WINTER FUEL PAYMENT

[cobden28]

A couple of days ago I received the official letter from the DWP telling me I'm not going to receive the Winter Fuel payment this year because, although I am within the required age group, I'm not in receipt of the listed benefits. I am 69 years of age.
On the same day I also received notifiication from my energy supplier of the amount of my next Direct Debit monthly payment and a request to submit my meter readings. I've contacted the energy supplier and arranged for them to send round a meter reader, so they can't be in a position to dispute the readings oobtained.
Then once I get my billing sorted i'm going to have to work out how to cut my energy bill. My proposed method is to turn off the central heating and only use the gas fire in the living room for heating - I feel uncomfortable if a room is too warm and the gas fire chucks out lots of heat anyway.

Post a list of your income and outgoings. Maybe we can help you to work out where you can make changes and if you're entitled to any additional support.

And the student and the person trying to buy a house will most likely be related to a 'boomer'. We don't all live in isolation and most of us help our families out..

sigh
dh had this
he wont get pension credit, guess what, because he is married to me! and i work

Why do you think he should get it then? Does he not get a pension?

This sort of whining entitlement is all too common.

They won't do that because in most cases it will show that they can easily afford to heat their homes, along with other expenses to a fairly decent standard.

I know that single pensioners just above the limit might struggle, but many others really don't need an extra £2/300 per year. Plus there's a whole host of benefits available to pensioners on low incomes or with additional needs if they just applied.

There was a couple on BBC Moneybox last week talking about how hard done by they were but they had 2 x state pensions plus 'small employer's pensions' on top, so likely well over £2k pm coming in, with no housing costs. So enough for food, bills, and day to day leisure at least. The £4/5 a week they've lost is a tiny percentage of their income and their pension will go up by £9 a week each next April.

He hasn't robbed you.

He's stopped giving £2-300 to households that don't need it

It’s the psychology of having something taken away which rankles, I think, which I do understand.

i dont think he should
sorry, i should have been clearer.
he is complaining!
not me

Well if you don't even need to claim your pension you've no need to be whinging about the winter fuel allowance.

My proposed method is to turn off the central heating and only use the gas fire in the living room for heating - I feel uncomfortable if a room is too warm and the gas fire chucks out lots of heat anyway.

Or just turn off all the radiators except in the room you want to heat, but that’s what’s sensible anyway.

I never have all the house heated if we’re not using the rooms, what would be the point, is that what you’d been doing before?

If you are just on the threshold of eligibility then some councils have stepped in to offer some money towards heating bills from their budget. Also, speak to your utility provider, some have initiatives in place to help people in this position too.

Also, identify some places in advance that can get you warm, a library perhaps or one of the warm hubs councils have in place.

I think turning off your central heating, rather than using less, is a bit extreme. Gas fires aren't as efficient as your heating system so you won't get the most heat for your pound.

I believe I read that 8million letters had been sent out so I imagine circa £8million taking in to account staff, materials and postage.

I wonder if RM give Gov a bulk discount!

I do wonder what size home you have OP.

I'm 67 and was due to get the WFA this year but got the same letter.

However DH & I are both retired so have heating on 7am - 11pm 7 days pw at most, but the most expensive it's been was £110 last February. (I submit meter readings online every month end and we pay by variable DD). Certainly affordable.

We have gas CH in a 2 bed Victorian terrace.

Oh god, it is her again! She drove most of us mad CONSTANTLY repeating the same thing over and over again

Which benefits do you apply this to?

Make your own inferences. I really don't care.

Your phrase

This sort of whining entitlement is all too common.

Quite stark when it comes to benefits.

I don't understand why you've posted this in AIBU? Of course heating just the room you're in is sensible. I thought this is what most of us did anyway, otherwise you're just throwing money away.

As I said, interpret what I said how you like.

Well obviously. Since you’ve said it to a poster on here.

I doubt it would go down well on any other benefits thread, not directed at cuts to pensioners.

This sort of whining entitlement is all too common.

For disability or carers etc. Sad that pensioners get this due to Labour

The general thinking is that all the pensioners who are entitled to pension credit but haven’t been claiming it will now put in an application (and quite rightly so) and this will completely wipe out the savings the government had forecast.
OP fill out the form on “entitled to” to see if you are in receipt of everything you should be.

My heart bleeds. Put a jumper on.

It would ‘help’ most people id imagine, pensioner or not. Doesn’t mean they all need it though.
I absolutely think the threshold should have been higher than it has currently been set at, but that doesn’t mean that all pensioners need, or should get, the winter fuel payment.