Thoughts please ...

What are your thoughts.

Time for me to log off, I think.

And me!

The fuel allowance is only given to pensioners who qualify for pension credit, and that includes those who are sick/disabled as well as elderly, so removing the WFA from them in order to give to UC claimants is pointless as it just moves the hardship from one group to another.

The fuel allowance is given to everyone. I have just had the letter saying I will receive £100.
I do not need this money and would be happy for it to go to more deserving cases.
I give mine away to charity every year.

Pammie1

The fuel allowance is only given to pensioners who qualify for pension credit, and that includes those who are sick/disabled as well as elderly, so removing the WFA from them in order to give to UC claimants is pointless as it just moves the hardship from one group to another.

That isn't correct.

I think you're confusing the Fuel Allowance with the Winter Fuel Payment. The conditions for receiving Fuel Allowance are as follows:
A Fuel Allowance is a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months.

You can get the Fuel Allowance, if you are getting a long-term social welfare payment and you are unable to provide for your heating needs from your own resources. See ‘How to qualify for Fuel Allowance’ below.

Only one Fuel Allowance is paid to a household.

Fuel Allowance is generally paid with your social welfare payment on the same day. You can choose to get Fuel Allowance paid weekly or paid in 2 lump sums.

The 2021-2022 Fuel Allowance season starts Monday, 27 September 2021, and is expected to run for 28 weeks.

Sorry, should have said, this is from the Citizens' Information Website.

Every pensioner gets the fuel allowance.

We've always called it the fuel allowance. Perhaps that's not the correct name.

The term is apparently the Winter Fuel Payment. www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-much-youll-get
You can get more than £100.
What amazed me is the residency qualification-you only need to be in the UK for one day during a week in September!!!!!
I'd be happy for someone poorer to get it.

If we are talking about the Winter Fuel Allowance then I don't agree with taking it away from pensioners. If it were only to be paid to those on low incomes it would a means tested procedure which would cost more than the money saved and no additional money for those on UC

I think many pensioners who don't require the WFA donate it to charities helping those in need - I add it to the donations I make to a local food bank and a charity which helps homeless ex-service personnel

I think the government should afford (and pay) both. And, yes, I do believe there is a money tree when it suits them.

Sorry - didn’t mean to put ‘only’- take the word out and it reads correctly.

Many pensioners feel the cold more and use a lot more fuel than others in the winter.
I agree with Kim. The government should help both groups.

The fuel allowance is only given to pensioners who qualify for pension credit, and that includes those who are sick/disabled as well as elderly
Even if you do take the word ‘only’ out it’s still incorrect Pammie it is given to everyone of pension age not just those who qualify for Pension Credit you can be fit well not disabled and have a decent pension but you still get the annual allowance

That’s amazing trisher. I had no idea. Near neighbours also have a home in Spain, go there some time in September and return in March. There must be a fair number who do that, perhaps fewer post Brexit. I thought it was bad enough that I was getting a winter fuel payment that I don’t need!

dragonfly46

The fuel allowance is given to everyone. I have just had the letter saying I will receive £100.
I do not need this money and would be happy for it to go to more deserving cases.
I give mine away to charity every year.

My first year of getting it.. Its going to Charity.

Pammie1

The fuel allowance is only given to pensioners who qualify for pension credit, and that includes those who are sick/disabled as well as elderly, so removing the WFA from them in order to give to UC claimants is pointless as it just moves the hardship from one group to another.

No. I get £200.

Ah yes that is my winter fuel payment.

B1zzle……you haven’t told us what you think ?

We buy our logs with the winter fuel payment. They keep us going during the coldest weather, as a supplement to our central heating.

The fuel allowance is only given to pensioners who qualify for pension credit

No. All pensioners are eligible for the WPA. I've been receiving it for the past 20 years and have never been in receipt of Pension Credit.

Eligibility Criteria:
^you were born on or before 26 September 1955
you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021 - this is called the ‘qualifying week’^
(https://www.google.com/search?

q=winter+fuel+allowance+2021&rlz=1CATTSD_enGB945&oq=winter&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j0i20i263i433i512j0i131i433i512j69i65j69i60l2j69i61.2831j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-)

We would give ours up to anyone more in need please nobody say we should donate it or refuse it we give to good causes all the time . It is wasted on those who do not really need it and as for the Christmas bonus it should be scrapped. When it for came out my aunts thought it was wonderful . If it had kept up with inflation it would be worth over £300 now .

I think the fuel payment should be a voucher to pay your energy supplier and not monies paid into your bank. I know people that have used this money towards holidays, xmas presents etc and not for heating.