Page 23 | Can’t just be me who is sick of the moaning about the private school VAT and winter fuel payments

TruthorDie · 2024-08-16T21:09:17+00:00

The moaning about them seems to be never ending. So tone death and indulgent on both counts. Not sure which is worse. A friends mum was ranting on social media earlier about winter fuel payments being stopped and how “worried about being cold” she was. Bad news is Lynn you haven’t needed to work since 1989, married to an oil exec and have had lots of the good life. I’m sure all of your Florida holidays keep you warm enough! Bright children can get on anywhere, my siblings and l went to a comprehensive. We all have a couple of degrees, one of us has a PhD so it didn’t hold us back too much in life. Before anyone comes at it from the neurodiversity angle then l am and l wouldn’t be surprised if my younger sibling isn’t

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 23:13

@SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice handing out money to people who often don’t need it is ridiculous and not right in my world. Means tested fine and there had to be a cut off -there are always moans about cut offs

OP posts:

BluebellsareBlue · 16/08/2024 23:12

My dad worked all of his life from 13 to 70, he's 75 this year and won't get WHP as he doesn't get pension credit. He needs it. He's talking about getting a calor gas fire to keep him warm as he will be scared he can't afford his heating bills.
Glad you've pals who winter in Florida, I'm afraid Scotland is a mighty sight colder!!! Cruel post

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 23:10

MrsAnon6 · 16/08/2024 23:08

How's your view from your privileged high horse? Your post is damn right arrogant and offensive, how dare you! The loss of the winter fuel allowance is going to severely impact a lot of people, in particular my dad who is in a Housing Association property and getting by on a pension and housing benefit and losing this funding means he has had to approach a charity for fuel vouchers. Many pensioners may literally have to choose between heating their homes and eating properly this winter. I'm sorry it's so annoying for you to hear people complaining about it though, how do you survive in the real world?!

Oh, l dare! Oil filled radiators and dressing gown over clothes is super privileged right. I find the whining of people having incomes of £2,500 a month and wanting winter fuel payments to be entitled. I can find what ever l like annoying

OP posts:

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 16/08/2024 23:08

They should not be paid for from general taxation but from fossil fuel windfall taxes - otherwise they’re a subsidy for massive oil company shareholders dividends

QueenOfTheNihilist · 16/08/2024 23:08

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:57

Ok. I stand corrected but pension credit kicks in up to an income of £218.25 per week according to gov.uk so it’s still way more than universal credit:

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.
Pension Credit tops up:

your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner

If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs

Not sure why you are saying “people like me” when you don’t know me. Im
calling out other people’s indulgent and entitlement (plus the monotony of their moaning). For all you know my grandma was a single mum, my mum was a single mum and so am l. In actual fact my mum and grandma were, lm not for now.

Show quote history

People who, like you, bitch and moan about people worried about the loss of the WFA, and base it on the fact that you know lots of wealthy pensioners, and on the attitude that if one group of people are living in poverty so should others.

You’re sick of people being worried an out losing WFA, I’m sick of bitter, uninformed people moaning about people who are worried. I don’t need to know you to be sick of rants like your OP.

No objection to WFA being means tested but the threshold is too low.

MrsAnon6 · 16/08/2024 23:08

How's your view from your privileged high horse? Your post is damn right arrogant and offensive, how dare you! The loss of the winter fuel allowance is going to severely impact a lot of people, in particular my dad who is in a Housing Association property and getting by on a pension and housing benefit and losing this funding means he has had to approach a charity for fuel vouchers. Many pensioners may literally have to choose between heating their homes and eating properly this winter. I'm sorry it's so annoying for you to hear people complaining about it though, how do you survive in the real world?!

Arrivapercy · 16/08/2024 23:07

you can’t survive without heat in the winter…..

This doesn't only apply to old people yet only the elderly got wfa.

It was always brought in as a vote winner because the elderly vote & there are many of them. It was a poorly designed policy.

TheHateIsNotGood · 16/08/2024 23:07

Agree OP - moan, moan, moan about shite that doesn't apply to many, I dare say, even most people.

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 23:07

Julen7 · 16/08/2024 23:00

My parents will suffer too. Easy to feel irritated by moaning when it doesn’t affect you personally I guess.

Cost of living and spike in power bills have definitely affected me. I’m dreading the next power bill like a lot of people. That’s why in the winter months l heat the room lm in with an oil filled radiator and sit there with my dressing gown on over my clothes. Putting the heating on more than an hour or so a day is the most we can do.

OP posts:

StarDolphins · 16/08/2024 23:04

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 23:02

@StarDolphins don’t think it is. In real life everyone l have spoken to thinks it’s fair enough. Both people of my generation and the pensioners. Plus other contributors to this thread. It’s on the internet plus rags like the Telegraph and Daily Fail the violins are being dragged out. There isn’t a bottomless pit of money and there never has been. The government need to cut back on spending, in the same way the general population need to

Indeed they need to cut back. However, there are other things that, imo, should be cut back on first. Our elderly, no.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/08/2024 23:03

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:48

It has to be someone so why not winter fuel? The whole premise of it is pretty ridiculous.

Lots of people don’t agree with the 2 child benefit rule but l think that’s understandable as well. No one needs 3,4, or 5 children etc. To be fair no one needs 1 or 2 either as it’s a want

Show quote history

How is winter fuel a ridiculous premise? You can choose to not have kids, but you can’t survive without heat in the winter…..

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/pensioners-face-surge-in-winter-energy-bills/

Pensioners face surge in winter energy bills

Most pensioners will be facing an inflation-busting energy bills increase this winter after the Government cancelled winter fuel payments.

https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/pensioners-face-surge-in-winter-energy-bills

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 23:02

@StarDolphins don’t think it is. In real life everyone l have spoken to thinks it’s fair enough. Both people of my generation and the pensioners. Plus other contributors to this thread. It’s on the internet plus rags like the Telegraph and Daily Fail the violins are being dragged out. There isn’t a bottomless pit of money and there never has been. The government need to cut back on spending, in the same way the general population need to

OP posts:

Julen7 · 16/08/2024 23:00

My parents will suffer too. Easy to feel irritated by moaning when it doesn’t affect you personally I guess.

StarDolphins · 16/08/2024 22:58

It’s just you I think. Everyone I speak to disagrees with the WFA. My mum will suffer due to this.

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:57

QueenOfTheNihilist · 16/08/2024 22:48

@TruthorDie : What State pensions are £221 per week plus pension credits.

Wrong.

£221 PW is the basic state pension. If you get that you don’t get pension credit.

It’s the people on this basic state pension with no additional income that may well suffer.

Many are single women. Women who were single mothers, so could not work enough to get a pension or put every spare penny into keeping a roof over their kids heads. Women whose working lives were before employers pension contributions were compulsory by law.

And now living alone they have only one pension income with which to pay the energy bills (unlike couples) and are paying 75% of the council tax.

The loss of WFA will cause some of these people to die.

I’m sick of the moaning by people like you.

Ok. I stand corrected but pension credit kicks in up to an income of £218.25 per week according to gov.uk so it’s still way more than universal credit:

When you apply for Pension Credit your income is calculated. If you have a partner, your income is calculated together.
Pension Credit tops up:

your weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single
your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner

If your income is higher, you might still be eligible for Pension Credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs

Not sure why you are saying “people like me” when you don’t know me. Im
calling out other people’s indulgent and entitlement (plus the monotony of their moaning). For all you know my grandma was a single mum, my mum was a single mum and so am l. In actual fact my mum and grandma were, lm not for now.

OP posts:

Miley1967 · 16/08/2024 22:56

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:48

It has to be someone so why not winter fuel? The whole premise of it is pretty ridiculous.

Lots of people don’t agree with the 2 child benefit rule but l think that’s understandable as well. No one needs 3,4, or 5 children etc. To be fair no one needs 1 or 2 either as it’s a want

Show quote history

I totally agree WFP should be stopped for most but they have left the bar too low. As explained it will be those just on new state pension who don't qualify for pension credit who will suffer.

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:48

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/08/2024 22:42

I wasn’t talking about the £400/mo part as you well know.
Means testing should be done properly, and picking pension credit as the gateway was stupid and cruel. Many more pensioners will die this winter and this will be the direct cause of it.

Show quote history

It has to be someone so why not winter fuel? The whole premise of it is pretty ridiculous.

Lots of people don’t agree with the 2 child benefit rule but l think that’s understandable as well. No one needs 3,4, or 5 children etc. To be fair no one needs 1 or 2 either as it’s a want

OP posts:

QueenOfTheNihilist · 16/08/2024 22:48

@TruthorDie : What State pensions are £221 per week plus pension credits.

Wrong.

£221 PW is the basic state pension. If you get that you don’t get pension credit.

It’s the people on this basic state pension with no additional income that may well suffer.

Many are single women. Women who were single mothers, so could not work enough to get a pension or put every spare penny into keeping a roof over their kids heads. Women whose working lives were before employers pension contributions were compulsory by law.

And now living alone they have only one pension income with which to pay the energy bills (unlike couples) and are paying 75% of the council tax.

The loss of WFA will cause some of these people to die.

I’m sick of the moaning by people like you.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/08/2024 22:42

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:33

£400 a month to pay a mortgage, bills and food isn’t that self indulgent. Especially when it doesn’t even cover the mortgage. So they are being taken to court for mortgage arrears

Hardly lazy self interest when lm well aware it’s a continuum. Benefits should be means tested, it’s not a bottomless pit of money to be handed out willy nilly

Show quote history

I wasn’t talking about the £400/mo part as you well know.
Means testing should be done properly, and picking pension credit as the gateway was stupid and cruel. Many more pensioners will die this winter and this will be the direct cause of it.

MumsGoneToIceland · 16/08/2024 22:37

I’m not against either of these policies but think they need a slight rethink on how they are implemented to make things easier for those impacted who don’t fall into the ‘well off’ category.

For winter fuel, there is a cohort that don’t quite meet the criteria for pension credit but who will struggle without it so perhaps it could have been scaled slightly to help them

For school fees, no issues with this when you are choosing your next school for a child as you are doing so with your eyes wide open on the cost but hard for some who are just about managing to pay the fees and children have already started at the school before this was introduced. Would have been better IMO to do it for new intakes to school or when moving from infant to junior age or junior to secondary age etc So would be a staggered rollout for a few years.

Neither of these policies impact me btw, just putting myself in others shoes

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:37

Miley1967 · 16/08/2024 22:35

We have had multiple older people requesting benefit checks this week to see if they quality for Pension credit. Most have had incomes of £2500 + a month with no mortgage or very minimal council rent to pay. It's bonkers.

Edited

Show quote history

Sounds like they don’t even realise they are earning way over the average salary for this country.

OP posts:

Miley1967 · 16/08/2024 22:35

Toastandbutterand · 16/08/2024 22:32

A client came in about pension credits today, she really needed the fuel allowance.

Ok, I found a grant for £300 for her, all is good, let's apply.

Her income was 46,000 a year so she didn't qualify. She was very very upset.
I do sympatise that she's had something taken away, but noone getting £46,000 a year needs the fuel allowance.

The qualifying amount was below £40000 btw, so there are grants out there. Send anyone who still needs it to age concern or citizens advice, or just spare half an hour of your time and Google it yourseyand help them fill it in.

We have had multiple older people requesting benefit checks this week to see if they quality for Pension credit. Most have had incomes of £2500 + a month with no mortgage or very minimal council rent to pay. It's bonkers.

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:35

Toastandbutterand · 16/08/2024 22:32

A client came in about pension credits today, she really needed the fuel allowance.

Ok, I found a grant for £300 for her, all is good, let's apply.

Her income was 46,000 a year so she didn't qualify. She was very very upset.
I do sympatise that she's had something taken away, but noone getting £46,000 a year needs the fuel allowance.

The qualifying amount was below £40000 btw, so there are grants out there. Send anyone who still needs it to age concern or citizens advice, or just spare half an hour of your time and Google it yourseyand help them fill it in.

This is exactly what l mean. I’m intrigued that on £46k a year that she thinks she should be getting those things

Loving the conflating of need and want 🤣

OP posts:

Original poster

TruthorDie · 16/08/2024 22:33

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 16/08/2024 22:28

That’s just pure lazy self-interest to assess cut to public support on the basis of family and friends’ privileged situations only.

Show quote history

£400 a month to pay a mortgage, bills and food isn’t that self indulgent. Especially when it doesn’t even cover the mortgage. So they are being taken to court for mortgage arrears

Hardly lazy self interest when lm well aware it’s a continuum. Benefits should be means tested, it’s not a bottomless pit of money to be handed out willy nilly

OP posts:

Toastandbutterand · 16/08/2024 22:32

A client came in about pension credits today, she really needed the fuel allowance.

Ok, I found a grant for £300 for her, all is good, let's apply.

Her income was 46,000 a year so she didn't qualify. She was very very upset.
I do sympatise that she's had something taken away, but noone getting £46,000 a year needs the fuel allowance.

The qualifying amount was below £40000 btw, so there are grants out there. Send anyone who still needs it to age concern or citizens advice, or just spare half an hour of your time and Google it yourseyand help them fill it in.