To rant about government financial help

[Alittlenonsensenowandthen]

Firstly, I'll say that I've previously been in receipt of financial help from govt and extremely grateful and also want those who need help to be helped, but...
I've now met two people (retired) who are telling me what they're spending their fuel allowance on (new flat screen TV, holidays, new sofas). This is not an agiest or benefit bashing thread but it just gets my goat that there are people happily spending money given for heating on luxuries. It's not actually their fault - they haven't asked for the money, it wasn't means tested so arguably why not spend it and see it as bonus money. If govt wants to help, it needs to pay for things directly surely?
Just really bugging me at the moment because we're fine financially but only just, and we earn too much for help.
Argh! Just needed a rant to the ether this eve!

If they don’t need the money then even if it directly went onto fuel, they’d still spend their now £600 spare money on whatever they wanted. Hopefully when you are retired you’ll be in a position to spend the money on something fun too.

What’s so wonderful about a flat screen TV? They are almost always mentioned in benefit-bashing posts.

That's a good perspective - thank you🙂

Aren't all TVs flat screen nowadays

I don't actually think its possible to buy any other type of TV these days!

And maybe they needed a new sofa

What sort of telly have you got @Alittlenonsensenowandthen

It costs too much to means test it, so it's given to everyone. More likely it's because it would be an administration nightmare to ask everyone 66+ to fill in a form with all their earnings.

I'm not against the WFA per se, but I think the age should be raised to 75+ or those on pension credit.

Also, the payment should be higher to those living in the north of the country, which experiences much colder temperatures, and less in the south. If any area experiences extremely cold weather eligible people do get the cold weather payment on top of that.

How about you look at it this way. They have paid £600 off their fuel bill in the lead up to winter as part of their direct debit and can now use what they have ‘saved’ to buy xyz.

Haven't got one. Suppose TVs are flat screen.. just still call them that. Showing my age!

My dad’s always spent his winter fuel allowance on Claret. It’s his to do with what he likes, he’s spectacularly wealthy and contributes much more to the economy by buying stuff than we do.

Government should already have data about pensioners and those who need additional support, as pension credit is means tested. I just cannot see the justification for handing out this particular payment willy-nilly.

I've now met two people (retired) who are telling me what they're spending their fuel allowance on (new flat screen TV, holidays, new sofas).

They will definitely struggle to buy all of those things with the fuel allowance money.

Here we go again...

I get mine next year so better get my shopping list ready, though it will probably be only £250 so won't go very far.

A new sofa for £500? I doubt it.

Wish I was getting something, I desperately need to upgrade.

If you’re fine financially, don’t be annoyed, count your blessings. Goverment help is for poor people, unwell people and old people. You’re not in any of those groups.

My 85yr old mum's £600 cold weather allowance doesn't even pay for four days of care for her. She has a teachers pension which combined with her old age pension brings her income higher than mine and I work full time in a middle management role at age 61. But the extra £600 just disappears in her £5.5k per month care home fees (she has dementia). I manage her money and I'm grateful for anything that makes her income stretch a bit further.

Oh behave a chair to sit on, and a tv that's flat isn't a luxury.

New sofa, holiday and flat screen tv(so just a tv then). Wow on £500 only £600 if over 80 isn’t it.
They are certainly bargain hunting, can I ask where they got their sofa and tv that cheap, please.
My DP’s are spending theirs on heating, especially as my poor DM is always freezing.

Haha, flat screen TV eh?

The problem that if you add and further requirements then you’d need to apply and the admin associated with that would be huge and thus costly. Clearly the right thing to do for those that need it is to return it to the government (if you can!) or donate it all to a charity. This should be what goes out on all the marketing that’s doing the rounds about it, a video explaining that the right thing to do if you receive the payment and don’t need it is donate to x charity or local food bank. The middle classes could all shame each other into donating as they wouldn’t want to be seen as poor to their friends!

Is a 66 year old 'old'? Genuine question - all the people I know in their 60s would hate to be considered old.

FGS