How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

mardatha

thank you

ChocClare

What I find most ridiculous about the winter fuel payment is that it is paid to everyone, regardless of circumstances. Every single person in my care home gets it, despite the fact that they do NOT have to pay anything extra for heating in the winter - and the ambient temperature is completely sweltering.

So 63 people x £300 = £18,900 just in one care home. The sister of one of our residents rang me to say, "why on earth has Bill been given this? It's outrageous! He doesn't need it at all." She then presented me with a cheque on his behalf for £300 to put into our amenity account which helps those residents who are supported by the charity. Funnily enough, even those of our residents who have only £18.30 a week "pocket money" to live on because their fees are paid for by social services ALWAYS come to me to say should they send the money back because they obviously shouldn't be entitled to it. I tell them to spend it on gin but I do find it ridiculous that they get it (and the men usually tell me they prefer whisky anyway).

Apparently it would be more expensive to means test it than simply to give it to everyone but I'd much rather Mrs Miggins in her own draughty little house choosing between food and heating should be given a bit extra than that our residents, who don't need it, should be given an extra "Christmas present"...

Beccah_3

bertiebots wrote: »

Beccah I really feel for your poor dad and hope you manage to sort things out .

Thanks Bertiebots. Apologies all for my late-night, overly emotional rambling, a new day has given me some much needed perspective especially as other people are going through truely awful things right now.
Welsh Camper...I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I know that nothing we can say will ease your pain, but you're in my thoughts and prayers.

zarazara

Adding My Condolances to Welshcamper.

lostinrates

ChocClare wrote: »

What I find most ridiculous about the winter fuel payment is that it is paid to everyone, regardless of circumstances..

It is crazy, not means testing too. Some of the very wealthiest people I know are pensioners, one octogenarian living alone in a huge multi million pound London house getting the winter fuel payment is almost as wasteful as the shocking amount coming into the care home residents. And two payments to a household of a couple.....two can keep warmer than one a lone!

ceridwen

ChocClare wrote: »

What I find most ridiculous about the winter fuel payment is that it is paid to everyone, regardless of circumstances. Every single person in my care home gets it, despite the fact that they do NOT have to pay anything extra for heating in the winter - and the ambient temperature is completely sweltering.

So 63 people x £300 = £18,900 just in one care home. The sister of one of our residents rang me to say, "why on earth has Bill been given this? It's outrageous! He doesn't need it at all." She then presented me with a cheque on his behalf for £300 to put into our amenity account which helps those residents who are supported by the charity. Funnily enough, even those of our residents who have only £18.30 a week "pocket money" to live on because their fees are paid for by social services ALWAYS come to me to say should they send the money back because they obviously shouldn't be entitled to it. I tell them to spend it on gin but I do find it ridiculous that they get it (and the men usually tell me they prefer whisky anyway).

Apparently it would be more expensive to means test it than simply to give it to everyone but I'd much rather Mrs Miggins in her own draughty little house choosing between food and heating should be given a bit extra than that our residents, who don't need it, should be given an extra "Christmas present"...

Well - I guess, in fairness, that that £18.30 "pocket money" per week has to cover social expenses/hobbies/interests/newspapers/cosmetics/any health care costs the NHS doesnt cover/clothes/presents & cards - so, in their position, I would regard this as a measly few £s extra income per week and take it. I would regard it as still having only round about £25 per week that had to cover everything except bills/Council Tax/some of the food costs (as I would be supplementing the food provided with "healthy extras" personally) and it wouldnt be enough...but then I shall never be in that position anyway...as I wouldnt go into a home...so 'tis just my twopennorth that I dont personally think care home residents get a high enough income to cover the "everything else" costs and I'm shocked by how little they are allocated towards that...

Must admit that if I were the "Bill" mentioned that my sister would have received an "earful" if I found out she had tried complaining about my "personal money"....and told her, in no uncertain times, that it was ever so nice of her to give money towards the amenity fund from HER money....because she certainly wasnt authorised to spend MINE....

shegar

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Talking of cars I got mine service yesterday for almost £200, it is a Citroen C5 2l diesel. It's very energy efficient with very low emissions. I love my car, but it was becoming more and more uneconomic to run. What a difference the service has made, I only drove it for about forty minutes yesterday, but it is running much better, and although there is another job to do on it on Monday, which will cost £80, I am quite happy to stick with it for as long as it is working. It costs about £75 now to fill the tank though

Ive had the picasso now for 19 months, it sailed through last Augusts MOT, I had it serviced the other day , had to also have 2 new tryes , brakes done , cost £226.00, so I suppose it wasnt too bad, you always will get wear and tear on brakes and tryes first......................
I didnt count on the fridge going wrong day before I had car serviced so just took delivery of the new fridge today......

I would have waited without one for a week or 2 but ive got insulin to keep cool, so it was needs must.............plus warmer weather and knowing the milk wouldnt keep without fridge.........

Theres always something that will go wrong, you always have to have what I call "back up money behind you"....if you dont have any , then something for sure will go wrong, its sods law..............

Had the heating off during last week as its been warmer, but talk is of cooler weather this weekend, so probaly flick the switch on here and there to keep temp up a bit.....................at least ive been able to dry all the washing in the past week on the line, so that do save a bit of leccy.........................

JIL

Care homes and winter fuel payments
Not everyone who lives in a care home gets the Winter fuel payment it depends on their circumstances, and the benefits and funding they get. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/inretirement/dg_10018657

I do agree though I hate to think in this day and age anyone has to make the choice between eating and heating.

ChocClare

JIL wrote: »

Care homes and winter fuel payments
Not everyone who lives in a care home gets the Winter fuel payment it depends on their circumstances, and the benefits and funding they get. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/inretirement/dg_10018657

I do agree though I hate to think in this day and age anyone has to make the choice between eating and heating.

Thanks for this, this made me remember that people in care homes get £200, not £300, so not quite so big a cost for our home as I said earlier.

However, it seems they do still get the £200 except if they are on pension credit (ie the poorest) in which case they get nothing - have I read that wrongly? Or is it the usual thing of the government giving with one hand and taking away with the other (and still giving to the chap with more money than he knows what to do with? )

modern_millie_2

Welshcamper, so sorry for your loss.

Re: cars, we have a VW Fox, 4 years old, 1.4l engine, quite economical, only had it 6 months or so, so not really sure of bills yet, but strangely lots of road noise. Also have, but planning to dump, 2002 Nissan Almeira, 1.8l engine, expensive to tax, heavy on petrol, but comfy with all sorts of nice little compartments and gadgets - specially like the sort of pincer things that hold your cup or bottle. Used to have a Renault which we liked very much until it got old and unreliable.

When I was a student I used to keep my old Vauxhall Viva (anyone remember them?) very clean in the hope that if I looked after it it would'nt break down.