WTF? £600 winter fuel allowance for all pensioners!

[user1497207191]

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?

Well said.
A relative of mine didn’t declare they had been renting a house in London for nearly 20years.
They recently got scared about it as they wanted to sell the house, upgrade in renting rules etc and so told HMRC they hadn’t paid tax
HMRC have let them off all that tax. Nothing to pay. All those years. Plus they work so we re talking higher rate tax owing.

Plus she claims benefits ! and has done all that time

How is that right.
Why doesn’t HMRC tax all those that should be taxed and stop people who claim benefits that shouldn’t.

In what way is it “sad” to think that someone doesn’t need a benefit when you literally have an insight into their life, income and lifestyle? This is just a really weird view Imo.
People seem to think it’s some sort of personal attack to say that higher income pensioners don’t need it.

Except it was Labour who brought in the non-means tested Winter Fuel Allowance.

Means testing a payment which is a maximum of £600 would be very expensive, as has been pointed out over and over again. Taxes pay for lots of things which some individuals could pay for, e.g. health care, education. I don't see any suggestion that they should be means tested.

Just realised that this year there’s a link where we can return the payment. Thank you for finding it for me. That’s new. I still think we’ll give it to the food bank though.
There are many pensioners in a worse position than us who could claim pensions credit but won’t because of the type of comments I’ve read on this thread and the divide and rule philosophy of this government that is perpetuated by the media. “Oh look at that scrounger claiming state handouts- don’t look at me and my mates claiming millions in well deserved, hard earned expenses”

State pensioners get a maximum of £203.85 a week and only if they have enough years of contributions. Basic standard Universal Credit is £334.91 a week for comparison.
This year’s winter fuel payments top that up by £11.50 or £4.80 making
£215.35 if you are single and over 80.
£210.58 if you’re part of a couple over 80. £207.65 if you’re between 66 and 80.
Many, mainly women, do not have any other income or only a tiny occupational pension to top this up. We don’t all own our own homes either. Those that do often have older houses that cost a lot in upkeep.
ts not a cushy retirement at the taxpayers expense for most- although some do have it better than others. Just like it was during our working life (unless you’re in government maybe?)

@user1497207191 I would hope that anyone receiving this money that doesn’t actually need it will put it to good use where it is needed.
A local INDEPENDENT food bank could do a lot with £600 anyway if the week but Xmas is a particularly hard time so if your mum doesn’t need it ask her to consider donating it to one.

This country is in the state that it is because our government is broken, they get paid for not working & they are giving cash back handers to all their buddies left right & centre & syphoning funds away for their own personal pots & projects leaving the rest of us to fester.

Banks got bailed out in a heart beat - I do understand the need the bail out BUT bonuses were still paid & continue to be paid despite continuing failures & the public still being owed those bail outs back - trains, power & water privatised & allowed to bring the country to it’s knees all in the name of profits.

And of course it is/was only £500/£600 (max for a single person or the total for a couple who are both retirered) this year and last, because of the fuel crisis. From next year, it'll be back to £200/£300. So means testing then would cost far more than it would save.

My comment doesnt have anything to do with who does or doesn’t get certain benefits and more to do with the tone of the post

Yes I do.!! Child benefit is a joke!! Why should the state be responsible for the upkeep of children. It's just a meal ticket for some. If people want children they should be prepared to care for them themselves.

Yeah, kids saying their parents need this whilst at the same time owning their own home and won't downsize and the kids are rubbing their hands at the thought of all that lovely inheritance when mama and papa pop their clogs.

No the country cannot afford it but neither can the country afford to have about 1/3rd of the country on some form of benefits and another 50% on tax credits / universal credit.

Time to stop benefits and make criteria mega tough and only for a couple of years or you get nothing.

Interesting, I can’t see what in the tone is sad. Unless you think it’s just unacceptable to say someone doesn’t need the benefit regardless of circumstances. The poster literally says the benefit needs to be going to those who would struggle with fuel poverty but her relative is an example of someone who wouldn’t struggle without it.
So it’s sad to begrudge someone on a high income receiving a benefit aimed at reducing fuel poverty?

I have zero issue with those genuinely struggling getting this money, but my dad gets it too and he changes his car every year and is on a very fat end of salary pension that is more than I earn in a year working full time! They absolutely DO NOT need it and I really begrudge them getting it!

I have no idea when or why child benefit started but I’m thinking
Kids of today are the tax payers of the future

So the Govn gives ( less well off ) parents a helping hand.

I see sad you obviously don’t.
Hayho

If means testing is so expensive , why do they means test child benefit ?

Totslly agree about it being a vote winner .

Whilst there ARE vulnerable pensioners , there are MANY well off ones too who have benefitted from property boom / big pension pots .

@Riv Thank you for thinking of the food banks. I hope more do as you plan instead giving the money back to our sham of a government to syphon away for their own use!

I’ll be destitute before I reach pension age after I was left disabled & unable to work due to medical neglect while I was in labour.
I am thankful my child & I survived but I will never own my own home or have a private pension to top up the state pension as I just can not afford to pay into one.

My child will inherit nothing but her DNA from me when I do pass unless I win the lottery 😔

Don't see how it's a vote winner when many pensioners vote Labour! Every single one of my nan's friends and neighbours were proud Labour supporters.

I really would question ‘millions” don’t need it. If the state pension was a decent one, then I’d agree. But it isn’t.

Most pensioners are not as well off as your Mum and means testing can mean that not everyone who needs it applies. Universal benefits have been found to be the most effective means of ensuring everyone who needs a benefit gets it. I am sure if there was a way of saving on her tax your Mum would apply this is just the other way about.

Someone proved a few pages back with a chart that actually conservative is the favoured party of most pensioners.

A meal ticket? It’s £20 a week. Nobody is living off child benefit

@likethislikethat I sincerely hope you are never have to live at the hands of the benefits system!
Your attitude towards those on it is badly skewed because, believe it or not, the biggest benefit claimants in this country are our government & they don’t even need the hand outs they just like their champagne, canapés, travel & household bills to be paid for by others!

Its based on earnings
Thats much easier

I think you misunderstood me. These places might be lovely but I have no interest in living in some ghetto (however nice) surrounded by old people. I like a mixed community, I don't want to socialise and have outings with other people in the ghetto. Your parents might have loved it, I would rather be living in abject poverty.

If I need support I have children and GC who will be supportive and my income would allow me to pay for the support I need, which would probably cost less than the fees in these places.

When I was a child we used to laugh at my granddad who would complain about "old people" who were generally younger than him. I guess it is genetic as like him most of my friends are younger than me.

It is fine, we are all different. If your parents liked it that is great, I'd hate it and that is also great.

You’re extreme 😂 Pretty sure I didn’t say that. I’m merely pointing out that governments will do whatever they think will keep the majority of their voters happy, regardless of how helpful it is to society as a whole.

I can't imagine how they proved it. We have a secret ballot and unless they actually went and asked every pensioner they don't know.