To not understand the uproar over winter fuel allowance being cut?

[virgocatlover]

It's not being cut. The poorest pensioners on pension credit will still get it. It's only being changed so it's no longer a universal payment anymore.

The energy price cap was £1834 October 2023. This October it's £1717. So it's £117 cheaper than it was last winter for average use.

In April 2024 the state pension rose by 8.5% - a rise of around £900 for those on full state pension. It's expected to rise another £400 next April.

Many energy companies still have schemes for those in genuine need. Plus the warm home discount exists for those on a low income.

I understand pensions who receive just state pension and no other income may be annoyed but there has to be a cut somewhere. But pensioners are unlikely to have the expense of rent/ mortgages in retirement which is the biggest expense to those of working age.

However most of the moans I've heard and seen seem to be from the well off pensioners who are cross about losing something. I know a woman who rents out three houses and spends the winter in the Caribbean who is spitting feathers about losing the payment. Another who spent the money on their Christmas booze.

There is so much uproar about this which didn't happen when there were so many other cuts affecting young people/workers/families. All other benefits are means tested, so should WFA.

People still see pensioners as those who fought in the war and counting pennies at the till to pay for their bread and milk. But that's just not the case these days.

Half of female single pensioners live on less than £259 a week. Out of that, those not in receipt of pension credit will need to pay their council tax and, as you are obsessed with renting or not renting, those who are homeowners will need to maintain their properties so that they don’t live in cold damp homes.

Come back and give me your opinion as to whether you think these 50% of female pensioners might need it OP

MIL rents and has to keep working (71) to afford her rent, top up doesn't cover it.

The fuel allowance was introduced at a time when pensions only increased by inflation, which was at a record low. So it was needed. Once the triple lock was introduced the allowance should’ve been scrapped as it was no longer needed as pensions increased with prices/wages etc. However the Conservatives didn’t scrap it as the pensioner vote is one of their biggest votes. Benefits for younger people are means tested so it’s only right that benefits for older people are means tested too.

I think it should only be removed from pensioners in the higher tax thresholds.

I actually don’t believe hundreds of thousands of people are entitled but don’t claim.

The Gov figure from last year was 880,000 households were entitled but not claiming. They would have to be out by a considerable degree if it actually wasn't the case that hundreds of thousand weren't claiming.

@virgocatlover you are not being unreasonable. Most pensioners I know used the money to buy nice Christmas presents!

It has only been taken off those who are considered to have enough £ already.

I really do wish though they'd tackled the 1% and tax evasion first, but suspect they didn't cos that will take too long and they need £ now to improve public services.

We really must hold the tory government responsible for the sh1t show now, if they'd governed the country better (£26b lost in fraud between BJ and Sunak) we wouldnt be in the state we're in.

State pensioners are not losing the other £ they get as bonuses. Be grateful.

But those people without a private pension qualify for pension credit surely?

If your paying rent on that pension, you should be claiming support.

Almost all private rent would be more than £800 a month.

However, if i was Labour, i'd have frozen OfGem increasing the cap until next April, energy companies are all ripping us off, with a regulator much like the water, environment and banking ones, working in support of the industry and not the consumer.

Energy pricing needs total reform, over 55% of electricity is produced from renewables, yet Electricity is charged as if it was made from coal or gas.

Meanwhile gas, a very polluting fuel, is subsidised.

UK has the most expensive electricity prices in Europe, once standing charge is included.

I thought no it's an unfair blanket cut off.
They should have scrapped free childcare.
Having children is a choice
Growing old isn't

Reforming electricity prices and how they are charged would make up a good part of the £300 I agree.

Are they? What have you based that on?

My Grandad owns his house. His sister doesn’t own hers. None of his 6 siblings owned their homes. My great grandma didn’t own hers. My step dad doesn’t own his. My PILs don’t own theirs. DH’s uncle doesn’t own his.

None have been entitled to help with housing costs.

Silly comment as people use that childcare to continue working which pays for pensions.

Another here who believes it's quite right to means test benefits, but then I feel the same about those paid for children and the outcry on here if those had been targeted can only be imagined

FWIW I haven't the least problem with losing the WFP, which I gave away anyway - what I have a problem with is political spite no matter where it's coming from

I don’t know why they just didn’t do opt out
as cheap to administer and all the self righteous one who recon they would of handed it back could

also by default pensioners are at home more

but according to Rachel reeves only people who need it should get it nice. On her 85k plus she claims her fuel allowance on expenses absolute joke

also there a clip of kier early in n the year flagging if and challenging the stories about allegedly plan to cut pensioners allowances

mmmm well if they didn't have children, they'd be working wouldn't they? and the state wouldn't be pouring billions in to super expensive 'care.

Many people who use free childcare, are in MW jobs, the taxes they pay don't cover much childcare.

You can ger housing benefit or universal credit if you need it then

This is a common misunderstanding. No, pensioners on the old state pension who have paid NICs through their working life whilst being contracted into the state pension will be over the pension credit threshold.

This would apply to those not entitled to join a pension scheme

It's because it's not tapered (probably to make admin cheaper). Means people who have worked hard in menial jobs will have less treats for grandchildren and may have to sell house or rent somewhere smaller so can't have grandchildren to stay. However many boomers are very well off and have most disposable income due to support for Tories which have destroyed the future for younger people

I agree OP. Some people whose income is just above the threshold for pension credit will struggle, but that the same for any benefit, there has to be a cut off somewhere. It shouldn't be a universal benefit, it's ridiculous giving money to people who clearly don't need it. My parents were receiving it, they own their £500k outright and have three holidays a year! Much better that the money goes to those who really need it.

I don’t see the problem with this. That’s over £1000 a month, which if you’re not paying rent/mortgage is more than enough to cover bills, food and have some left over as a single person. (And we’ve already established upthread that most pensioners are not still renting or paying a mortgage…)

I knew (no longer with us) people who used their fuel payments for Xmas presents.

Most elderly have quarterly bills on standard rates. This is the second most expensive way to pay for gas/leccy - after pre payment meters.

People need to get deals for their elderly parents, aunts etc especially if they don’t do technology. My DF did that for my late Nanan and she saved a fortune.

This

mmmm well if they didn't have children, they'd be working wouldn't they? and the state wouldn't be pouring billions in to super expensive 'care

But we need children to be born or there will be no workers tomorrow to pay the pensions of the workers today...

I think it's a bit unfair that jobseekers get fuel allowance but carers don't.

@Krampers but they would be working at now cost to the state for childcare if they hadn't had children they couldn't afford