Wealthy pensioners asked to donate winter fuel payments

Graham_Devon

I like this story

Why they get them in the first place is another matter.

Well-off pensioners are being asked to donate their winter fuel payments to those who are struggling to keep warm.

Every winter the government makes tax-free fuel payments to eligible people, to help towards their heating costs.

This year, pensioners aged over 80 will receive a payment of £300, while those aged under 80 will receive £200 after the government opted not to continue with a temporary increase in the payments. The payments are not means-tested, so go to all pensioners, irrespective of their wealth.

The Surviving Winter appeal is calling on those who do not need the money to donate it to a fund for those in greater need over the winter.

The "fuel-anthropy" initiative, which was previously piloted in Somerset, is being backed by groups including the Community Foundation Network and Saga, as well as famous names such as Sir Terry Wogan and Sir David Jason.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/10/wealthy-pensioners-winter-fuel-payments

proactive

i'd imagine that the problem with means-testing pensioners for the payment is that the means-testing would cost more than, or at least close to the payments themselves

FTBFun

I suspect they go to everyone so every pensioner has a "stake" in the welfare system, as is (was?) done with child benefit.

Plus a bit of what proactive said.

wotsthat

It's an odd one - the government found it fairly easy to link child benefit payments to higher rate taxpayers but couldn't quite extend the logic to pensioners paying 40% tax and receiving WFB.

Looks like a typical guilt campaign though to prevent the headline 'millionaire Wogan refuses to help old people'.

proactive

i'd also wager that even wealthy pensioners will not c o c k their noses up at £300 in any significant number.

(blocked that word? really?)

IveSeenTheLight

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I like this story

Why they get them in the first place is another matter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/10/wealthy-pensioners-winter-fuel-payments

I can see where they are going with this.
They're plucking the heart strings with the emotive aspect.

Isn't this similar however to wealthier tax payers "donating" more towards those on benefits?

On another point, I heard on the radio the other daythat part of the reason Uni fees are being raised to potentially £9k, is to fund the cuts made elsewhere.

FTBFun

wotsthat wrote: »

It's an odd one - the government found it fairly easy to link child benefit payments to higher rate taxpayers but couldn't quite extend the logic to pensioners paying 40% tax and receiving WFB.

Looks like a typical guilt campaign though to prevent the headline 'millionaire Wogan refuses to help old people'.

Pensioner's tend to actually vote, I'd wager.

Graham_Devon

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

I can see where they are going with this.
They're plucking the heart strings with the emotive aspect.

I don't think they are doing that. They are just asking wealthy pensioners to help other much poorer pensioners out by donating the money they got for doing nothing, and don't need.

lilac_lady

The last Tory government sold off our gas and electricity businesses. It's hypocritical for this Tory government to ask one section of the public to subsidise another because of their past greed. IMO.

wotsthat

FTBFun wrote: »

Pensioner's tend to actually vote, I'd wager.

I bet a lot more people (votes) were affected by the child benefit changes. How many pensioners can there be paying 40% tax - I'd suggest that, as a percentage the numbers are pretty small.

Graham_Devon

lilac_lady wrote: »

The last Tory government sold off our gas and electricity businesses. It's hypocritical for this Tory government to ask one section of the public to subsidise another because of their past greed. IMO.

The tory government are not the ones asking.