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?

Fair enough! There's plenty of well-off older people who don't need it and say so. By that system, the ones in need will still get it. The money can be used for better purposes.

My PIL certainly don't need it and use it to donate to a refugee charity they set up at their church.

I agree. Really wealthy pensioners don't need it, hence they pay tax on it like everyone else.
However as always, those who are just above the income limit for pension credit will also not get it and thus will be substantially worse off. But hey, the government might get lucky. We may die of pneumonia.
Just remember when you are so quick to tell us how well off your relatives are, the older pensioners don't get the new, more generous, state pension.

People love the rich pensioner on a cruise idea but most pensioners struggle - especially when they get older. The 67 year old on a cruise who was rich before and is still well off is not the same as the 85 year old who was never rich struggling on no money and in a house that cannot be kept warm.
People don't suddenly become rich when they get old. Many pensioner's don't know what they are entitled to so don't claim anything.
It's a mean move. People love to think of money being taken away from other people but it won't lead to either a fairer or a better society.

Well my DP’s will miss it. They only get pension but have money saved to help pay for their funeral. But above pension credit limit. So they will be cold this winter.
They are very very frugal and waste nothing. But who care about them eh.

No. Although I suppose they might make that means tested next.

How are you funding your rent?

It doesn't bother me but I thought I ought to say I, as a pensioner, do not get any other benefits.

Attendance allowance is really difficult to get.

Pensioners are like other groups - there is a squeezed middle who just about don’t qualify for other benefits often because they took action during their working life to save. Benefits aren’t just about need, they are about sending the right message to the population.

My dad’s total pension entitlement is £12,500 per year so the winter fuel allowance makes a big difference to him. The problem is that there is a big gap between those that are on pension credits and the wealthy pensioners that have substantial private pensions and assets.

Of course you’d think that! Have you been donating yours to charity, all these years? No one is making you keep it!

But loads of people don't receive pension credit but are hardly rolling in it.

My dad is in a one bed flat and has bone cancer and will now restrict his heating in winter again.

Like all these things, it's those just above the threshold (because they put away for retirement but we're on low wages) who suffer.

There are quite a few pensioners (me included) who get a state pension but no other help - I have no mortgage so can manage, but this will hit the 'in the middle' people - not rich, but not poor enough to get extra help. They will miss the payments. I am disappointed on their behalf.

So tell them to purchase a pre-paid funeral then. Then they'll have no savings and be eligible for pension credit.

Dm receives it for various health conditions but not pension credit. She needs heating on more than an average pensioner due to this. Seems unfair to penalise likes of her.

You can still need it, even not on benefits or pension credits. You might just miss out on them and have a low income. Would have been better to have said keep it for those getting below a certain income.

I think it’s less likely as sounds very reasonable but check maybe citizens advice that this will not be considered deprivation of capital.

It isn't scrapped for all pensioners, those who receive pension credit will still get it. However, it is a very generous payment and, though I dislike the idea of means testing, many pensioners don't need an extra £300 each or even notice it so I am glad it will still go to those who do need it. I got it last year but presumably won't this year :).

Correction: I might this year because I was born before (I think I read) 1957.

Whatever, I am not bothered and would rather it went elsewhere.

I would have got the WFA starting next year. I don’t need it and don’t have a problem with not having it.

It's going to increase the number of pensions having to claim additional benefits, which will cost more in the long run (admin costs as well as payments). Some pensioners may not need it, but many do. But hey, pensioners don't vote Labour, so what do they care.

I would have thought that anyone who had savings above the limit could just dip into it to subsidise the difference, fuel allowance isn’t much is it? Or am I mixing it up with something else? Being a hundred or so pounds lower in savings but warm would be my personal preference but I know other opinions are available. It’s good it’s still there for people on a very low income and we can’t afford to keep paying out money to those who don’t really need it so I guess it makes sense. It’s a small start anyway.
The overwhelming problem of fuel poverty for so many is still needing a long term solution though. It’s not just older people that will be cold this winter. I still hope for better days where no one has to chose between heating or eating.

Not fair and not right. It's a kick in the teeth for the elderly who are not in receipt of pension credit but are struggling to afford heating. Utterly appalled that once again it's the most vulnerable that will suffer.

Mmm. My friend cashed in her pension pot and has spent it all on designer handbags and holidays in Dubai and Thailand. She lives in a housing association property and gets pension credit to top up her state pension. Meanwhile my DH has a small private pension which he is taxed on and is no better off than her. And now she will get this and he won't? It's a kick in the teeth for those who have saved for their old age.

I'm planning to cash my pension in early before they grab it.

It is still going to those who claim benefits, Jaxhog, and this year to those born before 1957.