winter fuel payment

mumps

zygurat789 wrote: »

Your husband's pension is paid by the government, HMRC is an agency of that government, it chooses to call pensions a social security benefit as you will see if you read EIM76100.
I am only using the terminology of the provider of this income.
Why should your husband's pension not be a social security benefit when all other pensions are?

Because when they refer to pensions being benefits they are talking about SRP not the pension you get from your employer. It is not a benefit and the HMRC link clearly explains when it is not taxable, this is not just for a pension paid by the Government, it seems a disability attributed to your employment would be the same. Are you suggesting a private company paying you a pension are giving you a benefit rather than a pension?

I think you need to look at tax advice not benefits advice.

seven-day-weekend

We both got ours, mine a week later than my husband's. We both had letters first.

It will be spent on logs for our logburner.:A

margaretclare

Snowbird wrote: »

Why are you bothered about what someone else does with their money? What is so wrong about "even" buying grandchildren's Christmas presents with it?
I was out for a meal a couple of nights ago with a group of people who call themselves "The Old F**ts club". They range in age from nearly 90 to the youngest who is a mere slip of a girl at 73!
I was invited this year as an honorary member as I had recommended some investments for a couple of them.
Every year, around about this time, they go out for a meal to spend some of their WFA.
One chap said he would spend the remainder of his on loose women and hard liquor!
They are a hoot. I was reminded that I was invited for one year only, so I must make the most of it!
Why does it matter what someone spends their money on?

I refer you to Mable post # 60.

zygurat789

mumps wrote: »

Because when they refer to pensions being benefits they are talking about SRP not the pension you get from your employer. It is not a benefit and the HMRC link clearly explains when it is not taxable, this is not just for a pension paid by the Government, it seems a disability attributed to your employment would be the same. Are you suggesting a private company paying you a pension are giving you a benefit rather than a pension?

I think you need to look at tax advice not benefits advice.

Your original post was misleading

My husband's pension isn't taxable and it isn't added to other income. His pension is because of disability in the line of duty, maybe it is a special arrangement but I can assure you it isn't taxable

This implies that it was injury incurred in the service of his country not in the service of his employer. You should have been more explicit.

zygurat789

Snowbird wrote: »

Why are you bothered about what someone else does with their money? What is so wrong about "even" buying grandchildren's Christmas presents with it?
I was out for a meal a couple of nights ago with a group of people who call themselves "The Old F**ts club". They range in age from nearly 90 to the youngest who is a mere slip of a girl at 73!
I was invited this year as an honorary member as I had recommended some investments for a couple of them.
Every year, around about this time, they go out for a meal to spend some of their WFA.
One chap said he would spend the remainder of his on loose women and hard liquor!
They are a hoot. I was reminded that I was invited for one year only, so I must make the most of it!
Why does it matter what someone spends their money on?

A because it's not their money, it has been given to them for a reason.
I think their club is very aptly named.
You would appear to be a "financial consultant" (salesman) selling to people who have more than enough to live off.

mumps

zygurat789 wrote: »

Your original post was misleading


This implies that it was injury incurred in the service of his country not in the service of his employer. You should have been more explicit.

His employer was his country, he was employed and his pension is from that employment and not a social security benefit just like when he was paid for his work it was his salary not a benefit. Quite straightforward.


So there we have it, my husband pays no tax on his pension, his position is not unique even though most pensions are taxable. To be a non taxable pension it does not have to have been employment with the government but it can be.

It is useful income as is his DLA, and useful not to have to pay tax. Hope that helps to clarify the position.

He also gets the winter fuel payment which is extremely useful as his disability means he feels the cold and we have to keep the house very warm, warmer than I would choose but not much that we can do about it and it is expensive so we are grateful for the help and will be even more so when I retire and our income drops.

Snowbird

margaretclare wrote: »

I refer you to Mable post # 60.

I am not sure of the point you are making. The post refers to fuelling a debate. What is wrong with a debate?
Many people think WFA should be means tested. Others think it is part of the pension to which they have contributed. What is wrong with a discussion on that?
That is quite different from your criticism that people "even" spend it on presents. Something which you appear to disapprove of. However, what people spend their own money on is their own business. I am sure my dinner companions have more things to spend their time on than wondering about/making judgements on what you or any other people spend their money on.
It is largely irrelevant of course, because expenses can come out of different pockets and the fact that some say they are spending it on this, or spending on that, is rather light hearted. A point which most people seem to get.
The debate about whether it should be means tested of course is a perfectly reasonable and valid debate.

Snowbird

zygurat789 wrote: »

A because it's not their money, it has been given to them for a reason.
I think their club is very aptly named.
You would appear to be a "financial consultant" (salesman) selling to people who have more than enough to live off.

Of course its their money. Who else's money is it? If it has been given to them, it is theirs to spend.
No, I am not a financial consultant or salesman. I manage and research my own investments. I saw something at the beginning of the year which seemed like a good investment and mentioned it to some people.
How do you know they have "more than enough to live on"?
All you know is that they went out for a meal, and a couple of them put some of their savings into something else.
You have made rather a lot of assumptions based on the limited information in my post. Assumptions which are largely inaccurate.

Newly_retired

There's always the opportunity to redistribute the money to those who are destitute, if we don't need it ourselves.

thorsoak

Mine landed in my bank a/c yesterday - today I ordered 250 litres of heating oil - which will cost me £248. At least that will keep me warm for the winter ....provided it doesn't last until March!