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Winter fuel payment suggestion

Brian3357
Brian3357 Posts: 29 Forumite
Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts
edited 6 August 2024 at 10:39AM in Energy
Martin suggested that the winter fuel allowance could be determined by the government using council tax bands a to d to allocate an allowance for pensioners. 

I feel this  criteria is unfair. Just because a pensioner lives in an F band, doesn't mean they have more disposable incomse. Indeed often the opposite as the house is feaer to run. Asset rich but cash poor! Surely a fairer method is possible 
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Comments

  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 35,229 Forumite
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    I don’t think a higher band house means that the house is necessarily more expensive to run, does it? It’s perfectly possible for it to be a smaller well insulated house, just in a more expensive area. 
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • Mr.Generous
    Mr.Generous Posts: 3,850 Forumite
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    Fairness doesn't come into it with benefit payments, when you consider there are people who have paid more tax in 1 year than I've paid in my lifetime and they won't get the allowance that doesn't sound fair to me. The logical progression from this is to say those who have a high income from a self funded pension no longer get the state pension.
    Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.
  • Qyburn
    Qyburn Posts: 3,229 Forumite
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    The criteria and values were announced in July. Do people think that's going to change, or was that just a bit of speculation to get more publicity.

    Personally I think these hand outs are a bad idea anyway, the basic allowances like Pension Credit etc should be set at a level that covers all living costs. These handouts set an expectation that whenever something goes up in price, the Government should pay out subsidies. 

    As we can't have gas I'm less in touch with the whole price cap thing, but what is the best guess on prices for the coming Winter, compared to 23/24 and 22/23?

  • MP1995
    MP1995 Posts: 495 Forumite
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    Brian3357 said:
    Martin suggested that the winter fuel allowance could be determined by the government using council tax bands a to d to allocate an allowance for pensioners. 

    I feel this  criteria is unfair. Just because a pensioner lives in an F band, doesn't mean they have more disposable incomse. Indeed often the opposite as the house is feaer to run. Asset rich but cash poor! Surely a fairer method is possible 
    I suspect the reposte to that is then they can downsize to a smaller more energy efficient home as surely being a pensioner they own their Band E/F and above house outright.

    Financial, and retirement planning is severely lacking with help and these are some of the tough decisions to take early when becoming a pensioner and planning for the future.
  • Ildhund
    Ildhund Posts: 397 Forumite
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    Sorry to slide off-piste for a moment, so feel free to ignore :)

    I was distracted by the mention of bands A to D. Feel free to ignore :)

    I was thinking 'mine's F, so surely I'm more deserving of help than someone with an A'.
    Then I realized that the OP was referring to council tax, while I was fixated on EPC. Two government schemes giving properties ratings, admittedly for different purposes. But even so, don't people agree that it would be helpful if those who apply ratings were to stick to some sort of universal rule, like A = best or highest and anything else is inferior? Like efficiency ratings for electrical equipment - A (best) to G (worst) or 'A'-level results (A to E).

    [Don't get me started on star ratings ...]


        
    I'm not being lazy ...
    I'm just in energy-saving mode.

  • zxzxzx
    zxzxzx Posts: 76 Forumite
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    ⬆️3️⃣*️⃣ POST!
  • NedS
    NedS Posts: 4,170 Forumite
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    Brian3357 said:
    Martin suggested that the winter fuel allowance could be determined by the government using council tax bands a to d to allocate an allowance for pensioners. 

    I feel this  criteria is unfair. Just because a pensioner lives in an F band, doesn't mean they have more disposable incomse. Indeed often the opposite as the house is feaer to run. Asset rich but cash poor! Surely a fairer method is possible 
    Fair to whom? The tax payer or the asset rich pensioner?
    I fear the government's response to the asset rich pensioner would be to sell your band F house, down size and reallocate your wealth more evenly across housing and income generation to live within your means rather than expecting the tax payer to support you to continue to live beyond your means.

  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 8,881 Forumite
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    NedS said:
    Brian3357 said:
    Martin suggested that the winter fuel allowance could be determined by the government using council tax bands a to d to allocate an allowance for pensioners. 

    I feel this  criteria is unfair. Just because a pensioner lives in an F band, doesn't mean they have more disposable incomse. Indeed often the opposite as the house is feaer to run. Asset rich but cash poor! Surely a fairer method is possible 
    Fair to whom? The tax payer or the asset rich pensioner?
    I fear the government's response to the asset rich pensioner would be to sell your band F house, down size and reallocate your wealth more evenly across housing and income generation to live within your means rather than expecting the tax payer to support you to continue to live beyond your means.

    You seem to not understand that your so called "asset rich pensioner" has probably paid more in tax and NI and therefore has paid for not only his pension but that of those who didn't work or contribute. Why should he be expected to downsize just so he can contribute even more.

    Council tax bands have no bearing on ones ability to pay their bills and there are plenty of people who are living in subsidised accommodation that many of us cant afford. Perhaps some of them should be shifted into a place or area more in keeping with their income.

    Without getting political all I can see is a government of resentment and jealously who really want to bring everyone down to the same level. Perhaps there should be a lot more effort in helping people live within their own means without expecting others to keep funding it all.
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • "Without getting political" let me make a specific political point...?
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