The Guardian STILL using that stock photo to illustrate the Winter Fuel Payment row

paddyann54

Meantime the Irish government has RAISED their winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.This year its 1000 euros.

Small country that doesn't have to give its income to Westminster!!!Unlike Scotland where there is already snow on the hills

If you want to compare, bear in mind that the state pension in Ireland is less than in the UK, and the cost of living is higher though.

paddyann54 let’s switch to the Irish model. - free tv licence, free electricity, free gp visits etc - for the 70 year olds plus. Maybe higher State pensions than here too? Cost of living?

winterwhite

I have missed the point about Rachel Reeves having an energy allowance. How is it known that she claims it? Does it apply to KS as well?

It applies to them all who have second homes I believe

As if they need it

ronib

paddyann54 let’s switch to the Irish model. - free tv licence, free electricity, free gp visits etc - for the 70 year olds plus. Maybe higher State pensions than here too? Cost of living?

But I do not want lots of freebies, as if I am a child that cannot be trusted to budget properly.

I would rather those freebies were monetised and added to my income.

The Irish state pension is, for a single person, maximum £130. In the UK it is £169.50 on basic pension and £221.20 on the new system. The cost of living is over 12% higher.

The cost of living in Ireland is over 12% higher than in the UK

£234 a week in Ireland plus benefits is shown on my Google search.

Figure seems to vary from source to source. I got three different figures from 3 different Irish government sources. sources.

Monica also free tv licence plus 35 euros a month towards either electricity or gas bills plus free travel in the country for 70 years and older. Free gp visits but don’t know about hospitals. A population of around 5 million people. Good longevity. Interesting exercise. Large population numbers don’t mean better pension benefits?

I wish someone would post that Guardian pic - I have yet to see it.