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

SandraDJ

The winter fuel allowance is an entitlement to anyone who claims a state pension. If people choose to defer their pension, then they don't get the allowance.

I imagine that the residents are paying rent, and utility costs are factored into the rent. Therefore they are paying for heating. The WFA is therefore theirs.

They shouldn't be asked to donate it.

Tall_Ian

It was not our almshouse trust in the original question, but having seen so many responses form people incredulous and refusing to believe that there could possibly be such a thing as charitable housing in this country, I felt I had to respond. It is a tiny proportion of our housing stock, but the diference almshouses make to their residents, and to the communities in which they are located cannot be under-estimated.

There seems to be a presumption that no-one would pay for their residents heating as a charitable enterprise, and sadly some respondents seem to still refuse to believe that altruistic generosity exists in the 21st century - maybe that says more about them than the subject being discussed?

I also find it fascinating how many people will argue until they are blue in the face that their chosen position must be the morally right position, disregarding facts and making up fictions to support it. It is surely true for all of us that we at times have mixed motives, and sometime we can make a decision which in our heart of hearts we may not feel is morally right, but what we see as our own best interests over-rules that moral feeling. Surely that is the point of moral dilemmas?

Cardew

Tall_Ian wrote: »

I also find it fascinating how many people will argue until they are blue in the face that their chosen position must be the morally right position, disregarding facts and making up fictions to support it. It is surely true for all of us that we at times have mixed motives, and sometime we can make a decision which in our heart of hearts we may not feel is morally right, but what we see as our own best interests over-rules that moral feeling. Surely that is the point of moral dilemmas?

I agree with the thrust of your posts, but the problem with the original post was that very few facts were given.

grabpen

I live in a one bedroom flat in charity housing complex. I moved here two years ago after my husband died, part of my monthly rent to the charity includes a fee for heating at the cost of £17 per WEEK" which covers heating but not electricity for fridge freezer cooking ironing etc for which I pay my energy provider £30 a month After rent, council tax, content ins, phone etc I am left with around £40.per week for food, clothes household goods. I also pay for my glasses and dentist. For the two years I have lived here my "rent" has increased by the same amount the government has given me in increase in pension. £8.00 the first year £13 this year and I am expecting the rise in April to be taken as well, my council tax has also increased each year so in fact I am worse off than I was two years ago. I manage by using what little saving I have, Please don't think all pensioners are all living a "rich cosy" life I can assure we are not. I think the winter fuel payment is there to help because I do pay for my heating in my rent and electricity through the year. I suspect a lot of charity housing associations do cover the heating in the rent they charge.

luvchocolate

Sandra DJ can I correct you please, people reaching state pension age are entitled to the fuel allowance..even if the choose to defer their pension, however the £10 Christmas bonus is not paid.

prosaver

grabpen wrote: »

I live in a one bedroom flat in charity housing complex. I moved here two years ago after my husband died, part of my monthly rent to the charity includes a fee for heating at the cost of £17 per WEEK" which covers heating but not electricity for fridge freezer cooking ironing etc for which I pay my energy provider £30 a month After rent, council tax, content ins, phone etc I am left with around £40.per week for food, clothes household goods. I also pay for my glasses and dentist. For the two years I have lived here my "rent" has increased by the same amount the government has given me in increase in pension. £8.00 the first year £13 this year and I am expecting the rise in April to be taken as well, my council tax has also increased each year so in fact I am worse off than I was two years ago. I manage by using what little saving I have, Please don't think all pensioners are all living a "rich cosy" life I can assure we are not. I think the winter fuel payment is there to help because I do pay for my heating in my rent and electricity through the year. I suspect a lot of charity housing associations do cover the heating in the rent they charge.

I thought that , when a pensioner u got free dentist and glasses , anyways your heating bill is to high you should complain about that ..mineds gas and electric about 65 amonth and have it on most of the time. That charity trusts making money out of you.. form a committee

grabpen

Even with NHS you are still charges for dentist fees. I have recently paid £13 50 for cleaning and polishing, which I don't begrudge because it all helps to keep me healthy. When you live on your own with no children you don't tend to question the landlords.

Cardew

grabpen wrote: »

I live in a one bedroom flat in charity housing complex. I moved here two years ago after my husband died, part of my monthly rent to the charity includes a fee for heating at the cost of £17 per WEEK" which covers heating but not electricity for fridge freezer cooking ironing etc for which I pay my energy provider £30 a month .

That does not seem to be 'sheltered accommodation' and as you pay for heating there is obviously no expectation that you should give your WFA to the Charity.


Is that £17 a week, every week of the year? i.e. £884pa


May we ask your rent and location?

grabpen

The wording is £17 each week towards heating, Yes it is 52 weeks of the year. There are three radiators in my flat. I don't wish to give my area as I am afraid of losing my flat if I complain.

luvchocolate

A sheltered housing complex I viewed in Yorkshire to the nearest £
rent for a single flat £300
service charge £135
support charge £21
Heating and hot water £33
water rates £9

This a charity sheltered housing so the thoughts that these are for poor pensioners are very wrong £498 per month!!!