Winter Fuel Allowance

[sir.prize]

Should it be paid to pensioners living in warmer climes?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24924228

Apparently in 2015 they will no longer qualify. That will be a big saving.

[DJHawkes]

why should people living in countries that don't need heat on as much qualify for a payment? I thought it was only payable when the temperature dropped below a certain amount, has that changed then?

[ummmm]

I think pensioners qualify regardless. It's only people on benefits that get it if the temp drops below a certain amount for a certain period of time...

[carrust]

My 94yr old mother has just got hers.

[DJHawkes]

does that mean pensioners who have gone away for a few months over the winter but still have a house here they need to keep heated during cold weather or pensioners who live abroard all the time and are not residents here ? I'm confused, surely the EU countries pay their elderly a fuel supplement whatever their origins, if they live there they pay tax there don't they?

[ToraToraTora]

No they should not get it if they do not live here. It should be means tested and paid directly to the energy companies anyway. Far too much is given out to those that don't need it.

[ummmm]

Pensioners who live abroad get it.

[DJHawkes]

that doesn't make any sense. Why pay an allowance to someone for heating bills they won't get?

[Old_Geezer]

If they don't need heat int he winter do they get a summer air conditioning allowance in compensation ? Folk pay in, they ought to be treated equally fairly when time comes to collect. Governments do everything they can to not pay out; and grab more income as well.

[Old_Geezer]

in the
as I typed

[emmie]

yes, it is not always warm at night in these sunnier climes.

[emmie]

why then do non British people who temporarily work in Britain yet their families don't live here get benefits, if those British people who have moved to Spain have paid into the our system, why should they not get it, because those who have no claim in UK do, bonkers system.

[Zeuhl]

Are pensioners in Torquay and Aberdeen paid equally?

[Mamyalynne]

Not all ex-pats are in sunny climes - my daughter lived in both Prague and Hamburg and knew British Pensioners there - their winters are fierce.

[emmie]

i visited some friends in Spain a few years ago, days were lovely and warm, nights were bloody cold

[hc4361]

All UK pensioners get WFA, it isn't means tested so the EU rules meant that if a retired person was claiming it before they emigrated they should still get it, just as they do their pension.

This changed recently on appeal so that all UK pensioners were entitled to it even if they had never claimed it in the UK.
That is why the rules have changed yet again and many, but not all, ex pat pensioners will no longer be entitled to from 2015.

I'm not sure how I feel about it - it IS part of the UK pension, after all.

[ToraToraTora]

I don't care if they live in lapland, if the country is not good enough for them live in then why should they receive this benefit. The winter fuel allowance is not a paid for by contributions benefit, it was arbitrariliy given by politicians to buy the grey vote.

[jake-the-peg]

I've said it before

The payments should be made through local councils

Problem solved

[Old_Geezer]

They should get it because, as hc says, it is part of the pension folk are entitled to having paid taxes during their working lives. And the question ought to be asked as to why they feel the need to live elsewhere, not that the answer to that should affect this discussion. Of course the best solution would be to do away with all extra "handouts" and be sure the pension covered the needs without them.

[jake-the-peg]

With that logic OG you could argue that if they drive everywhere they should be given the cash equivilent of the free bus pass.

The winter fuel allowance isn't some reward for having made it to a certain age but an attempt to help those in genuine need

With fuel prices rising that money needs to be targeted at those in the most need and having expats spending it on Sangria hilst others are struggling in the North of England is not right

[ToraToraTora]

The WFA is not part of the pension it in no way reflects contributions, it is a political bribe, by his Tonyness in 1997, if memory serves.