pay for their care when elderly and die happy with a clear conscience, safe in the knowledge that one was never a burden on the State and additional brownie points for helping fund the elderly care of your room mate in the Nursing Home, who despite their lavish (or sedentary) lifestyle when younger, can't afford to pay anything for the same care. Straight to heaven for you

3. Legally exploit what some may see as "flaws" in the system to try and utilise one's savings to help their children or more likely, grandchildren ,buy a home, which, due to other flaws in the system, they can't afford, safe in the knowledge that the system will fund their own elderly care........ and spend eternity with Satan

Difficult choice!!
 
@hero25 Don't be a mug. Utilise every and any loophole you can. How do you think the rich stay rich. It's called wealth planning or strategy if you're paying for advice. There's no real need to deny offspring the benefit of accumulated wealth so as to 'be a good citizen'. Always obey the law but do not strain excessively to pay more than you need to.
 
Lots of people work hard. A fair system leaves those with more of their earned income and helps people who can’t earn a living. Wealth and income are two entirely different things.
What about those (the majority) who accumulated their wealth through property price inflation and pension pot growth?
I’m an atheist so I don’t believe there’s any magic man in the sky looking at my every move and reading my every thought like a perverted stalker who will then judge me when I die. Morality and integrity are innate human characteristics. The worst thing religion does is steal that from us and claim it is a gift from some deity.
 
The rich stay rich by thinking that they worked hard all their lives and earned all their wealth. They live in semi detached suburbia and don’t realise that they are the rich.
I think that as a society we should aim for equality of opportunity. That means lower taxes on earned income and higher taxes on unearned income as well as an education system and social supports that enabled people to acquire the skills to earn a good income. We currently have a welfare and taxation system that does the opposite.
 
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bill_cash said:
I'd say your children would prefer you didn't set them such an expensive example!
Click to expand...
What’s the line about it not being the journey or the destination but rather the person you become on the journey?
I know for certain that my job is to help them become tolerant, moral, well rounded and emotionally resilient people of strong character.
How well I succeed in that is for others to judge but I know that is far more valuable than money and will have a far greater influence on whether or not they live happy and fulfilled lives.
 
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