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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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5
Ellephanting · 21/05/2025 09:57

Julen7 · 21/05/2025 09:46

A lot of sweeping generalisations about pensioners and their wealth on this thread

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Yes. I’ve been on Mumsnet for over 15 years. The ageist comments and MIL bashing get worse on here. It’s not a good look for a platform that represents women.

Julen7 · 21/05/2025 09:56

MrsKeats · 21/05/2025 09:54

Look at official sources.
The ONS, for example.

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For what?

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 09:56

Look at official sources. The ONS, for example.

Ageist obviously

treetopsgreen · 21/05/2025 09:56

Oh goody, another ageist thread.

What is ageist?

MrsKeats · 21/05/2025 09:54

Julen7 · 21/05/2025 09:46

A lot of sweeping generalisations about pensioners and their wealth on this thread

Show quote history

Look at official sources.
The ONS, for example.

Koalafan · 21/05/2025 09:52

Shwish · 21/05/2025 09:42

Don't agree about bus passes. We need to do what we can to encourage older people out of their cars. There's far too many people who should have given up driving who still do it to keep their independence, risking everyone's safety as it is. Take away the bus passes and that would just get worse.
I agree with the removal of the WFA though 100%

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We need to encourage all age groups out of their cars.

MrsKeats · 21/05/2025 09:51

TakingHavenInTescoExpress · 21/05/2025 09:50

Reinstating the Christmas Sherry Fund? I guess there must have been some hard lobbying from the drinks manufacturers.

Grin
TakingHavenInTescoExpress · 21/05/2025 09:50

Reinstating the Christmas Sherry Fund? I guess there must have been some hard lobbying from the drinks manufacturers.

Julen7 · 21/05/2025 09:46

Ellephanting · 21/05/2025 09:36

Oh goody, another ageist thread.

A lot of sweeping generalisations about pensioners and their wealth on this thread

Storynanny1 · 21/05/2025 09:46

I’m a pensioner and agree it should be means tested. Also the bus passes and free prescriptions should be means tested in my opinion.
However the assumptions you are making are ridiculous, we are not all paying big vet bills, driving huge cars, spending it on holidays, adding it to our investments etc as has been mentioned on this thread. We are “ ordinary” people with a state pension, maybe a small workplace pension ( although not always as women didn’t all work outside of the home in the 70’s 80’s) So an income of about £16000 a year.
Im fortunate to have finished paying off my mortgage just before I retired so not having to find a big chunk for housing costs.
We gave ours to our local children as did many of my pensioner friends who didn’t need to use it for their fuel bills. I’ve since found out you could actually have declined it.
The pensioners who will suffer if it’s means tested are those just above the cut off point - whatever that will be decided at- just like families just above the cut off point for additional benefits.

MrsKeats · 21/05/2025 09:45

Ellephanting · 21/05/2025 09:36

Oh goody, another ageist thread.

I’m 60 if it helps.
Absolutely nothing to do with ageism.
Everything to do with the economic health of the country.

caramac04 · 21/05/2025 09:44

Re opting out. My dh used to get the wfp but tbh we didn’t need it. Never refused it though.
We’re not massively wealthy, we are careful with using gas and electricity (as we all should. Being wasteful is bad for the environment), but we’re not cold or going without food/clothing. We don’t need it.

HarrietPierce · 21/05/2025 09:44

Anedina · Today 09:15

"I thought it was £300 per household over 80 and £200 per household under 80"

It was.

Shwish · 21/05/2025 09:42

Koalafan · 21/05/2025 07:31

That needs to be means tested too.

Show quote history

Don't agree about bus passes. We need to do what we can to encourage older people out of their cars. There's far too many people who should have given up driving who still do it to keep their independence, risking everyone's safety as it is. Take away the bus passes and that would just get worse.
I agree with the removal of the WFA though 100%

MmeChoufleur · 21/05/2025 09:40

I think an opt-in system would work. A simple declaration to sign to state that your income is below x amount and you’ll be prosecuted if you’re lying. Of course some people would claim it anyway but it would sort most of the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

rwalker · 21/05/2025 09:38

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 09:37

because would you opt out of free money ...?

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Apparently plenty would

MalcolmMoo · 21/05/2025 09:38

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?

I’ve never understood this either. Everything should be linked to someone’s NI number. Should be easy enough to automate? And surely pretty straight forward code to write to automate that as well?

There would probably be a bit of a lag in the figures used to compare for the means testing but i don’t think that should be a barrier to means testing.

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 09:37

rwalker · 21/05/2025 09:35

it'll be debatable if they save more than it cost to means test

why don’t they just do an opt out there always an army of people saying the don’t want or need it

because would you opt out of free money ...?

Anedina · 21/05/2025 09:37

A lot won't bother with the form filling, we never bothered with the child tax credits when DS was young as it was the basic amount and quite onerous to claim

ButteredRadishes · 21/05/2025 09:37

Anedina · 21/05/2025 09:29

They must be very old to get all this and I did think it was per household, never mind you will soon inherit it all and be able to pay lots of inheritance tax.

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The point is, they're pensioners, but they absolutely do not need that money, like a hell of a lot of pensioners... they're quite wealthy!

My mum still gets it because she's on Pension credit

giving it out to everyone is madness.

Ellephanting · 21/05/2025 09:36

Oh goody, another ageist thread.

rwalker · 21/05/2025 09:35

it'll be debatable if they save more than it cost to means test

why don’t they just do an opt out there always an army of people saying the don’t want or need it

Anedina · 21/05/2025 09:35

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?

Yes, they manage it with CB.

MalcolmMoo · 21/05/2025 09:35

It needs to be means tested. My parents who are worth about £3m do not need the winter fuel payment! My nana who recently just passed also did not need it! Her income was around £40k with her pensions.

I think the threshold is too low atm and that should be raised.

caramac04 · 21/05/2025 09:31

As an older woman married to a pensioner I don’t think it should be reinstated. I don’t think the country can afford the wfp as a universal benefit and we don’t all need it.
I think there are some pensioners just above the cut off point who struggle but not sure the best way to address that.