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.

Well think how many more people you could help if you claimed your state pension.

There have been lots of times, over the years, that The Simpsons have had things that were pointed out to be very true to life
In an episode this weekend, Grandpa bought Bart a fantastic birthday present and was asked where he got the money for it. He replied "From the government. I didn't ask for it, I don't need it but if anyone tries to take it away from me I'll raise merry hell" It made me think of the WFP debacle

See the WASPI women - it doesn't matter how many times you tell people, if they don't like the message. The Government had no choice but to send out all those letters. And I bet they still get people claiming they didn't know.

Presumably the same amount that was spent on the letter they sent me each year telling me I'm going to get it.

So no difference.

See my post above. They've always sent letters at this time of the year telling me I'm getting it. So the one today telling me I'm not, is costing no more.

We’ve all had letters. I knew I’m not going to get it. EDF sent me a letter saying they were going to increase my DD. As I’m £300 in credit, I phoned them and told them that, no, they are not.🙄

All sorted. 👍

Do you not think of any of the 2.5m who will see hardship?

Is it really grinning emoji for that?

Age UK say themselves that 1m of those people would still be eligible for the winter fuel payment they claimed pension credit which they’re entitled to, but they haven’t.

www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/campaigning/save-the-winter-fuel-payment/

In previous years, they sent out letters to confirm it anyway. There should be no need to inform people about a benefit they won’t be getting, especially given the amount of publicity, but were probably preempting the complaints if they didn’t send out letters individually.

So, by that logic, there clearly is no point in sending them a letter, as they won't like the message, so won't be consoled by getting a letter about it.

I didn't realise they did that.

No difference then, except, what they could have done is saved all that money by just not sending them.

I mean, if they previously thought everyone who was going to get it, needed to be told, the same logic could be applied in that, if they haven't been told, no-one will be expecting it.

I suspect, across the year, the Government, (and the NHS which I know we've debated here on MN before) could save millions upon millions of pounds purely by not sending everyone pointless letters. Might be a good place to start - set up a 'hotline' / on-line way of people suggesting ways money could be saved.

And, presumably, they won’t have to send one next year and in future years.

@NewName24 he letter doesn't tell me I'm not getting it. It tells me that I will qualify if... (and lists the benefits I would need to receive to qualify, which I don't). It then goes on to encourage people to apply for those benefits, and explains how, which I think is an important reason to send the letter.

Yes, then it could serve a really useful purpose!

Your front room fire will cost more than your heating and cause damp and cold problems to appear elsewhere in your house.

I know! What a fucking cheek! There was some pensioner on the telly sitting in his big house, on his leather sofa, wearing a Rolex mithering about not getting his winter fuel payment. Come on, get a grip mate

Here's the letter. And it follows up on their aim to get people to apply for Pension Credit if they haven't already, so that they DO then get the WFA. So it's a very valuable letter, and whining about the cost of sending it is just silly.
(Click on the images to un-blur them)

@EasternStandard I think the number of people who will genuinely be in need is relatively small and know there is help available for them.

I do not think most of those complaining are justified in their over-entitled outrage and, yes, I do grin at that
There was something, either on here or in the media, that an organisation had a lot of pensioners attending asking for assessment to claim extra help as they "needed" support due to the withdrawal of this payment. The majority of those assessed were no eligible as they had an income in excess of £2k per month with no mortgage/rent to pay from it. There is a lot of greed at play here

The £300 that Stammer has robbed us off would have helped loads of us too. Only £200. Per couple, not per person. So that’s £100 you haven’t been robbed of and can put toward your bill

The Government are covering themselves in the event of legal action. Which is very likely- wealthy pensioners with plenty of time on their hands may well attempt such nonsense.

I just see folk being honest.

In actual money terms, how much do you have to get in income to stop you getting WFA?

Does anyone know?

I think the number of people who will genuinely be in need is relatively small and know there is help available for them.

It’s not small hence Age UK releasing a statement about the real hardship many will face, including exacerbating conditions and increased risk of falls. Have you read up on that?

The op is a pensioner with a disability - of all the groups to get pleasure from seeing hit by cuts it’s not great.

According to this you get pension credit if you’re on an income of less than £218 a week.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gv632d05lo.amp

It won’t cost anything like a that

Letters are printed, and put into envelopes by machine .. so staff costs are practically zero.

There are no “first class stamps” - there is a fulfilment contract in place, so the cost is less than a stamp

Costs of envelopes and paper / ink is much less expensive than quoted, due to bulk printing contracts.