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?

Unfortunately, that is the case with all benefits/ tax bands, etc.
There are more children and families living in poverty than pensioners now. Why should children and working people miss out? Why should pensioners be prioritised? Because the are more likely to vote Tory.

He gets what? Being hated for existing?

You're the same age as my DH - he gets it shame you don't. Not sure why a 61 year old man is getting winter fuel allowance. Government website says you’re eligible if born before 1957, ie over 66.

It's not £600 for everyone according to the government website. Payments vary depending on your age, whether or not you live alone, your partners age if you don't live alone.

Yes, of course. It is a small amount meant to pay the essentials only.
People were and are expected to save themselves too.
This current generation of pensioners are better off than the generation prior to them and also better off than the generation that will follow. Those who are younger, as a group, will be worse off.

Child benefit isn't means tested in the same way other benefits are.

Yep!

I've always thought anyone on disability or sickness benefits should get this as well. They get a bit, but not automatically.

Exactly - I would also point out that those on pension credit not only get the £500 (it is only £600 for the over 80s) but also the £900 which is given to all those on means-tested benefit.

I would also point out that it is only per household where a pensioner lives not per pensioner so I, as a single pensioner, for once benefit as I have to pay household and energy costs out of one income

I would also point out that normally the WFA is £200 per annum per household - this year and last year had an additional £300 added as a one-off.
Rest assured it will go back to £200 any time soon.

Then the correct approach is to argue that the threshold for pension credits should be increased, not that all pensioners regardless of their financial status should get money.

And no, I don't think asset rich cash poor people should be subsidised simply because they hold their wealth in one particular type of asset. It's very wrong thinking to me because it just encourages people to focus on that asset and not prepare themselves for the greater flexibility in finances that is necessary in old age.

The good news is that it simply won't go on forever, because the country can't afford it. This has been pointed out by many people on this site before. It's simply a matter of time and the clock is ticking.

As simple as this, really, they are buying votes from people who is not directly affected by their mess.

That’s ridiculous- surely a better way would be for pensioners to apply for it if really needed? Give it to the low/middle income families working multiple jobs just to keep their heads above the water.

My neighbour will be getting this then - bought his family home for around £20k, now worth 600k plus. Far too big for him, mobility issues and multiple other health issues and he refuses to move. If he needed money, he wouldn’t rattle round in a big house with big bills, so obviously doesn’t need a £600 handout.

Middle income families earn more than 90% of pensioners ...

It’s bs if you ask me . Most pensioners do not need that help , why not give it to the ones that need and the rest of the people that need it too . let’s nothing more than vote buying

No, she's been widowed for 13 years!

Oh not this old chestnut again.

We are struggling because of the Cost of Living crisis. We might not look it but the £600 will make a huge difference.

Anyone is welcome to give it to a charity of their choice.

My parents are the biggest anti Tory voters you could meet!
Why should they get it? Because they are elderly and need a warm home! In a world that has changed to the point that fuel costs are extraordinary, through no fault of theirs.
A society is judged by how they treat their elderly, vulnerable people.
So you say don't give it to them? And do you honestly think that money would go towards helping struggling families? You're very naive if you do!
Let's take it back to the fifties shall we? And have old people dying because they live in damp and moldy conditions.
Honestly, I'm baffled that people would take this from elderly people who are barely getting by. If you feel this way, you aren't any type of socialist. It's total Tory way of thinking, which is ironic!

£600 a year isn't very much and the government can't means test it due to all the private pensions.

Most pensioners actually do need it. If your MIL doesn't, she can give it to you as you sound really pissed off that she's got it and you haven't or buy stuff for the local food bank.

All the people on here slagging it off and blaming the Tories (yawn) - what will you do with your extra £600 per year when you are pensioners?

Well yes, of course, they do, they're working! Pensioners have lower costs so their income, will of course, be lower than workers. It's insane to think pensioners should have a similar income to workers!

I’m willing to bet that if a working family had an income of £10,500 they would get some kind of top up benefit. A single pensioner wouldn’t qualify for pension credit on that income.

Are you seriously saying that someone on £11,000 per year doesn’t need help?

I’m not against the concept of means-testing if that makes financial sense. But it isn’t fair to base it on pension credit eligibility.

Here’s the eligibility criteria

*How much you'll get
You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.
If you do not get a letter but think you are eligible, check if you need to make a claim.
The amount you get is based on when you were born and your circumstances between 18 to 24 September 2023. This is called the ‘qualifying week’.
The amounts listed include a ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’. This is between £150 and £300. You’ll get this extra amount in winter 2023 to 2024.
Any money you get is tax-free and will not affect your other benefits.
If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel PaymentYou’ll get either:

• £500 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
• £600 if you were born before 25 September 1943

If you live with someone else who’s eligible for the Winter Fuel PaymentYour payment may be different if you get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support

If you do not get any of the benefitsYou’ll get a payment of either:

• £250 if you and the person you live with were both born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
• £250 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957 but the person you live with was born before 25 September 1943
• £350 if you were born before 25 September 1943 but the person you live with was born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
• £300 if you and the person you live with were both born before 25 September 1943

If you and your partner jointly claim any of the benefitsOne of you will get a payment of either:

• £500 if both of you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
• £600 if one or both of you were born before 25 September 1943

You’ll be paid into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into. If you get any of the benefits (not as part of a joint claim)You’ll get a payment of either:

• £500 if you were born between 25 September 1943 and 24 September 1957
• £600 if you were born before 25 September 1943*

As has already been pointed out, the cost to means test this payment exceeds the cost of giving it to everyone regardless of income. Last time I looked, the Government were criticised for wasting money unnecessarily.

Don't worry, there's no way the country will be able to bung £600 a person when I come to retire. I don't even expect there to be a state pension when I retire, and my son, is certainly planning on there not being one. The country can't continue getting ever deeper into debt just to finance benefit payments!

Odd for a Labour policy, opposed at the time by the Tories.

Relax Fiona. You don't need to take a different opinion as a personal affront!
Try reading the post again. We don't have endless amounts of money you know. Have a look at the debt: GDP ratio.

My bill at the min is £75 a month for gas and electric
So with that on top of what I already pay it would be pretty generous