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Original poster

Winter fuel payments

420 replies

dearydeary · 21/05/2025 07:14

I have just heard on the news that this is being discussed again and they are considering reinstating them.

While I think that people who are on a lower income (pension credit for example) may need additional help I do not think this should be a universal benefit any more.

It appears the government is still looking for votes. What about everyone else in society? Younger people at universities or just starting out? Individuals with disabilities?

Surely we need to be moving to a more means tested approach as the finances need rebalancing?

Where pensioner need help, I am happy to support but many older folk have benefited from good pensions, valuable house price increases and a stable employment market. This is not the situation for many of us any more.

Have I lost the plot?

OP posts:
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Badbadbunny · 21/05/2025 11:55

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:49

The moaning doesn't seem to be because it's left them short but rather it's their entitlement for paying in all their lives.

The vast majority haven't paid enough tax for years of a state pension let alone free healthcare, education etc. That's the issue with the changing demographics

Yup, most won't have "paid in" anywhere near enough to cover the costs of public services they used, benefits they've received, etc.

We need to change the narrative. No one is "paying in". Tax isn't a savings nor insurance scheme. We need to get the message across that you "don't get back" what you've paid in.

ALL benefits should be based on NEED only.

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 11:51

MycatLarry · 21/05/2025 11:12

Yes, there's a lot of made up nonsense misunderstanding on this frankly ageist thread.

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my mistake, they got £300, not £600. And they did very happily say the spent it on their flights and stuff to their 4-bed villa in Spain

But the point remains, they absolutely do not need that money, they have around £4500pcm income through rentals, pensions and investments and not all pensioners are choosing between heating and eating - some are INCREDIBLY wealthy and the WFP shouldn't be universal

Londonmummy66 · 21/05/2025 11:50

MmeChoufleur · 21/05/2025 09:28

What I don’t understand is the government’s argument that it’s too expensive to means test. Maybe I’m missing something but either your income is solely benefits, in which case they should know your income because they’re paying it, or you’re paid through payroll in which case they’ve got your P60 amount. Anything other/additional income would be declared on a tax return? Surely that’s a two minute job checking HMRC?

That’s got to be more cost effective than giving it to everyone across the board?

Didn't stop them means testing child benefit....

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:49

2dogsandabudgie · 21/05/2025 11:46

Ah yes, but that "couple of hundred" quid can make all the difference to some pensioners as you very well know.

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Frankly I don’t believe it. How much difference can £150 - I know it’s this amount because I used to get it - make? Seriously? Especially when pensions increased by more than three times that (£468) in April?

2dogsandabudgie · 21/05/2025 11:49

Curlybrunette · 21/05/2025 11:43

My parents are furious that they don’t get it anymore, though they go abroad from November to February every year so I guess they trip does need paying for somehow Hmm

What were they staying in a tent?

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:49

The moaning doesn't seem to be because it's left them short but rather it's their entitlement for paying in all their lives.

The vast majority haven't paid enough tax for years of a state pension let alone free healthcare, education etc. That's the issue with the changing demographics

EasternStandard · 21/05/2025 11:49

2dogsandabudgie · 21/05/2025 11:46

Ah yes, but that "couple of hundred" quid can make all the difference to some pensioners as you very well know.

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True. It’s not the wealthy pensioners that will mind.

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 11:48

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:36

I know. The ignorance is staggering.

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my mistake.

they still used it for their holiday in their villa in Spain.

they do no t need the money.

They're on an income of around £4500pcm, with no mortgages etc.

THEY DO NOT NEED THE WFP

VickyEadieofThigh · 21/05/2025 11:47

Showerflowers · 21/05/2025 08:07

It definitely needs to be means tested. My elderly family member still claimed it even though they are wealthy and didn’t need it. And I agree that if they are entitled to it then yes they should claim it, but they don’t bloody well need it at all

You didn't "claim" WFA - it was sent to anyone receiving state pension.

gamerchick · 21/05/2025 11:46

StMarie4me · 21/05/2025 07:19

It needs to be means tested. Every pensioner I know spent it on holidays or vets bills.

Or Christmas.

The moaning doesn't seem to be because it's left them short but rather it's their entitlement for paying in all their lives.

2dogsandabudgie · 21/05/2025 11:46

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:30

Jesus, all this furore over a couple of hundred quid. God help the government that has the balls to do something about the egregious triple lock.

Ah yes, but that "couple of hundred" quid can make all the difference to some pensioners as you very well know.

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:46

I don't think anyone on this thread has said that wealthy people should get it.

Everyone has a different definition of wealthy though & it's subjective . Is a pensioner who is mortgage free with a small private pension poorer than someone earning 80k but paying 1.5k in rent & 1.5k in childcare?

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 21/05/2025 11:46

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:40

That would render it completely pointless. The cut off should be at tax liability.

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I was responding to the poster who said why people didn’t object to child benefit being means tested but did to WFA. The levels are completely different. (And I don’t think how child benefit is means tested is fair either, but that’s another issue)

HangryLikeTheHulk · 21/05/2025 11:45

The fossil fuel companies should offer money to the pensioners, not taxpayers. They gouge us on prices to make profits. They could offer discount prices to qualifying people / households.

Londonmummy66 · 21/05/2025 11:45

I agree that it needs to be means tested - they may have got the level wrong. There is no justification for reinstating it to all pensioners when child benefit is means tested - most families with pre school children at the threshold are likely to be struggling.

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 11:44

genesis92 · 21/05/2025 10:41

Pensioners would have been able to buy a house with an unskilled job, no deposit, and possibly only one person working full time. They have had a perfect wave of timing and good fortune when it’s come to wealth creation. Why should we keep supporting them? It’s ridiculous. - they should also suffer the consequences of austerity, just like everyone else.

It’s the ONLY one of Labours policies I agree with

My mum who is 79 couldn't afford to buy a house, even with dad working full time they just didn't have enough money, We were dirt poor, they didn't even have enough money to feed us all properly.

  • where were they going to magic money up from?
treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:44

Jesus, all this furore over a couple of hundred quid. God help the government that has the balls to do something about the egregious triple lock

I find it disturbing. We will end with bloody Reform because so many people are annoyed about have a benefit means tested & want to blame the boat people for all the ills of the country rather than look a bit closer to home.

Curlybrunette · 21/05/2025 11:43

My parents are furious that they don’t get it anymore, though they go abroad from November to February every year so I guess they trip does need paying for somehow Hmm

Badbadbunny · 21/05/2025 11:43

I agree. Starmer will be making a huge mistake if he back-tracks on this. IF something needs to be done, then he'll have to find another way of dealing with any genuine problems. But the political fall out from another flip-flop will be disastrous. The damage has already been done. The voters he's lost won't all go flooding back because he does a U turn!

IF he feels he has to do something, he'd be better sacking the hopeless Reeves who has basically screwed up everything she's changed. He should blame her for it, and blame her for the disastrous IHT changes, NIC hikes, etc., install a replacement Chancellor and draw a line under it all.

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:42

My parents got child benefit & it wasn't even means tested.

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 11:42

I don’t think most people would have an issue if the means testing for WFA was at the same income level as child benefit

How does that make sense?

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:40

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 21/05/2025 11:38

I don’t think most people would have an issue if the means testing for WFA was at the same income level as child benefit

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That would render it completely pointless. The cut off should be at tax liability.

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 21/05/2025 11:38

MrsKeats · 21/05/2025 11:21

Those wanting this freebie reinstated-how do you square that with the fact that child benefit is means tested?

I don’t think most people would have an issue if the means testing for WFA was at the same income level as child benefit

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 11:36

Anedina · 21/05/2025 11:34

Poster upthread seemed to think her in-laws got £600.

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I know. The ignorance is staggering.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 21/05/2025 11:36

No one was up in arms when child benefit was (incorrectly) means tested. No one cares when predominantly women and children who suffer.