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Original poster

Genuine question re pensioner fuel payment cut

517 replies

Katypp · 02/08/2024 09:49

Just this: How would the Labour supporters react if three weeks into a new Conservative Government, the chancellor cut the winter fuel payment to any pensioner with an income of more than £11k?
Would you think it was a reasonable thing to do or would it be considered cruel because it was the Tories implementing it, not Labour?
I would imagine Angela Raynor, Yvette Cooper and Wes Streeting would have been very vocal and worried about it.
Would the public finances argument wash if it was a Tory Government? It didn't when Cameron came into power.
What's different?

OP posts:
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9
2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 14:11

Cattery · 02/08/2024 14:00

@2dogsandabudgie You’re being unnecessarily provocative in your responses.

Report me then if you think what I'm saying is not within the guidelines. I haven't said anything offensive or called people names.

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 02/08/2024 14:08

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 02/08/2024 13:03

I think people forget if the pensioner gets pension credit they still get it.
If the pensioner is 80 - they also get it.

I think people can't read the thread.

If they have worked for full state pension they don't get it.

Iwasafool · 02/08/2024 14:07

Maybe they should just stop it for everyone, afterall if someone a few pence above the pension credit limit doesn't need it then neither does the person on pension credit.

BIossomtoes · 02/08/2024 14:06

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 14:05

Well let's hope that all these supposedly wealthy pensioners can find time between their cruises and champagne lifestyle to still donate to these charities out of their own pockets. After all if they're that loaded as many on here claim they won't miss it will they.

This isn't about the ones who are well off, but the many pensioners who are living on the breadline.

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It doesn’t take much time to make a donation. Less than a minute online.

Cattery · 02/08/2024 14:06

Lots of children are living on the breadline which is despicable in this day and age

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 14:05

BIossomtoes · 02/08/2024 13:47

Yes, they are. A lot of people passed it on to charity.

Show quote history

Well let's hope that all these supposedly wealthy pensioners can find time between their cruises and champagne lifestyle to still donate to these charities out of their own pockets. After all if they're that loaded as many on here claim they won't miss it will they.

This isn't about the ones who are well off, but the many pensioners who are living on the breadline.

Cattery · 02/08/2024 14:04

This generation of pensioners will likely be the last to benefit from state pensions at a relatively young age. Youngsters will now possibly have to work until they’re 70.

BIossomtoes · 02/08/2024 14:02

Why announce this contentious policy now?

Because the letters informing pensioners that they’re getting it and how much go out next month. The Budget would be too late.

SeeSeeRider · 02/08/2024 14:01

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 13:52

Ah I see the wannabe comedians are now joining in. Don't give up the day job.

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I see you're writing your own material these days? 😀

Cattery · 02/08/2024 14:00

@2dogsandabudgie You’re being unnecessarily provocative in your responses.

Miley1967 · 02/08/2024 14:00

DaphneduM · 02/08/2024 13:14

I find it a very odd strategy that they've started with this policy, bearing in mind that the actual budget is not until October. Why announce this contentious policy now? - it smacks of stoking inter-generational warfare. It's so wrong on so many levels that people over the threshold for pension credit but under £12k p.a. are now no longer entitled to WFA. I agree wealthy people shouldn't have it - why not take it off higher rate taxpayer pensioners? The Inland Revenue have the data and could easily provide this to enable this to happen.

Because winter fuel payments usually start being paid from November so if they didn't announce it now some OAP's would just have no warning that they weren't going to get their usual WFP.

PassingStranger · 02/08/2024 13:54

MollyButton · 02/08/2024 09:57

I've spoken to a lot of wealthy pensioners who were frankly embarrassed to get the winter fuel payment. Quite a few just donated it to charity.

Yes but many aren't wealthy.

It's a slippery slope, what next.

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ah I see the wannabe comedians are now joining in. Don't give up the day job.

BIossomtoes · 02/08/2024 13:47

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 12:24

Oh dear, all these supposed charities that are going to miss out this year 🤔

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Yes, they are. A lot of people passed it on to charity.

2dogsandabudgie · 02/08/2024 13:46

Cattery · 02/08/2024 12:07

Surely setting the Christmas “bonus” at £10 is a piss take in itself. Tell me what use a tenner is nowadays

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£10 to an elderly person on the breadline is worth quite a lot really. Just shows how out of touch with poverty you are.

BeachBae · 02/08/2024 13:44

StuckintheRutt · 02/08/2024 13:22

I think the cut off it too low however I know plenty of very wealthy pensioners who get it.

I don't agree with the low bar on the cut off.
What concerns me more is kier heartfelt outage when the tories mentioned this a while back.

And now it's one of the first things they have done.

He's massive fucking hypocrite.

StuckintheRutt · 02/08/2024 13:22

I think the cut off it too low however I know plenty of very wealthy pensioners who get it.

I don't agree with the low bar on the cut off.
What concerns me more is kier heartfelt outage when the tories mentioned this a while back.

And now it's one of the first things they have done.

Original poster
Katypp · 02/08/2024 13:19

S0livagant · 02/08/2024 13:00

So they are not just on 11k then.

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I have just run a benefits checker on two new state pensioners with no assest paying rent of £700 a month. They would be eligible for £22 a week housing benefit and £23 a week council tax benefit. So definitely not 'most' of their housing costs covered at all

OP posts:
Oldfatandfrumpy · 02/08/2024 13:18

Anonym00se · 02/08/2024 13:06

They say 800,000 people who are eligible for pension credit aren’t claiming it. I’d imagine these will be the people whose only income is state pension or slightly above. They need a drive to ensure everyone who is eligible is claiming. They might well still be entitled to their winter fuel allowance.

So if suddenly 800k people start claiming pension credit which they weren't claiming before, it massively reduces the saving made by withdrawing the WFA. They never think anything through properly, do they?

DaphneduM · 02/08/2024 13:14

I find it a very odd strategy that they've started with this policy, bearing in mind that the actual budget is not until October. Why announce this contentious policy now? - it smacks of stoking inter-generational warfare. It's so wrong on so many levels that people over the threshold for pension credit but under £12k p.a. are now no longer entitled to WFA. I agree wealthy people shouldn't have it - why not take it off higher rate taxpayer pensioners? The Inland Revenue have the data and could easily provide this to enable this to happen.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2024 13:13

theresnolimits · 02/08/2024 12:28

It’s crazy that the London Freedom Pass is given to 60 year olds. It should be state pension age like free bus passes in the rest of the country. I know many wealthy workers taking advantage of this when they don’t need it.

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All free or concessionary travel for older people should be tied to the state pension age.

Miley1967 · 02/08/2024 13:12

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 02/08/2024 13:03

I think people forget if the pensioner gets pension credit they still get it.
If the pensioner is 80 - they also get it.

Can you point to where i can find this information as i work for a charity and we have still been unable to confirm this this week? The over 80's still being eligible I mean not the pension credit bit.

Anonym00se · 02/08/2024 13:06

They say 800,000 people who are eligible for pension credit aren’t claiming it. I’d imagine these will be the people whose only income is state pension or slightly above. They need a drive to ensure everyone who is eligible is claiming. They might well still be entitled to their winter fuel allowance.

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 02/08/2024 13:03

I think people forget if the pensioner gets pension credit they still get it.
If the pensioner is 80 - they also get it.

Miley1967 · 02/08/2024 13:03

S0livagant · 02/08/2024 13:00

So they are not just on 11k then.

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Not if they have rent to pay no. If they own their own house then maybe but likely to still qualify for some council tax reduction.