Cold Winter Fuel Payments for Pensioners to be cut

Mancie · 19-08-2010, 04:57

Winter fuel payments 'to be cut' - Channel 4 News

All of a sudden this payment is classed as a "hand out" ...now I recall some Tory tea boy calling me a liar when I said cold winter payments would be cut... where are you now?

Mancie · 19-08-2010, 05:48

And if you need more Info this is from the man himself..Nick Clegg....
Clegg gets specific on cuts: Lib Dems to cut winter fuel payments for under-65s

grannyclaret · 19-08-2010, 07:19

When the toffs are all cosy in front of their nice log fires in their nice cory homes ,will they give a damm,,i think not
LIBERALS have a lot to answer for,,,TORIES its just par for the course,,,,,,,,IMHO

garinda · 19-08-2010, 07:47

I don't think the payments should be cut, but I do think the rules for who qualifies for them needs addressing.

Discussing the issue on Radio 2 yesterday, there were calls from people who lived permanently in Spain, and even Australia, who said they got the money for winter fuel.

That is ridiculous.

cashman · 19-08-2010, 08:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I don't think the payments should be cut, but I do think the rules for who qualifies for them needs addressing.

Discussing the issue on Radio 2 yesterday, there were calls from people who lived permanently in Spain, and even Australia, who said they got the money for winter fuel.

That is ridiculous.

I agree it is ridiculous, aint gonna happen though,its much simpler to raise the age n harm the have-nots.

which has always been the aim of ANY Tory government.

MargaretR · 19-08-2010, 08:34

A means tested system is expensive (manpower wise) to administer, and, while they are intent on cutting the number of civil servants, it seems more likely to me that the qualifying age rise will be the cheap easy way.

Hopefully they will lessen the blow by saying that all between 60 and 65 who have already been getting it will continue to get it, but I wouldn't bet on it.

jaysay · 19-08-2010, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

I agree it is ridiculous, aint gonna happen though,its much simpler to raise the age n harm the have-nots.

which has always been the aim of ANY Tory government.

Which was going to be done by Labour if they were elected it has been pencilled in ever since the raising of the retirement age was first muted. I have always said why should people like Margaret Thatcher get winter fuel allowances when she quite obviously doesn't need it, but I'll let Mancie run to her defence and insist that she still receives it

anzac · 19-08-2010, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I don't think the payments should be cut, but I do think the rules for who qualifies for them needs addressing.

Discussing the issue on Radio 2 yesterday, there were calls from people who lived permanently in Spain, and even Australia, who said they got the money for winter fuel.

That is ridiculous.

I agree the rules etc should be looked at first and that could save money. Also the winter fuel payment could be given to a household and not individual people. Why do couples get double to warm the same house as a single person it dosen't cost anymore because there are 2 people in the house. Also people in nursing homes etc When my mother in law was in Hilltop in Baxenden she got the allowance and it went to her personally not to heat the home.

jaysay · 19-08-2010, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by anzac

I agree the rules etc should be looked at first and that could save money. Also the winter fuel payment could be given to a household and not individual people. Why do couples get double to warm the same house as a single person it dosen't cost anymore because there are 2 people in the house. Also people in nursing homes etc When my mother in law was in Hilltop in Baxenden she got the allowance and it went to her personally not to heat the home.

Agree anzac, to me another thing that should be looked at is child benefit, I can understand why a footballer playing for say Manchester United or Liverpool earning £120,000 a week, get child benefit, seems all wrong to me

Margaret Pilkington · 19-08-2010, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by anzac

I agree the rules etc should be looked at first and that could save money. Also the winter fuel payment could be given to a household and not individual people. Why do couples get double to warm the same house as a single person it dosen't cost anymore because there are 2 people in the house. Also people in nursing homes etc When my mother in law was in Hilltop in Baxenden she got the allowance and it went to her personally not to heat the home.

You don't get double the heating allowance if you are a couple. It is per household.(or certainly it was for us last year)

These people between 60 and 67 are going to be out at work anyway...aren't they? With the pensionable age going up then it means that they wouldn't qualify as pensioners.
This benefit is what keeps pensioners warm in the harsh winter months.......do the government care if they lose a few pensioners?...it will mean they pay out less money all round

And before Mancie jumps on my bones.......I don't agree with the plans to cut the benefit......and I do think it could be distributed differently.

Also Mancie I think you should stop doing what the media do....using ambiguous(?misleading) language to sensationalise a point.
At the moment this is all conjecture and supposition, and if there is a change it will not be that the benefit is removed entirely...so some households would still qualify....as for the rest of us, well we would just have to be careful and choose our priorities......heat or eat!

garinda · 19-08-2010, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I have always said why should people like Margaret Thatcher get winter fuel allowances

Because the Ice Palace would melt?

Margaret Pilkington · 19-08-2010, 15:54

Maybe it would be better if you had to apply for the Winter heating allowance, rather that it just be given out......then perhaps those who are well off would not claim it.

cashman · 19-08-2010, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Maybe it would be better if you had to apply for the Winter heating allowance, rather that it just be given out......then perhaps those who are well off would not claim it.

ya got too much faith in people margaret, as a paperboy i found most of the well off, to be real mingebags at christmas.