Petition to save the winter fuel payment

keepingquiet

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

Absolutely right, keepingquiet. I have heard ours is the lowest pension in Europe.

Thank you. It's a little more qualified in its approach asking for consideration tho it doesn't give a "change the qualifying level choice", but it does remind site users to apply for pension credit, apparently 800.000 people qualify but aren't claiming it. It does feel, coming from Age Concern, in its wording, more to the point however.

winterwhite

GG13 re deferment of WFA to age 80. I think you exaggerate! Most people in their late ‘60s and 70s are more active and mobile than they are in their 80s, many will still be able to work. Doing without the WFA will be hard, but less hard than doing without it in their 80s and 90s. There are always people on just the wrong side of the cut-off point under any scheme. I don’t know what can help that, but jettisoning the whole scheme is rarely the answer.

That's why I think it should be incorporated into a higher taxable pension. If taxes work properly (and, yes, I know they don't always), they should be progressive and there isn't a sudden "cliff edge". People below the threshold would keep all their WFA and people above would lose 20p for every extra pound. At some point (I haven't worked it out) higher earners would have it all taxed. I guess the problem would then be that people would complain about paying taxes on their pensions (sigh).

I have signed the age UK petition.

Yes that one's working click on Join the campaign on the right in the navy blue script to sign if you wish thank you.

That link's not working but try this one. If no Google it.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/winter-fuel-payment/

Wyllow3

Farzanah

keepingquiet

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

I agree about a higher pension so that people don’t have to jump through multiple hoops to have it topped up. It’s stigmatising.
However I have signed the Age Concern petition for those who will suffer the cold this winter, being unable to afford their heating bills.

Have you a link to this, I'd like to see if it goes down the road of dropping the changes or modifying them, the latter, my preferred option.

I've found the link for the Age Concern petition.
It will take you to age uk website. I hope this works.

age+concern+petition+winter+fuel+allowance=Age+Concern+petition+winter gs

you'll see this
Help us save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners
The Government has announced that the Winter Fuel Payment will become means-tested in England and Wales. As many as 2 million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it. Sign our petition to save the Winter Fuel Payment for the poorest pensioners.

Join the campaign.

you can then sign

I'm not signing any petition. I have signed many in the past decade or so and nothing has ever come of them. Last winter was not as cold as I had expected (or feared!). Maybe the Chancellor is pinning her expectations on climate change.

GG13 re deferment of WFA to age 80. I think you exaggerate! Most people in their late ‘60s and 70s are more active and mobile than they are in their 80s, many will still be able to work. Doing without the WFA will be hard, but less hard than doing without it in their 80s and 90s. There are always people on just the wrong side of the cut-off point under any scheme. I don’t know what can help that, but jettisoning the whole scheme is rarely the answer.

Signed.

I have several friends in their late 70s who are really living quite comfortably, with their mortgages paid off and decent occupational pensions. One also rents out a house that her mother left her and has a nice little parcel of shares. I don't think they will really miss the fuel allowance. I used to use it to pay for Christmas, which isn't really what it was intended for. The problem is that, like so many other benefits, the ones who suffer are those who are just above the cut off point.

Farzanah

keepingquiet

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

I agree about a higher pension so that people don’t have to jump through multiple hoops to have it topped up. It’s stigmatising.
However I have signed the Age Concern petition for those who will suffer the cold this winter, being unable to afford their heating bills.

Have you a link to this, I'd like to see if it goes down the road of dropping the changes or modifying them, the latter, my preferred option.

keepingquiet

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

I agree about a higher pension so that people don’t have to jump through multiple hoops to have it topped up. It’s stigmatising.
However I have signed the Age Concern petition for those who will suffer the cold this winter, being unable to afford their heating bills.

keepingquiet

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

But we don't.

I will also write to my MP.

I’m not in favour of our entire benefit system, including our relatively low pensions.

I’d rather see the whole flawed system replaced with Universal Basic Income!

I won't be signing. We should all be on a pension that means we don't have to have 'extra' payments.

Signed.

I would sign a petition that allowed for a higher income before cut off, however achieved. I'm sad we have to now look at some. universal benefits being means tested but it's how matters are now....like needing adequate healthcare for us older people, enough doctors, care issues.

I will write to my (Labour) MP/shadow cabinet as I feel strongly about those in need for adequate heating and the start point of cutting heating allowance, but I think whoever started the petition with Organise has got this wrong by going for an "all or nothing" petition.

(Anyone can set up a petition with Organise, (Change.org): they are a left/liberal organisation)

Signed, not for us but for others.

Sigmed & donated on behalf of people just over the limit.

Too much money flowing out of this country. If we can help foreigners we should help our own first.

Signed for all those who are just manging. I feel it's the thin end of the wedge.

winterwhite

Not signed. I think better to have this and other age-related payments kick in at age 80.

WINTERWHITE.......Don't you realise that if they get away with this then what is there to stop them making prescriptions free to people on benefits only. We need to make a fuss to show them we are not happy about this. How many elderly people are not on prescribed free medication. This has started at our GP surgery as manufacturers are making more and more prescription drugs as over the counter purchases. I am now having to buy items that were once free when they were prescribed by the hospital specialist.

I am mid 80's so not long left but what about those in their 70's, with the way things are going, the elderly will get nothing, no state pension, no free prescriptions, no free bus passes. If you don't complain now the government will think youn have given them an open cheque.

Has anyone on the forum realised that next April, when the state pension rises because of the triple lock, many of us will be paying tax. I pay tax now because the small private pension I receive takes me over the personal allowance threshold. Now they are taking away the £300 WFA as well.

The cost of living will rise again, they are also talking about people with paved driveways paying more council tax and also the council tax will rise on it's own acord as well. Home insurance will rise, if people think that this is it then they are wrong everything will rise again next year including Energy bills as it will take a lot of time for the government to get their new energy initiative started.

winterwhite

Not signed. I think better to have this and other age-related payments kick in at age 80.

So what happens in the interim?

If the elderly in our society are nor helped in the retirement they will not make 80!

Signed 👍