But they had a lot in common as well: both are unsustainable.The government's vision centres on its new pension credit, a means-tested scheme to top up benefits for poorer pensioners.
It contained few specifics, but said there would be a fund to top up benefits for people losing out under reforms agreed at Westminster.
Did they not get it right the first time?" Eilish and her husband top up Patrick's rent and other benefits so he can live on his own, but now they are retired that will not be so easy to do.
For instance, they said the promised power for Holyrood to top up UK benefit payments had not been translated into law.
This is because the extra income may be minimal and the state's top-up benefit is withdrawn on a sliding scale of between 40 and 100percentnt.
Over the same period, the resources allocated to the Stormont Castle top-up benefit scheme amount to £466m.
A top-up benefit, basically.
For example, action could be taken to stop repeat assessments for disability benefits for those with chronic ill-health, or to use top-up powers to top up UK benefits".
Mr Bird said: "I did not start the Big Issue as a means for allowing people to top up their benefits".
"For example, as we heard in our evidence taking, there is no power for the Scottish Parliament to top up reserved benefits despite that being one of the powers highlighted at the time of publication.
