Winter fuel payment petition

"Surely DLA is given to help with the extra costs associated with being disabled? What if the only thing that could be done to help was extra heating? Surely this would come under'care needs'?"

Extra costs in regards to care and mobility it does not cover heating
How much do you get?

Disability Living Allowance has two parts called 'components':

• a care component - if you need help looking after yourself or supervision to keep you safe
• a mobility component - if you can't walk or need help getting around

Some people will be entitled to receive just one component; others may get both.
The care component and mobility component are paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/financialsupport/dg_10011731

Nothing in that suggests that it is purely allocated for heating or utility bills. Care means people coming into help you or for specialist equipment or medication not prescribed under the NHS which there are many. We can quash the argument that DLA is for heating right on the head it is crystal clear what the two components are for. Its all very well and good saying that some people may not have any care needs but the vast majority do.


"As you and several others complain that pensioners do not necessarily use the WFP for energy bills then perhaps it is time for people receiving DLA to specify exactly what they spend that money on. After all even the lowest tier is considerably more than the WFP.



As we pay our fuel bills by DD throughout the year we have usually built up a surplus by winter. The WFP goes into our bank account and just becomes 'our money' to spend as we wish. Exactly like DLA goes into people's accounts with no check on how it is spent."

Its not a complaint its a critisim and a grave concern of the system which needs a radical overhaul. You keep on saying that DLA is more than WFP but its gone before bills and other things are taken into account. Pentioners also do not have to pay for a TV licence currently standing at £142.50 where disabled people do it cancels itself out. Its not fair that that sum of money should be taken from the pockets of disabled people either.

We had a backlog of debt due to inability to pay for gas and electricity over what we were missold and owed eon a few hundereds of pounds before switching to another supplier, it took 1 year 3 months to clear. We have the same problem with the other supplier, thats how little money there is left the £250 given to pentioners would in effect raise me out of fuel poverty . Here is me thinking the government wanted to combat that effectively either through pressing through legislation to put a legal requirement on gas and electricty companies to reduce the tarrif costs. To aid the most vunerable but there isnt the political will do so.

I am thankful that we have a new boiler and issulation but they are targetting the help incorrectly. If anyone cannot see that a pentioner with thousands or millions in the bank is more in need than a disabled person living on less than £90 a week is beyond me. Its very very clear something is drastically wrong with the government and its failure to tackle disabled issues either hate crime or benifits system.


"I know a young man who gets low rate care and mobility. He lives with his parents and pays for no care. He doesn't need any actual physical care except for someone to say it is about time he had a shower, changed his bed etc. Neither does he have mobility needs as he is agrophobic so doesn't go out and has no physical issues to limit his mobility. So he gets £36 a week to spend on computer games."

Do you know how severe agropobia can be its awful truly awful as a recovering agrophobic having panic attacks leaving the house you need somebody there to help to guide you.

fedupconsumer wrote: »

WFP is specifically designed for fuel its not that difficult in paying it directly to utility companies. DLA is different and is more fluid in its allocation some people have greater expense from one month to the next, some may chose to save it up for respite care or a respite break themselves. They are two very different components, WFP are for heating and electricity costs exclusively.

The thing with the WFP - and it's the same with the CWP - is, if people pay by direct debit, their payments don't go up when they receive the WFP/CWP.

I've recieved three CWP's and they've just gone into my account with the other money in there. I don't need to send them to the fuel company, because I'm already paying by direct debit.

Of course, I'm using more gas and will therefor increase what I pay, but the DD is only evaluated once a year, so money has already been allocated.

I feel this is the same for some who receive the WFP.

krisskross wrote: »

Do you get student benefits? I can't believe DLA is your sole income. Unless of course you have a partner who supports you.

I do get students loans & grants; but that goes on things such as rent, textbooks, ink, paper, food, etc. I also pay for a gym membership - I have muscle problems and this is the only thing that helps. (yes, I did try physio; but that left me unable to walk)

Do you know how severe agropobia can be its awful truly awful as a recovering agrophobic having panic attacks leaving the house you need somebody there to help to guide you.

Exactly. I know someone who has to get taxis everywhere because his is that bad.