cold weatherV.winter fuel payments

DX2

Ddraig wrote: »

No wonder there is nothing left.

Correct me if I am wrong you get more in benefits than in wages :whistle:

DX2

Ddraig wrote: »

But the kids go without all the time.Whilst she and her man dont.It makes me sick.

So have you been in touch with Social Services then?

KxMx

Edited, wrong info posted, sorry!

Trialia

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.

What I think you're missing here is that we have to find the heating expenses for whichever very cold week triggers the CWP at the time, out of any other money we would have, and they don't put the CWP through for a couple of weeks after that, so people might've taken the heating money out of something like rent at the time and need to put that money back in their rent kitty. Did you think of that? I think you didn't.

krisskross

Trialia wrote: »

What I think you're missing here is that we have to find the heating expenses for whichever very cold week triggers the CWP at the time, out of any other money we would have, and they don't put the CWP through for a couple of weeks after that, so people might've taken the heating money out of something like rent at the time and need to put that money back in their rent kitty. Did you think of that? I think you didn't.

This would only matter to people with prepayments meters, unarguably the most expensive method of buying fuel.

Ddraig

DX2 wrote: »

Someone has been naughty and deleted their posts

Apologies for doing so,but it kind of turned into more of an issue than I wished it to.Take care x

Trialia

krisskross wrote: »

This would only matter to people with prepayments meters, unarguably the most expensive method of buying fuel.

They're also unarguably the most common among those of us on very low incomes, because many fuel companies won't let us go without a prepayment meter.

I have one. I've had to put double my usual amount into the gas meter this past fortnight because I needed to stay warm - and I had to borrow that money. I'll pay it back from the CWP that was triggered last week, but that hasn't come through yet, and I needed the funds in my meter then.

It doesn't make it a less valid point that it only applies to people with prepayment meters - how are the DWP to know who has one and who doesn't without home visits?

Trialia

DX2 wrote: »

Not that they won't let you have gas/electric on a credit meter, pre payment meters are for those who haven't paid previous bills and have a bad credit rating.

Not always. I have never had a place of my own before this, never had an account with a utility operator beyond telephone, and I think that probably has something to do with it. My credit rating is fairly low, but only because I've never applied for a credit card or wanted to.

Indie_Kid

Trialia wrote: »

Not always. I have never had a place of my own before this, never had an account with a utility operator beyond telephone, and I think that probably has something to do with it. My credit rating is fairly low, but only because I've never applied for a credit card or wanted to.

A current account and the like can change your credit rating.

Trialia

sh1305 wrote: »

A current account and the like can change your credit rating.

*sighs* I have a working current account. They still said that it would be a bad idea. I'm thinking about changing my provider in future, but it isn't happening right now - I don't have the spoons to do it at the present time.

What I'm saying is that plenty of people on low incomes have prepayment meters - for various reasons! - so the voucher system would not be workable for a lot of people who are now in receipt of CWPs. And that is all.