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?

So whilst this headline is as a shock and worry for many-there is still the potential that the government will also move the Pension Credit requirements to support those who are reliant on the WFA. It’s just one decision in very early days of office which has a lot of change lined up but probably worth a letter or email to your MP to make your situation and voice heard!

Trouble is, the only people on pension credit are those who haven't worked or saved for retirement

And there’ll be quite some of those who did not have a choice in that.

This is not a good policy. Means testing for pensioners like my DH, a higher rate earner now we’ve set up our own business, totally fair enough.

But this blunt cut off, no. The people on the edge will be the ones most affected, as always. The thing I resent the most is - and it’s bourne out by the comments in this thread - it seems designed to pit groups against each other. A bit like saying the private school VAT will pay for state school teachers. It’s like secondary school politics. So disappointing. I’d hoped that had died with the Tories, but seems not.

Many low income pensioners do not claim the Pension Credit to which they are entitled.

Why is this? Do they not realise? There defo needs to be a big awareness campaign.

On IHT, my opinion depends entirely on how the rules are changed and applied.

I know some very wealthy people who have ploughed money into agricultural property, buying any cheap farm that was for sale to place it outwith the IHT rules so their kids will get it intact, the whole kit and kaboodle.

The burden isn't going to hit them, but our single family home will get much harsher treatment. Our DC aren't going to suffer under the current rules, but it's the rewriting I fear.

I don't have a problem with DC paying tax at 40% over £1 million, because you are allowed to amass that in a pension fund, but to take a much higher % from the sensible savers is to deter the sensible savers coming behind them. Enough will think, the government will take it in tax so I may as well spend it and go on that cruise. And that will seriously impede the country's capacity for long term capital formation.

Isn't there such a thing as contribution-based Job Seeker's Allowance? Does everyone have to apply for UC now?

'Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.' - Clement Attlee

Owned 😂

Make the most of it labour. Next election will be reform in power.

🙄

Is there a figure for how much the government think this will save? Because the number of pensioners entitled to pension credit who don’t actually claim it is worth something in the region of £1.7 billion.

You conveniently left out the fact that among other things, mortgage rates were 17% at their highest rates in the 70s and 80s and there was a strict earnings link with mortgages then. There was also no maternity entitlement for women - it was baby boomers who fought for that and other benefits so that future generations could benefit.

I share your worry. I've been caring for two autistic children for the last 20+ years and could not work so have no private pension, just dribs and drabs from my younger years. I was more fortunate than you as I could rely on my husband but its been grim at times. Then I developed long covid 4 years ago, still have it though not as disabled as I was, but I couldn't face applying for PIP as I know from my son's experience, how brutal that process is. I think this will adversely affect women as we, generally, shoulder the bulk of the caring and lose out financially as a result. I feel very despondent this evening as I think Labour has more up its sleeve and similar to you, I don't have the physical resilience anymore (not helped by chronic illness and years of caring). Its shit.

Exactly, they are creating yet another cliff edge. I am just about to turn 66. Its an utter relief, because I have been on UC and you get "OH 65 thats not too old to find a job .....".

How long before they means test the pension and then you will have to go to job centre plus and hear "OH 69 thats not too old to find a job ....". Bugger off, I am finished.

I suspect that if they carry out the promised drive to make sure everyone claims what they’re entitled to, the savings will be minimal. Then they’ll be looking at other vulnerable cohorts to screw over.

I work with the elderly helping them to claim what they are eligible for. many don't want to claim means tested benefits because of the scrutiny of it. I had one client this week who is missing out on £40 of housing benefit because she wasn't willing to submit three months worth of bank statements to the council so they chose just to not claim. It happens again and again. They also don't want the hassle of constantly updating various benefit departments when savings rise and fall. I see a lot of elderly people in a real mess with benefits, bury their heads in the sand about things, don't want others to know what savings they have etc.

I was talking about the bus pass, Einstein. And no I don't know anything about the WFA seeing as it's nothing to do with me

There is no cap on Child Benefit!!!! The cap is on tax credits and UC element!

Martin Lewis tweeted about again last week complaining about the wording of Child Benefit by the press

This. Higher mortgage rates in the 80s and early 90s did not bring housing costs anywhere near today’s astronomical levels.

I meant out of today's announcements: and I wouldn't disagree with the thrust of your point as I can see any one or two of those happening

Really disappointing that the planned cap on care charges for older people has been scrapped by labour. Another case of do nothing and get everything. All the people who have worked hard throughout their life are subsidising the people who have sat on their arses.

If the government are going to promote this - which Rachel Reeves has previously said she thinks is something government should do, make sure those entitled to the benefit know about and do claim it - then I’m not sure how much this policy is actually going to save.

I don’t care if they increase inheritance tax tbh. DH and I were discussing this earlier, PIL’s house has increased significantly since they bought it. That’s luck and good fortune, nothing else. No one earned that money.

I am certainly not reaping what I sowed! I am tired of everything being blamed on Baby Boomers (horrible phrase).
My late husband worked from 15, always worked at whatever job he could find when made redundant (twice) . I also worked from 18, with gaps for childcare - no help with childcare for us.
We owned our own house - bought with hard work and economising.
We did not vote to leave the EU, we did not vote for austerity, and we certainly did not pull up any drawbridge.
Now I am a widow- my husband died at 69, so got very little back in pensions. I am fortunate- I get part of a private pension he had, plus I qualified for a full state pension through my own hard work.
I don't know these 'rich pensioners living it up on cruises' - it certainly doesn't apply to the other widows I know.

Even when people do decide they will claim Pension credit it can take months to actually be awarded. At one point last year the wait time was 4/5 months, although of course it is backdated. Goodness knows how long the waits will be if large numbers start claiming, unless they are going to put a lot of extra staff into it !

Labour have promised an awareness drive to make sure everyone claims what they’re entitled to. The uptake from which will likely wipe out any savings made from means testing the winter fuel payment. Not terribly well thought through is it ?

You conveniently left out the fact that among other things, mortgage rates were 17% at their highest rates in the 70s and 80s and there was a strict earnings link with mortgages then. There was also no maternity entitlement for women - it was baby boomers who fought for that and other benefits so that future generations could benefit.

But wages grew massively in the 70s & there was MIRAS & a lot more social housing. These things are always conveniently left out.

“Real wages grew by an average of 33% each decade from 1970 ” until the crash of course.