Read the full story:
'Winter Fuel Payments could be reinstated for ALL pensioners this winter if new legal challenge succeeds – here's what you need to know'
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MSE News: Winter Fuel Payments could be reinstated for all pensioners if legal challenge succeeds
Millions of pensioners could see their Winter Fuel Payments reinstated this winter as a charity has launched legal proceedings against the UK Government, aiming to reverse its decision to restrict the payments to those on certain benefits. But it's still very early days and there are no guarantees.
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MSE_Petar said:Millions of pensioners could see their Winter Fuel Payments reinstated this winter as a charity has launched legal proceedings against the UK Government, aiming to reverse its decision to restrict the payments to those on certain benefits. But it's still very early days and there are no guarantees.Read the full story:
'Winter Fuel Payments could be reinstated for ALL pensioners this winter if new legal challenge succeeds – here's what you need to know'
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.4 -
This doesn't surprise me when the PM stated https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce808nyry3doThe government did not carry out an impact assessment on cutting winter fuel support for millions of pensioners in England and Wales, the prime minister has said.
If they had done as assessment as previous ones have show it will lead to an increase of deaths over winter. When you don't like what an assessment will state, you tend not to have one put in place. The issue here is legally it looks like they have too.
Let's Be Careful Out There1 -
If they're expected to do impact studies on financial changes that affect people in certain age groups, then have there been such studies on events from recent history like national insurance and pension age rises? if not, can someone sue the government for us?
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booneruk said:If they're expected to do impact studies on financial changes that affect people in certain age groups, then have there been such studies on events from recent history like national insurance and pension age rises? if not, can someone sue the government for us?
Let's Be Careful Out There0 -
Can we keep this thread on topic about the legal case, there have been umpteen other threads about the right and wrongs of the actual policy so no need to hijacking this one.
Let's Be Careful Out There2 -
We have already had a partial attempt to have effective NI imposed on pensioners attempted - in the form of the now defunct Johnson / Sunak NHS levy - or more accurately the "Health and Social Care Levy" - at 1.25% of the the then 12 % base NI rate for individuals (now 8% rate - after Jan and Apr 24 cuts)Starmer - especially with his legal background - I would have thought - should / would have been more carefully about opening the govt up to such a legal challenge.But his it wasn't needed in advance a la BBC link above - shows otherwise.This is one legal challenge I hope succeeds - not for the sake of the handful of millionaires (many of whom dont claim state pension - so get WFA anyway) or pensioners paying say 40% or higher tax rates - but for those living well below the minimum wage - excluded by the link to the PC threshold.Even the DWP estimates 3/4 million of the c880,000 entitled but not claiming - will not apply for PC.
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Dare I suggest that this thread is almost inevitably going to provoke political debate, which we are specifically warned against in the red box at the top of the page?3
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Scot_39 said:Starmer - especially with his legal background - I would have thought - should / would have been more carefully about opening the govt up to such a legal challenge.But his it wasn't needed in advance a la BBC link above - shows otherwise.
Let's Be Careful Out There0 -
Isn't it being done by statutory instrument because the payments are extra payments from the government and not linked to any specific legislation? Like The CoL payments which came and went, therefore they can be cancelled.
It will be interesting to see the governments defence and the judges decision on this.
Darren
Xbigman's guide to a happy life.
Eat properly
Sleep properly
Save some money1 -
HillStreetBlues said:
As age is a protected and the new policy only affects age, then it was a staggering admission.4
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