Money Moral Dilemma: Should residents turn over their Winter Fuel Payment?

gaving7095

I think suggesting that they could hand it over to help the charity which is helping them is fine.

Technosaurus

Much as I think the Winter Fuel Allowance is great in many circumstances, I find it ludicrous that people get paid it when in care / sheltered accommodation / abroad for winter / even after death if the dates "line up"! It seems to be a weird bonus for getting to a certain age regardless of circumstances, whereas it should be there to help independent older people with the cost of maintaining said independence in their later years.

I don't think the Charity in question should demand it, but do think there's a wider review called for here if "austerity measures" are the order of the day and means other benefits are getting clipped elsewhere in the welfare system.

I remember seeing William G Stewart from '15-to-1' appealing to get people living a comfortable retirement to donate theirs but I'm not sure what happened with that...

matelodave

WFA is a pension anomaly - although it's called what it is, it is part of your pension although for some reason the government decided to call it something different, made it tax free and ever so complicated (and I'd guess expensive) to administer. Why do we all need an individual letter to tell us we are getting it and a separate payment to be processed to get it to us.

It's really no different from any other pension in that those who've paid for it through their taxes (NI is a tax) get it in exactly the same way as those who haven't contributed a bean so I can't see why it generates such emotion every year.

AnneMary

They pay for their fuel in their rent. Fuel is therefore factored in what they pay every month.The winter fuel allowance is to help pay for the extra charges most people get in the winter. The fact your charity has even this out over the year doesn't mean they aren't paying more for fuel in the winter.
Therefore I don't feel you have any grounds to even ask for donations. Having extra money to spend for anyone can bring joy; whether they spend it on themselves or their grandchildren. Being old can be tough. Let them enjoy the extra money!

tindella

Well in an ideal world, the residents would be happy to hand over their allowance - after all, it is for winter fuel and if it's provided, they don't need the allowance.

I would give mine back, but then not everybody's as moral as me. It would be better if they didn't get it in the first place.

Pensioners are already criticised because we get it in the first place - and if anyone else moans to me again about my bus pass I'll stick it where the sun doesn't shine! I've paid for that in taxes for over 50 years (still working, still paying) - and I'm keeping the bus driver in a job!

Talent

The heating allowance is not a gift it's part of the pension. It was set up this way so that it can be stopped at anytime. If it had been added to the weekly pension it would stay forever. In my opinion it should be in the pension, a couple of quid a week increase. The cost of administering the £100 'gift' is ridiculous but I suppose it keeps a few minions in work?

Cardew

sparky0138 wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think low income has anything to do with it. The last I heard everyone of a certain age is given it whether you're on benefits, a millionaire or an expat living in a hot country.

It is one of the so called 'universal benefits' i.e. it is not means tested. The reason given in Parliament is that as it is a relatively small amount, it would not be worthwhile to means test the allowance as it would cost more in administrative charges than would be saved.

3. Eligibility



You may be able to get the payment if you live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country and you have a genuine link with the UK.
You can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

When you won’t qualify

You won’t qualify if throughout the week of 21 to 27 September 2015 you:

• are in prison
• are in hospital getting free treatment for more than 52 weeks
• need permission to enter the UK and don’t qualify for help from the Department for Work and Pensions
• have lived in a care home for the previous 12 weeks or more and get Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• lived in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain

[Deleted User]

You can "ask " them all you like but many of the residents will likely have a greater need. Alcohol ! Thats what has made them homeless in the first place and that is where most of their money will go and its a waste of time trying to stop them.

tgroom57

Celifein wrote: »

A lot of folk are assuming that the elderly residents are paying their rent and are therefore paying for the heating. As far as we know, this charity may be providing free accomodation or, if there is a rent payment (which may or may not cover costs, since the charity may be offering reduced rates), it may be paid via housing benefits due to the residents being on a low income. ....

From the details given in OP I cannot tell whether the accommodation is provided free, or if the residents pay some kind of rent. [STRIKE]If they are on a low income (Pension Credit, JSA ) it seems from post #19 they would not receive the WFA so the question of handing it over does not arise.[/STRIKE] << my bad, I missed the "and in a care home" element.

I'm in favour of residents keeping their WFA. The charity must ensure it has adequate funding from other sources.

janiebquick

But they ARE paying for their heating, it is included in their accommodation costs, just not as a separate payment. However, I was not aware until now that people in sheltered accommodation still got the winter fuel allowance, so thank you for that information.

The issue really is that winter fuel allowance is a universal benefit, paid to every household with someone over the age of 60 and it would cost more to means test it than it does to just pay it to every household that qualifies. Many households (mine included) don't really need this extra money, but it is up to each individual to decide what they do with it. It's quite possible that at least some of the residents do give the money to charity, but I would caution against anything that might be seen as coercion because the fact they are in sheltered housing could mean they lack the mental capacity to make an informed decision.