Winter fuel allowance.

Cardew

Further to my post#20 on the newspaper's sensational reporting of Excess Winter Mortality(EWM) rates, the BBC have just posted this article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34919149

There were an estimated 43,900 excess deaths in England and Wales last winter, the highest number since 1999, figures show.

The report suggests most of the deaths involved people over 75.

The flu virus was a major cause of the rise, along with an influenza vaccine that was less effective than those of previous years, experts said.

The figures are published by the Office for National Statistics and show there were more deaths in women than men.

'Notably high'

Commenting on the statistics, Claudia Wells, at the ONS, said: "A major cause behind the rise was the flu virus, with estimates showing that the flu vaccine was not as effective this winter compared to previous years.




"While the cold temperature is a factor, most of last winter was warmer than average."

Respiratory illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia were the underlying causes of death in more than a third of all winter cases.

Experts say the strain of flu circulating last year had a greater impact on older people, resulting in a number of care home outbreaks and admissions to intensive care.


Meanwhile public health experts estimate that last year's flu vaccine was effective in just 34% of people.

Large fluctuations in winter death rates are not uncommon and there were lower than average figures in 2013-14.

But despite this experts warn this years figures are "notably high".

The ONS defines excess winter deaths as the number of people whose deaths were registered between December and March, compared with the numbers for the previous three months and the following three months.

For the winter, the death rate was 27% higher.
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1580C/production/_86867088_nhswinterwinterdeaths624.png

Figures published last month by the National Records of Scotland show that between December 2014 and March 2015 there were 22,011 registered deaths.

Some of the papers would have us believe that all those excess deaths were caused by pensioners freezing to death in their homes!!

2010

missbiggles1 wrote: »

And what level would you set that and what contributions would somebody need to have made to get it?

Same as me, forty four years full contributions for men (39 years for women) and £200 a week.
Scaled down pro rata from 44years.

All other pensioner entitlements abolished.
WFP, free TV, bus pass, etc.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The issue was WFA & EWM, and as expected lots of O/T minutiae chucked in obfuscating the issue on topic.

brewerdave

Back on original topic -WFA showing online this a.m ,having been paid yesterday - no letter,but as per froglet -what a waste of paper anyway!

frank777

from the over 50s forum - yesterday - for info

Letter today (dated 21/11) - money today :xmassmile
The staff are even working Saturday to get our payments out on time :beer:
Just one complaint, why does the letter indicate
Our phone number 0845 9151515
I suppose, it helps pay for the overtime

website indicates - 03459 15 15 15 - Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm