Winter Fuel Allowance

Nick_C

Cardew wrote: »

Those eligible still have to claim, and it isn't mandatory to claim!

Not true. Few people have to claim it. If you are receiving SRP, it is paid automatically.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim

And it would be very cheap and easy to only give it to the poorest pensioners; limit it to those people getting Pension Credit.

It is ridiculous handing out £200 to wealthy pensioners who don't need it.

Same goes for free bus passes, free prescriptions, and free TV licenses.

matelodave

Nick_C wrote: »

Not true. Few people have to claim it. If you are receiving SRP, it is paid automatically.

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim

And it would be very cheap and easy to only give it to the poorest pensioners; limit it to those people getting Pension Credit.

It is ridiculous handing out £200 to wealthy pensioners who don't need it.

Same goes for free bus passes, free prescriptions, and free TV licenses.

Please define a wealthy pensioner, is it one who's also paid into a company scheme for 40 odd years as well as paying his NI contributions.

So you dont see it as what you get for paying NI contributions then. It's not actually a benefit it's an entitlement, It what you've paid for (as I said, assuming that you've been paying NI contributions).

It's a benefit for those who've not paid NI, not those who have.

Nick_C

matelodave wrote: »

It's not actually a benefit it's an entitlement, It what you've paid for (as I said, assuming that you've been paying NI contributions).

It's a benefit for those who've not paid NI, not those who have.

Its both a benefit and an entitlement. Currently.

It was only introduced in 1997, so in that sense many pensioners have not paid for it all!

When it was introduced, it was £20 for people on SRP and £50 for people on means tested benefits. If it had kept pace with inflation, it would now be £34 and £85

After 7.5 years of Tory Government, we are still getting deeper and deeper into debt,and the concept of a balanced budget is still not in sight. This is a dreadful legacy for future generations.

We shouldn't be giving money to people who don't need it.

st999

Please define a wealthy pensioner, is it one who's also paid into a company scheme for 40 odd years as well as paying his NI contributions.

I am not a wealthy pensioner, I used to get pension credit and all the other benefits including council tax benefit until an endowment I had to pay of my mortgage paid it off and I had £10 more in savings than was the limit.

Everything stopped.

I even had to pay back some council tax benefit.

Now I have over £16,000 in savings, I could reduce my saving but not having any nosey council worker prying into my finances and asking for 10 years bank statements and asking why I spent £3000 on a cruise outweighs any financial benefits.

thorganby

Cardew wrote: »

Yet another bottle of Bells whisky for our 'Dipso' meter reader - I suspect he gets lots of readings incorrect;) which is why he is a fan of Smart meters.

He is just not very good with numbers, even his top money saving tip this week is wrong, 70cl Bells is £12 at Sainsbury's not £10 according to their website and it is not the cheapest Scotch in the UK because Morrisons are selling 4.5L bottles of Famous Grouse for £70 or 4.5L of Jim Beam for those who prefer bourbon whisky.

House_Martin

Cardew wrote: »

Originally the Government stated that it would cost less overall to pay everyone at age 60(now 65) than set up a means tested system where applicant's eligibility could change from year to year.

Those eligible still have to claim, and it isn't mandatory to claim!

It isn't necessary to claim for the essential annual £10 Xmas bonus! Yet another bottle of Bells whisky for our 'Dipso' meter reader - I suspect he gets lots of readings incorrect;) which is why he is a fan of Smart meters.

I think you better revisit your post Cardew and delete the offensive word "Dipso " which means " a drunkard ".
Just because I am economical and like to buy in bulk it does nt mean I m an alcoholic which is what you are implying by your amusing little line .This is a money saving website is nt it ?
I m a diabetic and stick to less than 20 units of alcohol a week. I take a great deal of care in my general health and diet and am a bit of a fitness fanatic, which is why I find your "amusing " post an insult, so delete it please

Cardew

House Martin

Deleted! sorry if it offended, was meant to be humorous!

Raxiel

I think it's fine to spend the fuel fund on a TV. No one cares if you spend your TV fund on fuel.

mumf

matelodave wrote: »

Dont know if you are a pensioner but would you be giving some of yours back when you get it, assuming that you've been paying for it for 40-50 years

I am not retired,although I have paid in 35 years NI up to now.If I can still be one of the priveliged who can get a fuel allowance when I hit the required criteria,here's what I will NOT do with it.

My mother and her husband got theirs and bought a private number plate for their BMW!!!!!.

My wife and I live a little more modestly however.We live well,but on a smaller income than what is considered' average'.When the parents did that with the fuel allowance my wife commented that the money would have more than paid for our coal for the stoves for the burning season.
So there you are.And don't get me started on bus passes.

Bobblehat

st999 .... did you mean this thread to be a little slice of humour ... a bit tongue in cheek? If you did, I sympathise with you ...... apparently it was the wrong place to exhibit any humour.

If you didn't .... apparently it was the wrong place to exhibit personal preference!

I think House Martin, Raxiel and Wobblydog got it ..... 4 out of 11 ain't bad here! (my maths is fine 3 + me)