Can’t just be me who is sick of the moaning about the private school VAT and winter fuel payments

DD is one of the autistic SEN children that falls through the cracks she meets the criteria for an EHCP but our local authority will only assess after multiple tribunals I've heard of none verbal children who have had to go to tribunal.

When she started secondary and really was spiralling we faced a choice fight for years for an EHCP that we'd then probably have to fight again for it to be implemented or in a moment of madness I realised with a recent pay rise we could just about afford private school.

She is absolutely thriving and the change is almost miraculous.

I don't complain about the increase but it is frustrating especially as they are talking about discounts for those with EHCPs which in our area are gold dust.

We've already used up all her savings for uni or a house deposit to pay for extra tutoring and support because she's at such a disadvantage academically (it's an urban myth that all autistic people are brilliant, she is brilliant because she's her but she also has dyslexia and dyscalcula).

We'll just find the extra money and we are lucky to be able to do that but it does seem a poorly thought out and done as a vote winner.

We aren't the only parent in DD school with a story like that there's a high proportion of autistic girls in her class who are similar but hey there girls and autistic to boot so why would they matter we all know that most governments don't really care about women and girls!

Then it’s time to contact HMRC and get it stopped. He should get a rebate too. It’s clearly a mistake unless he has income other than his state pension.

And no doubt you'll happily take your inheritance when it comes. Or will you donate it to the poor? Or doesn't your 'bleeding' heart entend beyond your need to keep your parents ill gotten money?

thousands of pensioners die every winter of hypothermia

That’s not true. I’m tired of it too @TruthorDie. My sympathy lies with parents who can’t feed their kids because of the two child benefit cap.

It’s very disappointing Labour are using an easy target of reducing winter fuel payments

there are other areas that money can be saved and raised but this is easy to implement and many will suffer

Apparently there is a bottomless pit when it comes to Labour's pet projects. And look how quick they gave doctors 22% pay rise. Labour love spending money.

I think maybe a goady post on both counts. I know people who are going to have the winter fuel funds withdrawn, and whilst slightly disgruntled, they accept its the right decision for a lot of higher income pensioners, who didn't really need it. I think maybe you read MN too much as it's mostly on here where people complain about VAT on private schools and fuel payment withdrawals. And tbh, it's allowed for some to be pissed off. I guess there have been some government decisions in the past that you've not agreed with and you've vented on here? You do understand that people are entitled to a different opinion to yours?

I’m unsure about the winter fuel payment. I think one good way to decide would be to see what Labour have said about it in the recent past. Oh look, from last November:

https://x.com/darrenpjones/status/1726503349036748968

Oops.

Anyway, I’m loving the benefit bashing by Labour fans. Funny old world!

It invariably always comes down to money - let’s be honest with ourselves.

Anything which takes money out of pockets, and for some, the envy attached to seeing others doing better - either through luck or hard work - many don’t differentiate.

Its beyond ugly, and those people must be rotting from the inside out.

This!

I think it makes sense for some pensioners to lose the allowance, and if they have found a way to measure who goes and doesn’t neeed it then that’s for the good.

And as for the VAT on fees whingers, good Lord give me strength! There are clearly a lot more people paying for privilege on MN than in real life … pay your tax or use state schools. But just make your decision and get on with it!!

He is paying tax on it, though.

And those who do are not eligible for pension credit. Anyone who is in receipt of full state pension does not qualify for pension credit . The hardest hit will be pensioners living alone with their state pension as their only income and nobody else to share the fuel bills .

Everyone on here seems to know wealthy pensioners moaning. All the pensioners in my circle (including me) were sharing ideas of how and where to donate their fuel allowances over the last few years. Sharing links to fuel banks or other charities, or giving it to younger family members who needed it.

None of us are moaning, though some of us who have friends who are not so fortunate, are worrying about them. The cut off point is hard to live with when they're literally just £3 the wrong side of it.

It isn't as simple as that. People don't die of hypothermia because the government have cut the winter fuel allowance for non means tested pensioners.

They die of hypothermia for a multitude of reasons. Dementia being chief amongst them.

My good friend was hospitalised last year with hypothermia. This was because she chooses to live in a massive old draughty 5 bed house which costs a fortune to heat.. and she is of a generation who 'just put another sweater on' . When in reality she should sell off a small parcel of land (she has lots to choose from) and have the bloody house insulated and upgrade the 1960s heating. - Or even better - sell it and buy something more sensible.

No shortage of money/assets. This is common thinking amongst the wealthy pensioners here in the SouthWest. No issue with buying a new landrover every 3 or 4 years but for some reason heating one's house adequately is regarded as 'soft' and somehow profligate - then they end up in hospital.

Energy bills have risen so much that this isn’t a valid comparison. Four years ago my direct debit was £56 every month, now it’s £130. Once a pensioner has paid tax on £944 a month, £130 on energy and another £130 on council tax doesn’t leave them with much for other bills and food.

The moaning about them seems to be never ending

As does the moaning about the moaning and people crowing about how good an idea it is

(neither affect me but I don't believe education should be taxed)

My parents are up in arms about their fuel payments

Fortunately they're comfortably off so it wont harm them

They managed to buy a 5 bed detached house in the 80s for under 100k and live off one average salary

My heart bleeds

An example of the bitterness. I’d be interested to know what in depth research you’ve done on the subject

Ok, I stand corrected. This makes it even worse

YABU