MSE News: Winter fuel cash boost for the over 60s

[Deleted User]

Hi,

leebe10 wrote: »

Why are my & your Taxes being used to pay this allowance to those who's financail postion does not warrent such payments being made ?

I take it from this that when your turn comes you will refuse it, along with your free bus pass, eye tests, prescriptions?

Maybe an eye test would help, you may have spotted your spelling mistakes. :rolleyes:

geoffrance

I went to live in France when I retired at 58 years , after spending my whole life working in the Uk and paying my taxes, however as I moved before my 60th birthday I am not entitled to Winter fuel allowance( it gets colder in the winter here than the Uk, fuel costs are higher, and my pension is paid in £ sterling and converted at a 30% less amount than last year.)
We can't sell the house as we would now return to the UK, and we are not alone, some British people here are claiming charity benefits!

amalis

hmm.. i am not getting it. My mum is 62, not on benefits, but have no possession or saving whatsoever. But she is living in my home with me and my husband, who earn average UK salary. Can she claim?

Cardew

amalis wrote: »

hmm.. i am not getting it. My mum is 62, not on benefits, but have no possession or saving whatsoever. But she is living in my home with me and my husband, who earn average UK salary. Can she claim?

Yes - any household with anyone living there permanantly; the money is paid to her though.

dzug1

You can't get a winter fuel payment if:

• You are living in a care home.

Unless things have changed I'm pretty sure you can, certainly if you are paying your own fees

At a reduced rate though.

Can anyone confirm?

Edit - yes confirmed. To be disqualified you have to be living in a care home AND receiving certain benefits

kch_2

You are not entitled to certain benefits if you have something like £6000 or more in savings. They could do something similar with the winter fuel payments.

It is a tricky one! There are so many children who live in poverty and their families can't afford food or heating and on the other hand you have got my in-laws, who go on holidays all over the world for 30 weeks of the year, who get the winter fuel payments. They aren't even in the country over the winter period!! The world doesn't seem right somehow.

Cardew

kch wrote: »

You are not entitled to certain benefits if you have something like £6000 or more in savings. They could do something similar with the winter fuel payments.

It is a tricky one! There are so many children who live in poverty and their families can't afford food or heating and on the other hand you have got my in-laws, who go on holidays all over the world for 30 weeks of the year, who get the winter fuel payments. They aren't even in the country over the winter period!! The world doesn't seem right somehow.

The Winter fuel payment is not means tested so even the very richest in the country are entitled to claim.

The justification of the payment is not really the issue in this thread. However if you take the line it should only be paid to the needy, should anyone over 60 get a retirement pension? Increased Tax allowances? etc etc.

Susiewelsh

My hubby will be 60 in December.Would he be able to claim for this payment.
Also does anyone know if it would be better for him to claim his own pension credit.I am disabled and claim for him and I am younger than him.

notbritishgas

Susiewelsh wrote: »

My hubby will be 60 in December.Would he be able to claim for this payment.
Also does anyone know if it would be better for him to claim his own pension credit.I am disabled and claim for him and I am younger than him.

You need to be 60 in September of this year to receive the payment this year. He will be eligible next winter.

dzug1

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/PensionCredit/DG_180167

might answer the pension credit question - haven't worked through it