Petition for Winter Fuel Payments for Sick and Disabled

margaretclare

But if you were to get AA at any rate, your minimum income would rise to £528.80 a week plus full council tax and full housing benefit!

This is not true.

AA is not a means-tested benefit. You'd only get council tax and housing benefit if you already fell into the means-tested range. You'd only get housing benefit anyway if you were paying rent, not if you were an owner-occupier.

DH and I both get AA. We each get SRP in our own right - and if we're comparing the number of years we were at work, then DH and I can boast almost a century in the workplace between us. We also get SERPS (S2P) plus annuities based on our former careers. These last put us well above the level for claiming any means-tested benefits. But we still qualify for AA and that helps us with things we can't do otherwise.

What you are missing is that you are not claiming any disability benefit. If you managed to get any rate of AA, you would get the above amounts.
Because two people together both getting AA, automatically qualifies you for a further £116.40 a week on top of the AA payments. Then as a couple each will receive the Carers Premium of £32.60 eacH.

No, you're wrong about this. Nothing 'automatically' qualifies us for anything. Only if you're in the means-tested category. You seem to be confusing people who're on AA/DLA and qualifying for means-tested benefits with those whose income is from other sources and who fall above that dividing line.

I am not worried about this, not feeling hard-done-by, because I prefer it the way things are. The AA payments help us to stay mobile, for instance, and not become housebound.

rotoguys

I agree that AA is not means tested. However AA when coupled with another AA award does bring big increases to those on Pension Credit.

Simple maths tells me that your joint income is in excess of £400 a week + the AA payments, other wise you would be claiming PC.

Good luck to you. But what you have to remember is that thet sort of level of income is the exception and not the norm. Many over 60's couples are actually trying to manage to live on just over £200 a week!!
There are also some couples whose joint State Pension is just over £160 a week.

As I have said, you are most fortunate to have had the opportunity to be given not only private pensions but an uplifted State Pension.

We were managing to live on £257 a week, pay council tax and pay the mortgage.

Invalidation

rotoguys wrote: »

We were managing to live on £257 a week, pay council tax and pay the mortgage.

And you still had enough to buy an Electronic Drum kit? I'm impressed.

BTW Give up drumming, Drummers arent musicians.

margaretclare

There are also some couples whose joint State Pension is just over £100 a week.

Sigh.

You do not get 'joint' State Retirement Pension. You get it as 2 individuals.

As I have said, you are most fortunate to have had the opportunity to be given not only private pensions but an uplifted State Pension.

Fortunate? Given? I would prefer to say that it was down to planning, looking ahead a little bit, working darned hard for qualifications, working silly shifts, working summers while a mature student, making better choices. You seem to be implying that we both sat on our a*ses and these things dropped out of the sky. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I was 'fortunate' in that I had friends who knew about such things and could inform me how ill-advised it was to pay 'married women's NI contributions'. Paying full NI, and paying into the NHS pension scheme, those were 2 of the best decisions I ever made.

I was not left a wealthy widow when my first husband's death in 1992 coincided with my redundancy. I still had a mortgage to pay then. DH survived 2 costly divorces. He gets quite a lot of SERPS because he was never contracted out. Fortunately he hadn't a private pension otherwise his ex would have claimed half of it. He also gets an annuity from his 'golden goodbye' at the time his company folded. That was already in payment so his ex couldn't get her mitts on any of it - but she tried!!

I am well aware that a lot of people are very badly-off. And what, may I ask, am I supposed to do about it?

rotoguys

Invalidation wrote: »

And you still had enough to buy an Electronic Drum kit? I'm impressed.

BTW Give up drumming, Drummers arent musicians.

1. Yes I did out of the backdated DLA payment they sent me.
2. That is your opinion. Maybe you should peak to the like of Baker and Collins and suggest that they aren't musicians.
Sounds to me that you have never played drums to make that comment.

But more importantly what has your post got to do with the subject in hand that this thread is trying to deal with?

rotoguys

margaretclare wrote: »

Sigh.

You do not get 'joint' State Retirement Pension. You get it as 2 individuals.

Fortunate? Given? I would prefer to say that it was down to planning, looking ahead a little bit, working darned hard for qualifications, working silly shifts, working summers while a mature student, making better choices. You seem to be implying that we both sat on our a*ses and these things dropped out of the sky. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I was 'fortunate' in that I had friends who knew about such things and could inform me how ill-advised it was to pay 'married women's NI contributions'. Paying full NI, and paying into the NHS pension scheme, those were 2 of the best decisions I ever made.

I was not left a wealthy widow when my first husband's death in 1992 coincided with my redundancy. I still had a mortgage to pay then. DH survived 2 costly divorces. He gets quite a lot of SERPS because he was never contracted out. Fortunately he hadn't a private pension otherwise his ex would have claimed half of it. He also gets an annuity from his 'golden goodbye' at the time his company folded. That was already in payment so his ex couldn't get her mitts on any of it - but she tried!!

I am well aware that a lot of people are very badly-off. And what, may I ask, am I supposed to do about it?

Maybe show a bit more compassion and try and put yourself in their shoes for a week!

Or maybe, gift some of your income on an annual basis to say Age UK or other worthwhile charities that enable the poorer of society to have access to things that you take for granted.

By the way, I didn't squander my life either. Not only have I had an university education but I also hold a professional qualification.

I must admit I never used them to any extent preferring to have a more simpler life than one that was just a 'money making machine'.

I had two ambitions before I left senior school. One was to be a sandwich board man the second, a farmer. Neither of these made my parents jump with joy, which is how I had the continued education and was made to feel guilty if I chose not to qualify in the profession.

swecri

Go back and read the first post of this thread.
You are all a bunch of self absorbed human beings. There are many places you can discuss, brag and compare what money you do or don't have coming in.
I'm desperate for people to sign my petition, your pointless discussions will deter people from the real purpose of this campaign.
Post your comments elsewhere please!

sunnyone

swecri wrote: »

Go back and read the first post of this thread.
You are all a bunch of self absorbed human beings. There are many places you can discuss, brag and compare what money you do or don't have coming in.
I'm desperate for people to sign my petition, your pointless discussions will deter people from the real purpose of this campaign.
Post your comments elsewhere please!

You dont like it, you post elsewhere, no one is forcing you to read/post on here.

You posted here for OUR HELP, you are also tarting yourself around other sites/trying to get media attention so you need us, we dont need you.

Richie-from-the-Boro

swecri wrote: »

Go back and read the first post of this thread.
You are all a bunch of self absorbed human beings. There are many places you can discuss, brag and compare what money you do or don't have coming in.
I'm desperate for people to sign my petition, your pointless discussions will deter people from the real purpose of this campaign.
Post your comments elsewhere please!

swecri / Sarah,

I've read your thread each of the 3 days its been live, and have thus far stayed out of the thread. However calling those in this thread ' self absorbed' is hypocritical, you are on record as starting this crusade for personal 'felt deserving' gain.

You have, and have had for years, a 'bee in your bonnet' because all people over 60 get the winter fuel payment, regardless of their income or their needs. Your grinding irritation that your own Grandparents who have double your disposable income get it and you at the young age of 21 did not is one of your observations.

You have a well documented view that you personally [STRIKE]all people[/STRIKE] should get extra help with heating costs in the shape of WFP's since 2008. On this and other boards you have had little success with your capacity to persuade the Nation to pay additional heating costs for 'sickness' in addition to that already paid for the AP's.

I wish you well with your endeavours, but suspect in this case your selective platform will garner very little support, at only 356 you do have a year left, so maybe you will persuade this Government to spend many more bi££ions on your particular wishlist. You are of course correct, there are many people in this thread in particular and on these boards in general who are self absorbed, but I put it to you they are no more or less 'self absorbed' than you are, hence my observation on your hypocrisy.

Sorry Sarah, I will not support your petition.

NOTE1 : Unlike your good self the Nations AP's are a proud lot and records over the last 5 decades show that millions of individuals do not claim their entitlement, the only way to ensure they are provided for is to make the payments mandatory non means tested and automatic. If some goes to those you view as 'less deserving' like your own Grandparents so be it, we .. .. this island Nation makes sure we care for our old folks!

NOTE2 : Switching the WFP/CWP to 'means tested' is nothing more than a computer click away and virtually cost free. Modus already exists and is used daily to anonymise the personal details of those entitled to help when supplied to the [private sector] energy / water companies.

margaretclare

rotoguys wrote: »

Maybe show a bit more compassion and try and put yourself in their shoes for a week!

Or maybe, gift some of your income on an annual basis to say Age UK or other worthwhile charities that enable the poorer of society to have access to things that you take for granted.

I shall not support AgeUK while they deny the existence of England. I.e. Age Cymru, Age Scotland, but not Age England.

There are very many other worthy causes needing help, and some of them are much, much closer to my heart than is AgeUK. If I was wealthy enough to endow a foundation it might be for research towards a cure for Alzheimer's. I have a step-GD who wants to do biochemical research in that sort of area. Her education is costing huge amounts of money. Mine came free, and I was even paid a student grant!

I take nothing for granted. Nothing at all. Nil, nada, zilch. I am thankful for every day that dawns and, in particular, for the fact that we are able to sit here in the warm looking out on to this cold, cold world and not have to go anywhere or do anything. In addition, we were at a funeral yesterday some 70 miles from home - a lovely man who did not deserve to die in the pain he was in the last time we saw him, about 3 weeks ago.

By the way, I didn't squander my life either. Not only have I had an university education but I also hold a professional qualification.

Snap. Me too.

I must admit I never used them to any extent preferring to have a more simpler life than one that was just a 'money making machine'.

I had two ambitions before I left senior school. One was to be a sandwich board man the second, a farmer. Neither of these made my parents jump with joy, which is how I had the continued education and was made to feel guilty if I chose not to qualify in the profession.

Different. It was the opposite of what was expected of me. I had to struggle for it, that's why I appreciate it a lot more.