cold weatherV.winter fuel payments

cola_bottle

catsmum2 wrote: »

Although i DO believe O.A.P.s are/SHOULD BE entitled to £250 plus to help in winter-BUT,am i the ONLY ONE who thinks that people on DLA-especially children-should be entitled to the extra fuel money too???I THINK MAYBE IM NOT?its costing me £40 a week on gas alone to keep house warm enough for my young son,whose on DLA for respiratory problems,and as cold/damp exacerbates this i feel its a benefit which should be given to DLA claimants as well,NOT just £25 a week-in this weather that goes nowhere!and do O.A.P.s get the extra £25 a wk ON TOP of the lump-sum payment??i dont know,but if so its only FAIR that disabled/sick people should get lump-sum payments also!

£25 a week is better than a kick in the teeth :rotfl:

Try a hot water bottle, extra layers of clothing, blankets, foil behind the radiators or draught excluders.

richard9991

Brassedoff wrote: »

Just a personal point. The system of payments should be given in vouchers so it is spent on heating and not other things that some do. Not suggesting that anyone here does, but it can buy a lot of ciggies or tinny's.

that would be stigmatising ppl just because they are on benefits and would not be social inclusion for many people which this and the previous goverment want to promote

Brassedoff

Neither is spending it down the off licence as many do. So being on a social tariff (if they have sought one) does not?

Same argument for family allowance, how many do not spend it on the kids?

All people who collect benefit are on hand outs (me included), they are a social safety net, not a right. What's wrong with making sure that the specific winter fuel benefit is spent on paying for the fuel and not something else?

I am sure they apply the same rule to some other benefit?

DX2

sheeps68 wrote: »

"You do not get it with WTC!"

So why do you say you do get it with child tax credit. Same thing only child not adult disabilty! As I said you get it if you get the disability premium for a child but not adult. Working tax credit is same as child tax credit in what forms you do etc you are just using a different name. Working tax credit disability premium is the equivalent of income support if you work a low level job or reduced week etc hence lower salary chance for those with a disability however the trigger of additional payments etc doesnt carry through eg cold weather, prescriptions etc.

Here's a hint love working tax credit, if you work you won't be entitled to a cold weather payment. If a parent has a disabled child and gets the disability premium on their child tax credits and also gets working tax credits, they still won't get a cold weather payment. In laymans term it's only payable to those who don't work and can meet the rest of the criteria.

Unemployed people with children can only claim child tax credits so far from the same thing just a different name

Hope you now understand.

krisskross

Brassedoff wrote: »

Just a personal point. The system of payments should be given in vouchers so it is spent on heating and not other things that some do. Not suggesting that anyone here does, but it can buy a lot of ciggies or tinny's.

If you are wanting to do this then child benefit for instance should be given in vouchers only spendable on child related things.Child benefit almost certainly buys far more ciggies than the WFA. I don't know many pensioners who smoke but I see loads of young parents smoking. After all for just 1 child it is worth more than 4 times what a pensioner couple get in WFA.

For goodness sake LHA is normally paid to the tenant to pay their rent with. So are pensioners not to be trusted to pay their fuel bills?

Indie_Kid

krisskross wrote: »

So are pensioners not to be trusted to pay their fuel bills?

I find it sad that some people think this. Actually, I find it sad full stop that people think that those of us who claim benefits should be paid in vouchers.

Prinzessilein

sh1305 wrote: »

I find it sad full stop that people think that those of us who claim benefits should be paid in vouchers.

I live off benefits.

I also value my independence.

I do not want to be told how much of my benefits I should use to buy food, and how much to put in the Electricity Meter, and how much I am allowed to put on my mobile phone....I am capable of working that out for myself thankyou very much!

For many years I worked, I held down a responsible position. I worked with troubled teens and in my spare time I did volunteer work. I payed my taxes and contributed to society. Now things have changed, and I find myself on benefits in social housing.....and some people think it's a good idea to take away my last shred of dignity and say I shouldn't be trusted with money but should be given vouchers instead!

By the way, I need all my benefits to pay for the costs of living...including paying for someone to take me shopping (would I get vouchers to pay for my driver as well as my food?)...I have never smoked, but if I'm lucky enough to find a small bottle of gin in my Christmas stocking I will enjoy a few drinks! (I certainly can't afford alcohol on a regular basis!)

maiden_scotland

brendang wrote: »

Hi DX2,yes i get ESA income based and low rate personal care Dla at the moment,but i never knew anything about such payments as these any idea if i qualify and if so do i contact them,ps ive had a letter telling me im getting my xmas bonus also today if that counts for anything,tia

this site tells you if your area has been triggered for a cold weather payment, if it has it then gets paid directly into your account although it can take up to around 14 days

http://pensions.direct.gov.uk/en/cold-weather-payment/home.asp

pipkin71

catsmum2 wrote: »

Although i DO believe O.A.P.s are/SHOULD BE entitled to £250 plus to help in winter-BUT,am i the ONLY ONE who thinks that people on DLA-especially children-should be entitled to the extra fuel money too???I THINK MAYBE IM NOT?its costing me £40 a week on gas alone to keep house warm enough for my young son,whose on DLA for respiratory problems,and as cold/damp exacerbates this i feel its a benefit which should be given to DLA claimants as well,NOT just £25 a week-in this weather that goes nowhere!and do O.A.P.s get the extra £25 a wk ON TOP of the lump-sum payment??i dont know,but if so its only FAIR that disabled/sick people should get lump-sum payments also!

I think majority of benefits will have a qualifying level, some you will be entitled to, others you won't. It's just one of those things.

The 'benefits pot' is not a deep, never-ending one and although I can appreciate that it would be easier for you if you were also entitled to the winter fuel allowance, it wouldn't be easier for the country to have to send out millions more to you and everyone else who would then qualify for it.

I don't get the 'if OAP's get it, it's only fair disabled/sick do too'. You could apply that to many things but realistically, there has to be a cut off point.

Winter can be a difficult time, especially when you're ill and you need the heat turned up, but know that it will cost more money, but that can't be the responsibility of the government, you also have to do your part - save extra, if you can, during the summer months. Look at ways of insulating the house, so that the heat you do use doesn't escape through gaps, ect.

I have a DD with asthma, so appreciate how the cold weather can have an effect on their chests. Hopefully this spell won't cause to many problems for your DS.

Indie_Kid

Ddraig wrote: »

She claims DLA for being "thick".She claims,she cant cook,clean or organise bills.Yet she does all this.

You sure about that? You don't get DLA for "being thick".

Edited to add.
I have reported them.As you are not entitled to housing benefit or rent reduction with savings over 6000.They have more than 20,000 over their share in sale of the house.Nobody has done anything about them.They also said they were trying to see if he could drop an extra shift and get more wftc.

You can claim benefits and have more than £6000 in the bank. I've done it and it was legal.