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Debate House Prices


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Winter fuel allowance

Pobby
Pobby Posts: 5,438 Forumite
in Debate House Prices & the Economy
Do you think it should be means tested? I am getting my first one this year and although it will cover heating and cooking it will also cover my bill for my metered water for that period.

Whilst it`s welcome we can afford to cover all of this from our income. Surely it it should be means tested and perhaps given into the budget that is being used for those in fuel poverty.
«134567

Comments

  • purch
    purch Posts: 9,865 Forumite
    I guess one question would be, whether or not it would cost more overall to administer with means testing, that it costs the Government without.

    It's probably the case with many of the "smaller" benefits that are not means tested.
    'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'
  • ukcarper
    ukcarper Posts: 17,337 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Its' a difficult one my mum is just above the amount needed to get pension credit so has to pay for things that people on pension credit get for free, so where do you draw the line.
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Rather than giving out an allowance to pay for (and prop-up) high fuel costs, maybe the government should do something about the fuel companies charging so much and making a fortune in profit.
  • Pobby
    Pobby Posts: 5,438 Forumite
    Ukcarper, I sympathise. Although I am sure that it would be costly, those missing out on certain " triggered " benefits related to pension credit is unfair if the amount over is small.
  • abaxas
    abaxas Posts: 4,141 Forumite
    Why not just up the basic pension by a few quid a week, and ditch this?

    Problem sorted, money saved.
  • hethmar
    hethmar Posts: 10,678 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    Pobby, I'll get my first one next year - keep schtum :)!
  • ukcarper
    ukcarper Posts: 17,337 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    hethmar wrote: »
    Pobby, I'll get my first one next year - keep schtum :)!
    You’ll be lucky the Tories are coming
  • Optimist
    Optimist Posts: 4,557 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    abaxas wrote: »
    Why not just up the basic pension by a few quid a week, and ditch this?

    Problem sorted, money saved.

    Saving money isn't what those in power want. Having a specific amount of money every year and calling it "heating allowance" means they can play the caring for older people role.

    Same with Tax Credits really, cost far more to administer than they are worth and could be sorted in by using tax allowances but the politicians can say how much they care by having them.
    "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."

    Bertrand Russell. British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
  • bryanb
    bryanb Posts: 5,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 19 November 2009 at 2:26PM
    abaxas wrote: »
    Why not just up the basic pension by a few quid a week, and ditch this?

    Problem sorted, money saved.

    Basic pension-taxable. Fuel allowance- non taxable. Small reason maybe, but our government would probably mess it up.

    Plus at the moment they send all pensioners a letter every year to say it's coming before Christmas- Cheers us up, See?
    This is an open forum, anyone can post and I just did !
  • Pobby
    Pobby Posts: 5,438 Forumite
    When the £10 Christmas bonus came in my wifes Gran though that Edward Heath himself sent pensioner a tenner. Oh how we laughed!
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