Wealthy pensioners asked to donate winter fuel payments

evenasus

MrRee wrote: »

To be honest - I need the Winter Fuel Payment to heat my Swimming Pool ..

It costs a lot more than the winter fuel payment to heat my pool for the 6 months it's in use.

MrRee_2

evenasus wrote: »

It costs a lot more than the winter fuel payment to heat my pool for the 6 months it's in use.

That's true .... mine is indoor, so is cheaper to heat - maybe yours is outdoors?

But the payment helps in some small way .....

mufi

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

OK, that's you, but there are plenty of people who do need the money - and they are often the people I know at U3A; my friends also don't have money for expensive restaurants. We do eat out occasionally, but usually lunch when it's cheaper, eat cheaply, and often where there are special deals. Similarly I like to go to the cinema, but we go on Tuesdays when it's cheap, and we go for a cup of tea in a nearby restaurant.

Your anecdotes are not representative of everyone. Plenty of people who are really grateful for the WFP, thank you.

I may have been a little long-winded, but actually we are in accord, in fact I go further than you and believe that everyone in fuel poverty should get some assistance with energy bills. What I dislike is the view, oft expressed by my generation and reinforced by the Winter Fuel Allowance, that all pensioners are hard up; age has little to do with income.

Giving money to 40% taxpayers, usually with low-ish outgoings and no mortgage, is quite insane.

mufi

kittie wrote: »

I

There is an awful lot of jealousy about, who cares if good restaurants are packed with oldies (not us, we take packed lunches out), they make employment for people. Time to live and let live as being bitter only shortens your life

I'm an oldie, in receipt of the WFA, so no bitterness. It pays for quite a few lunches out, while pondering on the poor devils who are at working paying for it through their taxes. My only point is that it is directed wrongly, at people like me instead of those in need, regardless of their year of birth.

evenasus

MrRee wrote: »

That's true .... mine is indoor, so is cheaper to heat - maybe yours is outdoors?

But the payment helps in some small way .....

Yes, mine is outdoors - but has a dome over it.
The dome also helps to heat the pool - when the sun shines that is!

The pool is mainly for the grandchildren. I only go in when the water temperature is 30 degrees and above.
If it's been sunny for several days, the water can reach 40 degrees.

Going4TheDream

mufi wrote: »

I may have been a little long-winded, but actually we are in accord, in fact I go further than you and believe that everyone in fuel poverty should get some assistance with energy bills. What I dislike is the view, oft expressed by my generation and reinforced by the Winter Fuel Allowance, that all pensioners are hard up; age has little to do with income.

Giving money to 40% taxpayers, usually with low-ish outgoings and no mortgage, is quite insane.

Just the type of people I imagine the charity that made the donation suggestion are targeting with their idea and I imagine you will be 'donating' yours to help those less fortunate seeing as you seem to think it 'insane' that you get it at all and state quite clearly don't appear to need it?

A._Badger

Going4TheDream wrote: »

Just the type of people I imagine the charity that made the donation suggestion are targeting with their idea and I imagine you will be 'donating' yours to help those less fortunate seeing as you seem to think it 'insane' that you get it at all and state quite clearly don't appear to need it?

You don't just get the WFP flumping through your letter flap in a buff envelope one merry day - you have to make an effort and fill in a form.

I'm always suspicious of people who protest they are in receipt of it and don't want it. To say the least they are being economical with the truth. Like 'Lord' Sugar, to name just one, who made such a fuss about it a few years ago.

MrRee_2

Once you have claimed once it just pops through the letterbox, actually paid into the Bank - which is rather nice.

The pool doesn't heat itself!!