Winter fuel allowance

I can't sleep in a bedroom that's too warm. I'd rather have a higher tog duvet and wear bedsocks!!

Oh, we're well over 65 and never have the heat on at night.
How did some of our parents, grandparents survive to a good age without central heating?

annsixty, agreed

people over 65 need to have a minimum nightime temperature of 18 degrees c and 20-21 during the day. Any less than 18 puts them at risk of heart and lung problems. For many, the extra winter fuel allowance is a necessity, to enable them/us to adjust thermostats without thinking of the cost. It is not a daily-living add-on but an essential aid to staying healthy. If people are rich enough enough not to need it then fine, just give it to crisis or the sally army, if they feel generous enough

So I have to wait till I'm 66?!

It should be a matter of choice Callistemon and not a given.

They should put Gransnetters in charge!

I do think, however, that if older people want to work after pensionable age, they should not be prevented from doing so as their experience could be invaluable.

I would be happy with an across the board increase in the state pension and scrap the winter payment + the £10 December payment. What could be fairer ?

Reduce the pensionable ages to what they once were which would then do away with claims for AA and disability from an early age ( 60 ) which is when people usually take sick and begin claiming for whatever benefits they receive at that time/age. This also benefits the younger members of society into employment in place of older members.

Whoever's in charge of the economy hasn't got a damn clue !

I will make another plea for a basic citizens pension of £12,500 for each and every one of us. It is my belief and rather raw calculation that this would do away with all the pats on the head of £10 at Christmas and all the means-tested benefits bar housing. Can you imagine the admin savings and the saving of trees!

I find it truly obscene that in this supposed rich country there are the divides that we're reading on here.
Those who don't need the heating allowance and those who are desperate. What the Hell is going on ?? It's horrible !

I keep mine although I don't really need it. We have already paid for it through our contributions so I say Thank You! I give to charities regularly anyway.

What age do you have to be to receive this?
Haven’t had heating on for years,can’t afford to so just put another layer of clothes and wrap in a duvet to keep warm

At the same time that Davud Cameron reduced the WFA he also removed from UK pensioners living elsewhere on Europe. So saved millions of £ at the same time. Most UK pensioners living in Europe are not living in warmer areas than the UK. As many pensioners considered their WFP was part of their pension it didn't go down very well.

In the 1970's I can remember my Grandmother receiving the £10.00 Christmas Bonus - it meant a great deal to her. A weeks wages were £10.00 for me at the time, so in those days it was worth having

I think the Cold Weather payment of £25 is very odd but then I think many of these payments, particularly the £10 Christmas Bonus are very of and smack of Victorianism.

I think it was paid out once in our area last winter and I'm sure those who received it were very glad. You get it if the temperature in your area dips below 0°C for seven or more consecutive days between the 1st of November and 31st of March.

The people who may be entitled to it are people on:

Pension Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Support for Mortgage Interest

If you are getting any of these I suggest you check but, of course, it may just not have been cold enough for a continuous 7 days in your area.

Interestingly the Labour Government increased the rate from £8.50 an eligible week to £25 a week as a temporary measure for winters 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. In 2010, the Coalition Government made the £25 rate permanent and it has been "frozen" since then.

Blondenana if you Google cold weather payment there is a lot of information available. I don't receive any payments being a waspi so can't tell you what others may be eligible for but do know it's not those on pension only

I agree annsixty

I’m sorry to hear that things are so difficult for you, Merryweather. Life can be a b****r. Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope it’s the start of better days ahead for you all.

When I was expecting DD2 in a very hard winter and without central heating, we just heated one small bedroom during the day and spent a lot of time in it. Keeping warm is so important, especially in your circumstances.

I also agree with annsixty. You took the words out of my mouth.

I can appreciate it is not possible to heat the entire house but what about one room? This happened when I was a child, the living room was kept warm but the bedrooms were so cold but in those days we had no central heating and even when it was installed it was used sparingly.

Merryweather I would think you are entitled to the heating allowance if you are receiving benefits?
It is worth a try particularly if you suffer from arthritis, you need to be warm.
Perhaps CAB can help you to make a claim.

If I was on my own, even with a small CS pension as well, I would have a struggle.
As it is the WFA does go towards our higher heating costs in the winter, we don't send a lump sum to charity but we do drip feed to various charities ad hoc throughout the hear and I always try to add a couple of items to the food bank each week so it is spread out. People aren't just hungry at Christmas.

I do take your point, though annsixty.
There was a young woman on the TV last week who was upset because she said had to go to the foodbank in order to feed her children. She had five children, looked to be under about 9 years old, sitting on the floor eating. Children are the reason I donate as it is not their fault, but I did wonder why when contraception is free. And yes, I know accidents can happen.

I second Iam64's post. Hopefully fortunes will change for you*Merryweather*.

(I did just look up the average pay for Norfolk (UK), its gone down. Its now £25,000pa. Nationally its risen to around £36,611. Obviously Norfolk is not the place to work!)

sorry to hear things are so tough merry weather.
Our allowance arrived as well. I usually send a cheque to the Salvation Army, which works with people on the margins. I seem to recall being told off for this by a gransnet poster who disapproves of the organisation. Can't win can we.

Those of us fortunate enough to have private pensions that supplement our state pension, will also pay tax as we have all our lives. I suspect its simpler for the government to continue to WFA and for those us of who pay tax, to continue to do so. It's also clear from this thread and discussions with friends, that many of us donate the WFA to charity or someone who needs it more than we do.

I shall say this very gently and couch it as kindly as I can.
If my children were suffering because of lack of money , there is no way I would bring another one into the world for it to also suffer.
That is not what having a family is about
I can appreciate that some of the children were born before the accident, that is so sad ,but to then deliberately bring another one into the family is unfair to it and the others.

I assume pensioners are expected to stay in their boxes and keep quiet Nancat!

I suppose young people on NLW often have families, work travel costs and mortgages to support. Around here the average wage is supposed to be £27,000 pa (last time I looked) but very few manage to achieve it.