Petition for Winter Fuel Payments for Sick and Disabled

colin13

is it not given to those on income support,as well as over 60s,but got to agree ,people under 60 with a disability should be entilted tto it as well

Torry_Quine

have signed it.

[Deleted User]

there is NO chance of this govt widening the scope of ANY benefit,especially if it helps the disabled
i wont be signing as i prefer to campaign to stop benefits being removed atm,and tbh even a million signatures wouldnt get this debated

swecri

As I stated in my original post: 'A petition has been started to force the Government to reconsider the eligibility of those who can claim Winter Fuel Payments.'

I don't mention anywhere that I am hoping the Government will pay the Winter Fuel Payment to ALL sick and Disabled people. I am asking that the Government 'RECONSIDER THE ELIGIBILITY'

There is something to be said for a 62 year old who uses her Winter Fuel Payment to put a deposit down for a winter holiday, when a 25 year old Raynauds and Scleroderma sufferer has to be admitted to hospital every 6 weeks of her life (for the last 8 years!) for treatment for her digital ulcers ALL because she cannot afford to heat her home adequately.

The above is not the only example I have come across since I set the petition up, the problem seems to be more common that I originally realised.

Surely the cost of assessing those who apply for Winter Fuel Payment will be reaped back through less hospital admissions, less need for medication, less visits to the GP, less pneumonia, hypothermia, flu, and other similar cold related conditions. I agree that statistically people over 60 years old are more prone to being vulnerable to cold related illnesses, however younger people are sometimes JUST as vulnerable IF NOT MORE vulnerable to cold related illnesses.

To those of you who have said you won't sign the petition please try to realise what I have just explained. To those of you who have signed, Thank You, you are why I have started this petition....

ailz95

A few years ago now I went to meet Maria or was it Angela Eagles regarding this. Her view was that middle rate care allowance is to pay for extra heat and so on. The following week I was back to speak to a committee chaired by Lord Jack Ashton. I explained that the government's answer is always that Middle Rate care allowance pays for it. Whether it is extra heating or laundry or, as I was told, to subsidise my DH's carer allowance. I asked how come - what is now - £55.55 can be paid for a minimum 37.5 hours - this was just after the minimum wage was brought in - and the answer was that Middle rate care allowance was paid to cover it.

I have asked about heating allowance several times since - every time I meet/hear from an MP and each time I'm told that there is no way that any government will make this change. It's just too expensive. It's time something was done about it.

rotoguys

woodbine wrote: »

there is NO chance of this govt widening the scope of ANY benefit,especially if it helps the disabled
i wont be signing as i prefer to campaign to stop benefits being removed atm,and tbh even a million signatures wouldnt get this debated

Why?

With that sort of attitude you are saying that nothing should change!

I have clearly shown just in my own case, I am receiving far more than I need.
I am entitled to these benefits as it stands as are 1000's of other over 60's, but come on, paying a couple in their 60's (my wife is I'm not) over £650 a week in meanstested benefits/disability benefits is taking it too far!!

Who actually needs that level of support?

swecri

@ Aliz95
Thank you for your post!
The argument of 'DLA should pay for the extra heat needed' is a cop out. I don't accept this, the DLA benefit (when used properly!) is intended to be used for day to day care. How can people be expected to use the DLA money during the winter months if they need to employ someone to help them get dressed, cook meals, be accompanied by a carer. These needs don't decrease during the winter months, in most cases their needs increase. How are people who are sick and disabled supposed to pay for it all out of one DLA benefit which is already accounted for by paying for care?!
Furthermore, applying after the age of 65 one then is no longer entitled to DLA but has to claim for Attendance Allowance. If a claim for DLA is processed before someone is 65, then after their 65th birthday this DLA benefit does not then turn into AA, it stays as DLA. Resulting in some at 60 (the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payment) being entitled to BOTH DLA and WFP. This stays in place after the claimant reaches 65 also. So if this is the case how can the Government justify the reason of no Winter Fuel Payment for people in receipt of DLA if they ALREADY pay both DLA and WFP to some?!

I am absolutely not going to be railroaded by poor excuses thrown at me by people who like to think they are running the country efficiently. Please please PLEASE sign the petition, and if you're on Facebook or Twitter please repost the link asking your friends and family to sign and repost. I am being admitted to hospital tomorrow and will be using most of my time up by pestering the media and government officials via my laptop!

thank you all for your input

C_Mababejive

Nothing is for free. If more people get winter fuel payments,then someone else will have to pay. Speaking as someone who works many anti social hours and still has to count the pennies and keep the heating use to a minimum,i dont particularly see how its fair that i work long and hard,ration my gas and yet pay for others to warm their collective backsides regardless of need or income.

krisskross

No one has mentioned the cold weather payments.

I am sure many people received more than the WFA last year.

i am sure if the WFA scope was widened then the cold weather payments would stop.

rotoguys

krisskross wrote: »

No one has mentioned the cold weather payments.

I am sure many people received more than the WFA last year.

i am sure if the WFA scope was widened then the cold weather payments would stop.

CWP are means tested, WFA isn't.

A much smaller number of people receive CWP than they do WFA.