UK Winter Fuel Allowances paid in Cyprus

[CORALBAYLEYS]

As fully paid up NI contributors in UK and receivers of a UK state pension - LIVING IN CYPRUS - we applied for the UK Winter Fuel Allowance. Our request was denied because we had not received it in UK before coming here. But we understand that recent EU legislation requires the UK Gov to pay it as we live in an EU country (since May 2004). Can you please advise? Thanks.

[netibiza]

Well I have also been refused as I live in Spain, I was told that one had to reside in Great Britain to receive it - and only one payment per household.

[tubeway]

If you live in Spain or Cyprus - surely it is warmer than in the UK so you do not spend extra on heating and do not need a winter fuel allowance. I do not know the rules - just an opinion

[Scotaway]

If you live in the mountain regions of Cyprus you can get it as do the local people, but if you live on the coast not likely. We had ours before coming out here, but we know people who live in the Troodos mountains who pushed for it through their Muktar Hope this helps

[Shirl]

Am I missing something ?

You are living in Cyprus yet want UK winter fuel allowance? even though you are not living here?

[Scotaway]

EU ruling - Shirl!

[Scotaway]

Its also very cold in the mountains in Cyprus. Last night the temp was almost zero!

[CORALBAYLEYS]

Just to clarify the Winter Fuel Allowance question in Cyprus. There are two allowances.

1. Granted by the Cyprus Gov annually to ALL residents who live above 500m - Cypriot and expats.

2. British residents who used to claim and receive such allowances in UK from the UK Gov, before they moved permanently to Cyprus, CAN continue to receive this UK allowance, irrespective of the temperature or the altitude at which they live. (Yes it can get very cold in Cyprus, notably in the mountains that reach 7000ft. You can ski in Cyprus).

The reason for MY question was to examine the qualification requirements. Why was it necessary to have received it in UK, before getting it here? We are all EU citizens and should receive it, whether we claimed it in the past or not. Many British people get BOTH allowances in Cyprus.
However, some claim to receive the UK allowance altho they did NOT claim it in UK before escaping.

Any suggestions?

[billearly]

This is a fascinating discussion,why is it everyone assumes if you live in Spain, Cyprus etc the weather is always warm and sunny we live near Alicante and believe me the weather does get cold in the winter no central heating and no insulation.We have a log fire 350 euros a lorry load of wood sometimes need 2 if the winter is bad ,3 calor gas fires,12.70 euros a bottle 1 bottle lasts a week ,and our electric bill is usually about 300 euros every 2 months as we have oil filled radiators in the bathroom and heating units in the bedrooms and cook by electric,so I think we need the heating allowance.Plus the fact for tubeway and shirl I worked all my life till retiring age and paid my taxes and NI ,so I think I am entitled to any handouts the Government wish to give me .Sorry Coral had to get that of my chest ,I didn't know if the allowance wasn't claimed in England before moving until recently we were retired before we came here drawing our government pension and claiming the heating allowance which we still get.