Winter fuel payments for pensioners scrapped

[MidnightPatrol]

Unless they are in receipt of pension credit or other benefits.

I suspect this will be the first of many benefits which will be restricted as part of cost-cutting measures.

What else might we see / should we see?

past 60 and free prescriptions

I think this should go, at least make it state retirement age. The pre payment cert is such good value that it is affordable for most people.

Well they are the party who really instill the whole work doesn't pay culture.

Let's see what's next ..scrapping of pension tax relief if you dare to save more into your pension...

Remains to be seen but yeah working and saving doesn't pay anymore.

I’m just hoping people make it through the next 5 years

I hope that doesn't happen, Sonic. I don't care about the winter fuel payment and that will still be paid to those who need it but children need to be fed regularly.

Edit: Apparently I will get the WF payment this year because I was born before 1957 but I wouldn't object if I didn't.

@Spectre8 exactly mums net is very ageist, I think too many people on here have rich parents inlaws who got the benefit but didn’t need it and don’t work or know those who are just above who this will be a huge blow too. Basic pension is not huge

Well good for you. Some pensioners do need it though but won't get it but in your nice warm house you won't be bothered will you

I have refused to cower under a heated throw. Maybe time to reconsider.

@LBFseBrom but many don’t need the free school meals either, you can be on £100000 ans your kid still gets free meals so why not mean test that as well. Many pensioners who need the winter fuel allowance won’t get it either.

I will suggest a lodger to my DP’s. Live in carer on the cheap.
Hope the lodger will enjoy living with no mod cons.

Well it won't be paid to all pensioners that need it. They need to be warm so why does that not matter?

When benefits become means tested, there is always someone 'just' on the 'wrong' side.
I am a WASPI woman who was also born 3 days too late to avoid my SP age rising to 66.
I rely on my WFP to heat my home, but I would rather go without if it helps to fix the NHS.

I'm sickened by the abject cruelty of this and the gleeful reactions of some people on here. Utterly shameful and disgusting. Horrific to think that the elderly are being targeted . I am both revolted and shocked. Once again they target the vulnerable rather than making utility companies and other wealthy companies pay their fair share of tax...where does it end..there's nobody that they won't go after rather than making the ultra rich pay their dues

There's some begrudging buggers on here!

I doubt there are pensioners who live on basic state pension. There are many add ons for those who need it, housing benefit, pension credit, etc.

Most of us who worked have an occupational pension.

It doesn't make us 'rich' but comfortable enough to do without the winter fuel allowance.

That's fair enough. Wealthy pensioners won't get it, poorer ones will. Fine with me!

@Prawncow
Over 55s housing and flats are nearly always leasehold and involve service charges and ground rent which eats into incomes. Equity release is a con making the companies rich at the expense of the home owner. I would not want to buy any leasehold property to downsize.
Besides although not retirement age yet we still have both DCs in their 20s living with us. Too expensive to rent when you need to save for a deposit. London NHS workers.

Labour don't need to make policies to keep pensioners happy - they aren't predominately labor voters. Tories kept them happy with winter fuel benefits unmans tested to keep their vote

@LaDoIceVita Housing Benefit perhaps?

I've no idea , but maybe the free breakfast clubs they will roll out will then replace the free meals for key stage one / reception?
Having both will be an enormous amount of money and cereal and bread must be much cheaper than the two courses they have as a hot meal currently.

My dad always says he doesn't need it so won't miss it. He has good state pension ( with all those added SERPS ), a reasonable private pension and owns his house outright. Honestly in my job I see thousands of pensioners in similar situations and many don't need it. The ones I worry abut are those just over the threshold for Pension credit because it just creates a situation where those on Pension credit end up way better off than those who paid into a small private pension or saved a bit of money. Honestly when someone gets pension credit, there are so many extras that go with it and if a pensioner gets a disability benefit ( which in comparison to disability benefits for working age people are very easy to get ), they are on really decent amounts of money. If someone lives alone and gets awarded Attendance Allowance, they not only get up to £108.55 a week Attendance allowance ( higher rate seems to be dished out very easily in my experience), if they then qualify for PC that is another £85 ish a week making almost £200 a week extra and all rent and council tax paid. It's absolutely barmy and I have no idea how we are affording it. I honestly don't think that most people realize the amounts that some pensioners are getting. It really wouldn't surprise me if they made claiming Attendance allowance harder as well because the cost must be enormous and not many spend it on care at all.

My brother is throwing a tantrum about this on FB right now. Saying "how mean they've snatched my winter fuel allowance". He still has his own IT business which he runs from home, and his wife is an accountant. They both just work enough hours to keep them occupied. They certainly couldn't be described as poor!

My mums right on the borderline.. she will lose it. I will probably have to top her up as she does need it and I for one dint want her going cold

I think any grandparents providing free childcare for those who are so gleeful about this should start charging for there services. Also they should spend all their money and leave nothing to their spiteful children

On average a person pays £220k in income tax in their lifetime.

A £250k pension pot gives about £9k income a year

Bearing in mind your income tax pays for health, schools, roads, police, fire, parks, libraries.

Add on prescriptions, bus pass, dental and other free or discounted services the state pension and pensioners benefits doesn't lok too bad.

Healthcare is free at the point of use, in general the retired population uses a lot of healthcare. You wouldn't like to fund that personally.

People need to look at the bigger picture and stop whinging poor me at every single fucking decision.

The UK is broke we are all paying and taking a hit. The scrapping of the fuel allowance is a relatively minor blow.

If you are in desperate need of fuel money in the winter talk to your families they might be able to chip in. Ask for fuel payments for Christmas or something

I am a single retired woman with a small NHS pension and the state pension, I need this, I used it to pay for heating and am now worried sick about how I will manage this winter.