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?

Not particularly amazed at this. My parents receive it and have said they don’t need it. I think it makes sense, although I hope we don’t see a sudden increase in weather related mortality this winter.

Oh, that must mean none do then? 🙄

They get it because as they get older they feel the cold more and hypothermia is an issue with many too scared to put on the heating.

Outrageous. So unfair. I had included it in my annual budget. I just don’t know what I will do now. Luckily the Trois Vallee Ski Pass has 10% off when you get to 66 so that will help. A bit.

The issue is there will always be people right over the threshold who needs the help. Either it’s universal or it’s not, and when it’s not, people will miss out. It’s just the nature of these things.

And the conversation is far from ageist - the same comments and conversations took place when the child benefit limit came in.

But, but, but! on another thread extolling the virtues of free breakfast for every child almost everyone agrees it's a fair do! Oh the vagaries of Mumsnet!
So how, pray tell is it fair to remove the cold weather payment from all pensioners, regardless whether they need it or not, when it's absolutely fine to give a breakfast to all children regardless whether they need it or not? hmm? I'm guessing the costs are similar so now we know how they can afford to give all these kids a free brekkie.😠

What’s 60 got to do with anything? Don’t you know anything about winter fuel allowance?

Because it’s not being removed from all pensioners. The poorest pensioners will still receive it.

I posted this up thread, but I’m just back to say it again louder for the hard of imagination.

According to the government website the average income for a single female pensioner is £232 per week

Labour hand out rotten carrots to those trying to make their lives a little bit better, making it pointless to try when if you didn't bother you'll get benefits.

would you rather own your own home and have a small pension of £75 a week onto of your state pension, or the winter fuel allowance and live on the state pension only and have a rented old peoples bungalow and housing benefit? not able to go away fro more than 3 weeks at a time or your benefit will stop and housing could then be in jeopardy.

And yet Miliband is to pledge £11.6bn of Uk tax payers money to other countries as overseas climate aid. How can they justify this expensive virtue signalling scheme when people in this country are having to rely on food banks. Wonder what they will be cutting next. Bet they won’t be increasing taxes on the super rich.

There’s plenty people who don’t need help feeding breakfast to their sprogs but aren’t they giving free breakfasts to all primary children?

No they will not - educate yourself. I'm trying to live off one state pension of £900 pay £250 council tax - don't qualify for pension credit because of mixed aged rules - I'm poor. I'm crying with anxiety. The poorest will not receive it. I'll have to join the food bank.

How annoying ,, don't tax the rich but take off the pensioners ,,as long as the MPS all have their pay rise and expenses because all old people are rich right ?

I think this is sensible but with the caveat they’d need to keep it under review for the people just above threshold incase they’ve drawn it too tight.

My Granny was a poor pensioner. She would have absolutely needed and benefited from winter fuel allowance. My parents do not need it but actually still might get it if DlA or attendance applies as a gateway benefit. I think there was some massive inequality where there were poor working families not getting top-ups for heating and very rich pensioners getting the allowance. I don’t think it is a bad thing to try and equalise a bit but warm homes are important for health so they need to be careful not to take it away from people who might otherwise struggle with heating costs.

Amazing. All those working years

So if you are in a mixed age couple have you looked at universal credit ?

'Pensioners don't vote Labour'. The ignorance and prejudice on this thread is astounding.

Probably necessary, but it’s worth remembering that Sir Kier Starmer’s own pension from his time as director of public prosecutions is so generous that it required an Act of Parliament in its own right. I do fear that we are moving increasingly towards an age of austerity for thee but not for me.

If we're going the 'the pensioners I know...' route, the pensioners in my circle who didn't need it (including me) donated it or gave it to people who did need it.

I'm my case, the first one to my DD who was on unpaid maternity leave when the huge rise in energy costs happened, and the second and third to the food or energy banks. My other non-needy friends also passed it on.

Yes, denied it - not eligible. A couple cannot have Universal Credit + State Pension.

I am of state pension age and do need it.

And won’t get it as I have a small private pension that just tips me over the threshold.

And I missed it last year because I was claiming state pension but was a week too young for last years payment.

In times of normal energy prices I would have been ok. As it was I could afford to have the heating on for about 2 hours a day. And kept warm going for long walks, going to the library etc. Might not be able to do that if my hip gives out in the future.

This after a lifetime of working in the charity sector so minimal pension contributions from employer, a child who required numerous hospital surgeries (interfered with work / career) but didn’t qualify for DLA etc, no free nursery hours then, no free school meals then…

And whilst MNers all seem to be related to greedy pensioners who are rolling in it, many many of my friends are just about managing.

But this winter might change that.

Rub your hands in glee, those of you who are happy about this, it will keep your hands warm.

I think that means you know decent, caring people. I’m not sure it’s evidence that the system as it stands is right.

Not if you are in the old pension scheme as I am. £184.48 per week is what we get. It's already a two tier system and amongst the worst pensions in the world. You try living on that! I have a small private pension thankfully but it takes me just over the income tax thresh hold so goes back to the taxman.