Winter fuel allowance

ThrowingStonesAtYou

bryanb wrote: »

Have to get by with salad, Can't get a decent joint in the south of France.

Ah I see, plus in Summer you have plenty of snails and frogs that aren't around in Winter too!

PasturesNew

abaxas wrote: »

If you wanted to means test this.

Couldn't you just you council tax band?

AB gets is. C above doesnt.

Quick and simple.

If you are in a council house where all around you bought theirs, did them up and flogged them to millionaires, you might find your house is now a Band H.

bryanb

ThrowingStonesAtYou wrote: »

Ah I see, plus in Summer you have plenty of snails and frogs that aren't around in Winter too!

Damned frogs seem to be around whatever the season. They start at Calais you know

ThrowingStonesAtYou

PasturesNew wrote: »

If you are in a council house where all around you bought theirs, did them up and flogged them to millionaires, you might find your house is now a Band H.

In which case your house price has almost certainly gone up substantially too. It's hard to justify spending limited public resources in the form of welfare benefits on somebody sat in half a millions pounds worth (or more) of assets. There's always equity release if all else fails.

alared

All I can say is when the fuel allowance is paid,probably next week, the supermarket trollies will be full of booze.

carolt

ThrowingStonesAtYou wrote: »

In which case your house price has almost certainly gone up substantially too. It's hard to justify spending limited public resources in the form of welfare benefits on somebody sat in half a millions pounds worth (or more) of assets. There's always equity release if all else fails.

What about people who rent?

Pobby

alared wrote: »

All I can say is when the fuel allowance is paid,probably next week, the supermarket trollies will be full of booze.

Thanks for the suggestion:rolleyes:

ThrowingStonesAtYou

carolt wrote: »

What about people who rent?

Not as clear cut I suppose but it should probably be the same for them, unless theres a scenario where you could be renting a band H property and not be able to move to a band A/B property that was cheaper that I'm not thinking of.

kennyboy66_2

The most sensible idea would be to roll it in to the state pension and if necessary up the age related personal allowances a bit - as these are clawed back after a certain point it has the advantage that higher rate tax paying pensioners would then pay tax on this money.

It would cost miles less to administer / advertise etc etc.

If you can't budget at the age of 65, you are beyond hope.

I'd make child benefit taxable (or scrap it, or perhaps have a child tax allowance that can be claimed) and certainly scrap the daft child trust fund thingymajig.

Of course the downside is that it reduces the feeling of largesse that politicians enjoy.

pawpurrs

Its a tad ridiculous my dad who in no shape or form needs it, gets it, and he spends the winter in his house in the BVI (caribean) and we have allways said its crazy, should be means tested, but I think that would cost too much to enforce, same with child benefit, shouldnt that be the same?