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?

Reeves was critical of the plans the Tories had in store for PIP - vouchers instead of cash and other plans to reduce spending. She was interviewed on LBC radio in May 24 and said that there were no plans to reduce or means test disability benefits. Watch this space.

By definition, those in receipt of child benefit have dependents, which pensioners tend not to. It doesn’t help any argument by just making silly statements.

Except this is rubbish as the obr provided the state of the finances well before the election took place. They already knew and they stayed quiet
It's deceitful and I didn't think I'd sya this but we were warned by the Tories that they were hiding things

But many people don't???
I was holding out for it. I'm lucky. I'll be OK. How sefish a nation we have become.

I'm sure all those Mumsnetters saying how fair this is will be delighted to be means tested for their CB, not just the Child Benefit charge. (which I think is very fair)

That’s why they’ve linked it to pension credit. It’s that which tops up lower level pensions to the guaranteed income level.

I think there will be lots of these decisions incoming. Let’s hope the ones saying ‘good’ about the pensioners losing their winter fuel allowance don’t have their/their children’s benefits cut. When it comes your way you won’t like it either.

Mumsnet will be delighted with this one. Been moaning about pensioners receiving this benefit for donkeys. I suppose that’s one benefit of Climate Change, our winters tend to be pretty milk.

It's vile isn't it! Despite struggling, your mum will be put in the same bracket as all of the extremely wealthy pensioners who cruise during winter! How is that means testing!

I was cut off anyhow.. because you had to be born before 1957.. and I'm 1958.

Yes, let us give nothing to those who built the country and let us feel good about it. And reason like many on here - my ILs or parents do not need it. Really? Did you ask you ILs? What makes you entitled to decide for them, whether they would like it cancelled or not? Mind boggling.

Child benefit is now £60000 - 80000

The current crop of pensioners did not build this country. Far far from it.

Whether or not you think it’s rubbish depends on which side of the political spectrum you are on. Osborne did the same thing when the coalition government took office and used it to introduce swingeing cuts. This is no different. And there’s a piece in the Times newspaper about the OBR being investigated to see if they were complicit

However those who do not work still get free 1-5 hours the term after a child is 3. Don’t need to work to get those free hours.

was thinking through what else they can cut. ( I am neither a pensioner or have a child under 4)

And this statement is sadly, what many people incorrectly think. The Full Basic State pension is £169.50 a week and is the amount that the vast majority of older pensioners get, if they qualify for the full pension. That easily comes to less than £1600 a month for two people.

The full new pension rate is £221.20 and most people don't get that.

Work almost never pays under a Labour government, unless you work for the state. And here, 3 weeks in, the extent of the duplicitous nature of their manifesto is laid bare. Union pay masters acceded to on a grand scale - only the RMT and Consultants to go before we have a full house. Not in the manifesto. And now the poorest in society being cruelly targeted. Private sector pensions will be the next target, again underlining their view that if you don’t work for the state you don’t matter.

But…if the private sector could delivered the growth they’re counting on to fund it that’d be great. Although, when they came into power we were one of the fastest growing economies in the G7…let’s see how taking billions out of the private sector to fund public sector pay actually drives growth in the economy…

Suck it up @Moier, you would only receive it for one year anyway! Then it expires. I will get one more year, and no I don't need it, but I can give it to my pension credit receiving DM90 who can worry a bit less about her heating bill and stay a little warmer.

This is fair. Lots of reasonably well off couples on State Pension get £200 between them. I know 3 couples who have no mortgage, at least one car, money invested and regular foreign holidays. It’s a disgrace that they get £200.
The man of one the couples binds on asking ‘When does the WFP go into our bank accounts?” Then he shows off how he has split his £200,000 capital to get the best returns.
it isn’t him who is wrong, it’s the system.

Absolutely - there are not just 2 categories of pensioners. Pensioners come in all types of income levels - pinning the income level at £218.00 a week and you are 'rich' is grossly unfair. Since the new state pension is now approaching the level to be taxed - deciding which of the pensioners are minted enough to not need the help with heating during the winter would be easy (without equating it to being 'on benefits')

This will affect me and I think it's fair enough. I'm not rich enough to be going on holiday in the winter but I have less need of help with fuel costs than many families.

Pension credit tops income up to £218 a week. That’s £11,400 a year. Half the living wage. Yes, it’s a gateway to other benefits, but many/most on the national living wage will also be entitled to other benefits as well if they have children.

I agree with you on the winter fuel payments but it is making a lot of people worry about what they are going to target next. I very much rely on the child benefit like many other families up and down the country. Most of us will end up being pensioners one day and with the cost of living is constantly going up all the time it’s a worry. I wouldn’t be surprised if they increase the retirement age next. They said their plans were fully costed over and over during the election campaign. Well it’s clear now that they weren’t!

Wait till she means tests child benefit...it's coming.

It will certainly save the country a bob or two. They've got to pay for these unfunded doctors pay rises somehow.