Winter fuel allowance

well I need mine and I am extremely thankful for it.. wonder why it is given to everyone though.

good that some pass it on to charity.

I might move to Ireland! (Grannycool's post)

I received mine recently. Last year was the first time. Partner and I have £100 each.

The £10 Christmas bonus was originally introduced in the early 70's, when it was worth £98 in today's money!

It is such a small amount, my 89 year old Mum doesn't think she has ever received it. I told her to check her bank statements

The first few years I gave mine to charities. Now we are both eligible and we share the £200 and put it towards heating bills.

We go to the supermarket and use the £200 to buy food for our local food bank. In doing so it ensures that every penny goes to those who need it the most.

Some need it and some don't. The means testing system would probably cost more to administer than the allowance. My allowance dropped to £100 once DH reached SPA. Personally we don't need it and so, as others do, we give it to charity.

I would say put it towards your winter fuel. If you are in reciept of a retirement pension it's your entitlement. When I finally get my pension after having to wait until I'm 66 I will accept it thank you very much. Although of course the rules will almost certainly change and I will have to wait years for that too

I wish I was in a position to say I don’t need the money, but I do.
And it’s very welcome.

Thank you DWP.

I certainly need it to help with my heating bill. Now not very active I feel the cold so my bill is high. If I keep warm and well I will not be costing the NHS money.

Of pipe people get cold they can suffer from various Illnesses according to my age UK thermometer, it's probably cheaper to give it to everyone than risk the poorest not claiming, with the cost of emergency treatment

It's been a very contentious subject for years. Don't hear to same about child allowance being paid to families who may earn £98k between partners. Older people get very few 'additional' monetary lifts so I am all in favour of WFA. If you don't need it, then do something else worthwhile with it. Even older people who already receive the payment do with an additional contribution!

I send more than that to charities but, I don’t particularly earmark my £200 for that purpose.

I retire next year so will get it next winter. I hadn't factored that into any of my calculations so it will be a welcome bonus!
Like Tweedle24 I give more than that to charity over the year so won't be specifically earmarking it for a charity - just the same % I give of all my income.

It used to be £250. I don't know what happened.

Callistemon - when I was under 80 I got£100 and husband (over 80) got £200. Now both over 80 we get £150 each so still£300. You do not apply for this or the £10 benefit as comes automaticaly..

Send it back to the treasury and insist it should be means tested

Homegirl
Yes, I wasn't being smug, it's just that I am continually shocked at how stingy UK benefits, which used to be among the best, have got.

Sorry, phone did that, Gonegirl, blooming autotext again!

That is a very kind gesture tidyskatemum. Bless you?

How do you get that?
My mother is 87 and she doesn’t - do you need to apply?

EllanVannin you may thank David Cameron personally for that. He kindly removed the £50- I suppose we peasants should be grateful he did not claw back the entire amount.

No, I know Grannycool. I agree with you.

Tigertooth check your mum's bank statements. She should get it automatically. She should also get a letter telling her it's been paid.

IOf she hasn't had it, she's due some back payments!

I have felt grateful with our fuel money. We have to keep the heating on to keep our daughter warm . We pay over 175 pounds monthly it has just gone up yet again.