Winterfuel payment 2010???

mardatha

Gemstar if you are really over 60 then you should know to think hard before posting stuff like this . You have no earthly idea how other pensioners manage their money or how they cope. If you are managing to stay warm and well fed then that's very nice - but it doesnt give you the right to speak for others you know nothing about. It just puts people against pensioners in general and is not useful or helpful in any way.
I myself use this payment to buy a ton of coal and that keeps my big stove running 24/7 all winter I am very pleased to have it too !

pwales_2

well well well.........i have just read another thread where gemstar30 admits to a 6 figure compensation payout and has it in a fund so it is amune from means tested benefits , so maybe does not see this 250 quid as some others do

quote:
I received a settlement some time ago under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme which ran well into 6 figures. The money is as you have described been put into a trust to help me out when and if needed.

Gemstar30

pwales wrote: »

well well well.........i have just read another thread where gemstar30 admits to a 6 figure compensation payout and has it in a fund so it is amune from means tested benefits , so maybe does not see this 250 quid as some others do

quote:
I received a settlement some time ago under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme which ran well into 6 figures. The money is as you have described been put into a trust to help me out when and if needed.

Yes I have that money, but I never spend or use it. I have no need for it. After spending a lifetime managing and making do, it seems so alien to spend some of it on insignificant things. It is there for my grandchildren who can use it for education or whatever.

I am not going through the argument about the £250 again. You know my views. The vast number of pensioners do not spend upwards of £400 on EXTRA heating costs for the winter. Where then does it go?

Finally, you know nothing about me or why I was given that sum of money. Suffice it to say that it was horrific and something that nobody should have to endure in their lifetime.
I didn't ask for the money, nor did I apply for it. The Police Liason Officer started the ball rolling with help from Victims Support and others. A solicitor offered his services for free and they did everything. The money is there as compensation for what happened in the past, not something to live off in the future. The advice I was given was to protect it from being used if and when I have to go into a care home.

pwales_2

hmmmmm.....

oldsporty

Good morning everyone, I have had a letter now, like most, that it is coming. I just want to say that £250.00 is a huge amount to us. It all goes on heating and, no, we would not have this heating if not for the Winterfuel Payment. I understand that perhaps for some it can provide some luxury or top up a holiday, whats that??. We have worked all our lives for no more than minimum wage and struggled beyond belief and it looks like retirement will be no different. For some, please don't lump everyone together, some people genuinely live in poverty despite working all their lives and you would be surprised that people who least appear to, are , especially the older generation who would never claim a benefit. Have a good day Everyone.

Oldernotwiser

oldsporty wrote: »

Good morning everyone, I have had a letter now, like most, that it is coming. I just want to say that £250.00 is a huge amount to us. It all goes on heating and, no, we would not have this heating if not for the Winterfuel Payment. I understand that perhaps for some it can provide some luxury or top up a holiday, whats that??. We have worked all our lives for no more than minimum wage and struggled beyond belief and it looks like retirement will be no different. For some, please don't lump everyone together, some people genuinely live in poverty despite working all their lives and you would be surprised that people who least appear to, are , especially the older generation who would never claim a benefit. Have a good day Everyone.

You seem to forget that all pensioners will be living on at least double what an unemployed couple receives. No pensioners will be living in poverty in the UK, although I'm sure that many are grateful for help towards winter fuel bills.

Invalidation

I have a 3 bed semi. Our house is all electric, no gas. Our heating is Off peak storage heating.
We pay £59 a month for our electricity and always have some left over at the end of the contract to go forwards to the next year. When we get our Winter Payment we shall dump it all into our electricity account which will lower our monthly paymenbts to about £35.

oldsporty

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You seem to forget that all pensioners will be living on at least double what an unemployed couple receives. No pensioners will be living in poverty in the UK, although I'm sure that many are grateful for help towards winter fuel bills.

I beg to differ on your point that no Pensioners will be living in Poverty. I am sure Age Concern would agree with me. We don't know, how, many old people live all across the UK and for whatever reason they can't make their money go far enough for just simple things in life that so many take for granted. I also do not forget about how unemployed people/couples struggle and all the other disadvantaged groups seeing as I have worked with these people in the past trying to improve their lot in life.

pwales_2

i think there are and still will be pensioners living in poverty, simply because they are not aware of what help is avalible to them or what they can claim, alot of pensioners are not on the internet and are to proud to ask, its a shame
by the way im in my 30s

Oldernotwiser

I agree that there are pensioners who don't claim but you cannot help people who won't help themselves, unfortunately.

For those who get the help available, I cannot see how a couple receiving over £200 net per week, with housing costs paid and an additional £250 per year for heating can be considered to be living in poverty.