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Original poster

WTF? £600 winter fuel allowance for all pensioners!

1000 replies

user1497207191 · 13/10/2023 13:34

No wonder the country has no money and the deficit/debt is getting bigger.

MIL just phoned up saying she'd got a letter telling her £600 was on the way to her and asking why, when she doesn't need it?

Just why??? She's not claiming means tested benefits. Her state and her husband's occupational pension are already far more than she needs to live on, meaning she saves a few hundred pounds a month into ISAs (which already stand at over £100k). Owns her own house, so no rent/mortgage.

Why the hell can't this money be directed at those who actually need it or more worthy causes? It's insane to keep throwing money at people who don't need it.

She doesn't need it, she doesn't want it. She wouldn't miss it if it wasn't paid to her.

If they can means test the child benefit and claw it back from those earning over £50k, why can't they come up with a way of ensuring winter fuel allowance is only paid to those who may need it? Why not only paid to those pensioners claiming pension credits, or rent allowance, or whatever?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
24
Wonkasworld · 14/10/2023 17:53

SENDhelp2023 · 14/10/2023 13:38

Its disgusting…

Really, disgusting? Fancy our vulnerable being looked after. I wonder how many payments you're receiving that we could say the same about. Let's see how you would feel about that judgement.

BeautifulBettyBoo · 14/10/2023 18:00

Why dont you just vote to have people put diwn when reach pension age then they wont cost anything ....A lot of pensioners have worked hard all their life and now you cant help them God help you when your old ...

BeautifulBettyBoo · 14/10/2023 18:02

Why not give it too charity if she is that bothered ...

Middleagedspreadisreal · 14/10/2023 18:04

Me and my dh are pensioners, don't have savings or claim benefits so th wfa will be greatly received. And will NEVER vote Tory!

PolarisSky · 14/10/2023 18:10

How miserable are you? Just because someone might not need it doesn’t mean they’re not entitled and by the sounds of it you are the “entitled” one. If you can’t afford certain things don’t churn out kids etc! Your comment disgusted me actually. Seriously what is wrong with you? If she’s that bothered then ask her for the equivalent to put in your bloody meter!

YokoOnosBigHat · 14/10/2023 18:13

AutumIsOrange · 13/10/2023 13:35

Because Tories need the pensioners vote to win the next election.

This.

HikingforScenery · 14/10/2023 18:15

Thr government has decided they deserve it. They should absolutely add it 🤷

Jmaho · 14/10/2023 18:16

@thegreylady my mum hasn't had one either, she's 77 recently widowed
I looked on the government website and it says letters will be sent out in Oct/Nov time so hope you get a letter soon

MaggieHM · 14/10/2023 18:17

They are actually going to means test it from next year. Rushi said as much in the conference.

Jmaho · 14/10/2023 18:20

Be really interesting to know how many of the posters so against the fuel allowance, got the COL payments that were given out not that long ago
And I'll put money on the majority of those who agree with the winter fuel allowance being paid, not being entitled to anything

Whatonearthdidicomeinherefor · 14/10/2023 18:21

margotrose · 13/10/2023 13:38

Because it's cheaper to give it to everyone than it is to means test it.

But they means test child allowance.

mewkins · 14/10/2023 18:22

NoSquirrels · 13/10/2023 13:46

Why not only paid to those pensioners claiming pension credits, or rent allowance, or whatever?

My MIL also owns her own flat, so no rent to pay. But she only gets the state pension and then a tiny occupational pension (like, £200 a year or something). This tiny bit of extra pension renders her ineligible for pension credit or any other benefits. Usual story, she was divorced in her late 50s with no career to speak of and thus no wealth - she’d expected to retire with her husband. Last winter she didn’t put the heating on at all hardly, due to fear of the bills, and got damp patches appearing everywhere. She absolutely does need the winter fuel allowance. In contrast, my dad - also a home owner - absolutely does not.

My MIL is one of the pensioners who’d probably be much better off if she’d never saved/owned and was in council housing with all the attendant benefits. There’s lots like her.

It’s way too simplistic to think there’s s solution that doesn’t have a disadvantage to someone. At least this way my MIL does get £600 for heating, even if my dad who doesn’t need it gets it too. Under any of the current means-testing like ‘only if you’re in receipt of pension credit’ she’d miss out and be even more scared to hear her home.

I agree with you. Mu mum is in the same boat. If you're in receipt of pension credit you have access to all sorts. She isn't (just!) So just has to crack. Not to mention living in a village off without gas mains so having to fund oil heating.

Ellyess · 14/10/2023 18:26

I'm very broke through no fault of my own, early retired and a pensioner.
I think I do deserve financial help.
Yet I totally agree with the OP. So much so I am quoting her:

"Why the hell can't this money be directed at those who actually need it or more worthy causes? It's insane to keep throwing money at people who don't need it.

She doesn't need it,"

Indeed neither do an absolutely huge number of retired people need it. I know so many who put their State Pension straight into their Savings Account. They do not use it at all for anything you would call essential.

This is what you get from a government who are so remote from the ordinary people they have no idea what goes on. It would be so easy to give extra help to just those who they can tell from their tax return are on a low income.

MusicMum80s · 14/10/2023 18:27

margotrose · 13/10/2023 13:49

Why is that not the case for other means tested benefits then?

Because they're worth more than £600 a year?

Exactly, there are lots of benefits that aren’t means tested for this reason. Each time it’s a cost benefit analysis based on the value of the benefit paid to those who don’t need it vs the cost of admin. The lower the value of the benefit and the smaller the amount of people you need to filter out, the less likely it’s worth doing

ilovesooty · 14/10/2023 18:30

MaggieHM · 14/10/2023 18:17

They are actually going to means test it from next year. Rushi said as much in the conference.

He can say what he likes. Neither he nor his government is likely to be around.

Ellyess · 14/10/2023 18:39

NoSquirrels
I deeply sympathise with your MIL. I have been in that position from the day my husband died - just on the line where I missed benefits. Now I am fortunate to get some help towards Council Tax which makes a world of difference to me.

I imagine that no matter how the Benefit System is organised, there will always be a point where some people will be better off had they not been quite so careful with money, or they just get enough to put them above that line where benefits step in.

I too had almost no heating last year. Today is my first day of wearing an outdoor jacket indoors. I am living so frugally I do not invite friends into my house now as I do things in such a different way due to the combination of economising and being disabled and in pain.

jessycake · 14/10/2023 18:43

I grudge the £37 billion test and trace, covid fraud , the garden bridge , the water canons ,HS2 and any number of things the government have spaffed money on .

Ilovecleaning · 14/10/2023 18:46

Why did she tell you?

Ellyess · 14/10/2023 18:47

Well obviously they'll flush big cheques on everybody this year! Especially the grey-haired brigade who form quite a high number traditionally inclined to vote Tory.

An election is coming along.

Look out for all the freebies - make the most of it! They will go as soon as the election is over.

JournalistEmily · 14/10/2023 18:49

This massively pisses me off too OP. Both me and DP’s parents are well off. They get this too. And there are families who can’t afford to eat. It actually makes me a bit sick. Should 100% be means tested.

Juleslovesmaths · 14/10/2023 18:50

Indeed my parents are pretty wealthy and spend the whole winter in Spain but they still get it - quite ridiculous

Josie1810 · 14/10/2023 18:50

Where would you make the cut off? You agree that some pensioners need it. It's such an important payment for so many. Making it dependant on finances would be so expensive to do. The kindest thing your inlaws could do would be to donate it to a charity.

ruby1957 · 14/10/2023 18:51

MusicMum80s · 14/10/2023 18:27

Exactly, there are lots of benefits that aren’t means tested for this reason. Each time it’s a cost benefit analysis based on the value of the benefit paid to those who don’t need it vs the cost of admin. The lower the value of the benefit and the smaller the amount of people you need to filter out, the less likely it’s worth doing

Show quote history

It is not £600 a year - that is only if the household has an over 80 year old living in it. Under 80s get £500 as a one-off for probably only this year before it reverts to the £200 from next (< £5 a week! )

ruby1957 · 14/10/2023 18:53

JournalistEmily · 14/10/2023 18:49

This massively pisses me off too OP. Both me and DP’s parents are well off. They get this too. And there are families who can’t afford to eat. It actually makes me a bit sick. Should 100% be means tested.

I would suspect that the families who cannot afford to eat will be on UC and would have already received £900 this year

Ellyess · 14/10/2023 18:54

jessycake · 14/10/2023 18:43

I grudge the £37 billion test and trace, covid fraud , the garden bridge , the water canons ,HS2 and any number of things the government have spaffed money on .

Doesn't everybody?

I have been amazed at how much money this gov have been able to conjure up all the time. It has terrified me! I ought to be angry. They throw it away while I sit in a coat and one heater and a blanket in winter, go to bed at 7 and don't use the kettle and cooker more than once a day. Why am I living like this when they are doing what you said? [I can't use that sp... word - it's too like that egregiously greedy Johnson.]

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