Cheaper GAS if Disabled person in the House?

Poppycat

Thats one persons view doesn't mean it its applies to DLA

The extra heating needs of disabled people by and large, arise all year round, not just in the winter months.

However these extra costs are greater during winter months whether you are ill, disabled or able bodied. Its just if you maybe ill, disabled and or pensioner you feel the cold. It should be applicable to all or none. If its costs such amount then I think its time it was means tested, granted there is some costs to bare and they may be some who won't apply unfortunately

krisskross wrote: »

Thank you DX2

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending the winter fuel payment scheme to disabled people under 60 years who are in receipt of (a) the middle or higher rate care component and (b) the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance in each of the next five years. [200574]

Mr. Mike O'Brien:Winter fuel payments were created to give pensioners reassurance that they can afford to heat their homes in winter. It is paid in a lump sum each winter to ensure that money is available when fuel bills arrive.
Help is already available through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits in recognition of the extra costs, including heating, which disabled people may have. The extra heating needs of disabled people by and large, arise all year round, not just in the winter months.


So DLA is meant to be used for the cost of extra heating.

krisskross

minimadtrix wrote: »

You're absolutely right ... on a £450 a month mortgage, he does get the interest paid, but it still leaves him over £300 to pay a month - compared to £0 by the pensioner.

Incidentally, if a pensioner only has her state pension, they are entitled to gauranteed pension credit, so no council tax to pay for them either

Perhaps he should think about an interest only mortgage or selling and buying somewhere he can afford. Or as his condition is so bad asking his LA about sheltered accomodation. Everyone can apply. Owning a house is no barrier in my area, I know several people who have sold their homes and taken a sheltered tenancy.

The pensioner still has repair costs for her home and since when have we penalised people for being prudent and preparing for their retirement?

krisskross

Poppycat wrote: »

However these extra costs are greater during winter months whether you are ill, disabled or able bodied. Its just if you maybe ill, disabled and or pensioner you feel the cold. It should be applicable to all or none. If its costs such amount then I think its time it was means tested, granted there is some costs to bare and they may be some who won't apply unfortunately

Then perhaps DLA should be means tested as well?

Everyone is well aware that many pensioners see means tested benefits as 'charity' and won't apply for them. Apparently the uptake of pension credit is not as high as it should be. I believe this is precisely the reason why WFA is given to all rather than means tested.

Everyone says how difficult the DLA forms are. Do you really think 80 year olds are going to be able to complete something like that for a measly £250 a year?

Still never mind if some of the poorer old folk die because they can't afford the heating. Leaves more to spend on the younger ones doesn't it?

minimadtrix

krisskross wrote: »

Perhaps he should think about an interest only mortgage or selling and buying somewhere he can afford. Or as his condition is so bad asking his LA about sheltered accomodation. Everyone can apply. Owning a house is no barrier in my area, I know several people who have sold their homes and taken a sheltered tenancy.

The pensioner still has repair costs for her home and since when have we penalised people for being prudent and preparing for their retirement?

Well, disabled person was preparing for his future ... buying his own home, until someone ruined his life by causing the accident. My point of the scenario is to say that not all disabled people are the same, some need more help than others, some don't ask to be the way they are, some are born with their problems, others have problems forced upon them ... no matter what age. Those over 65 don't age to get old so they can fall into the criteria, but the over 65s, are given an automatic right to the WFA, which I think is fair, if they need the money, but there are ill and disabled children and adults who aren't and, in my opinion, should be looked into by the government.

mum2one

atwitsend wrote: »

I did find this in one of my sons montly newsletters, regarding cold weather payments.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018668

Hi

In all honetly thats not all its cracked up to be,yes its £25, but you have to 7 nights on the run, at freezing or below as defined by the local met office.
In my area I only recieved 2 payments last year, between the Nov/Mar time, and by the figures produced I think it was about 4 payments was about the most people recieved across the country.

xx

krisskross

minimadtrix wrote: »

. Those over 65 don't age to get old so they can fall into the criteria, but the over 65s, are given an automatic right to the WFA, which I think is fair, if they need the money, but there are ill and disabled children and adults who aren't and, in my opinion, should be looked into by the government.

But these people ARE looked after by the Government. It is just called DLA not WFA. For goodness sake how many more times does it need to be said.

So my husband and I get £125 each in November, ostensibly to help with our fuel bills, this is in addition to £150 a week we get between us for pension. So a grand total of £155 a week for the 2 of us. This is after 90 odd years work, paying tax and NI between us. I have never claimed benefits except child benefit. He was on IB for 5 years from age 60 other than that nothing. Neither of us ever unemployed. We get NO means tested benefits.

Bloody hell if you begrudge us that tiny amount I feel sorry for you.You are like Scrooge in Christmas Carol. Perhaps it would be better if we all died (of hypothermia) at 65 and decreased the surplus population.

DX2

Can I assume no one actually looked at the table in my link

The following table details the estimated cost of extending winter fuel payments to individuals in receipt of some combination of the higher or middle rate care component of DLA and/or the higher rate mobility component of DLA or one of these components on its own.
All under 60 (including children) 2008-09 prices (£ million)
Total cost in each year
2008-09 290 million a year!
2009-10 290 million a year!
2010-11 290 million a year!
2011-12 285 million a year!
2012-13 280 million a year!
Total cost over five years
1,435

Someone please enlighten me as to where you all expect 290 million a year to come from?

krisskross

DX2 wrote: »

Can I assume no one actually looked at the table in my link

The following table details the estimated cost of extending winter fuel payments to individuals in receipt of some combination of the higher or middle rate care component of DLA and/or the higher rate mobility component of DLA or one of these components on its own.
All under 60 (including children) 2008-09 prices (£ million)
Total cost in each year
2008-09 290 million a year!
2009-10 290 million a year!
2010-11 290 million a year!
2011-12 285 million a year!
2012-13 280 million a year!
Total cost over five years
1,435

Someone please enlighten me as to where you all expect 290 million a year to come from?

I expect the magic money tree will bear fruit. And remember thhis would be an add-on to the cost of DLA itself. and quite frankly that doesn't bear thinking about.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

jazabelle wrote: »

Thanks for all that info Malc How much of the help is related to benefits? Some people are disabled but not actually on DLA etc, so are the same range of services available?

Hi jazabelle

Sorry for the delay replying; I have been out of the office for the last few days.

Quite a lot of the help available is related to certain benefits. However, there are some services/products which people can apply for regardless of benefits.

Must admit, I'm no expert in this field and this is why I mentioned our Caring Energy team in my earlier post. They look at each person's individual circumstances and advise accordingly.

I would have a word with this team as they will be able to let you know exactly what is available. They will also be able to give more details on the Water Trust Funds.

Sorry I can't be more specific Jazabelle but hope this helps a little.

Malc

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

JediMaster wrote: »

Her daughter has: cerebral palsey, rhetts syndrome, global developemental delays, severe epilepsy and visual and auditary processing disorders

Hi JediMaster

Sorry for the delay replying; have been out of the office.

From the above description, I would certainly start by asking your friend to make sure they are on the Priority Services Register.

This is a good jumping off point and will open up a route into various products/services which might help a little.

From there, I would ask her to have a talk to Caring Energy to see what other help is available.

Hope this helps a bit. Give me a shout if I can help further as will be happy to do so.

Malc