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Legal, pensions and money

Loosing winter fuel allowance

(201 Posts)
Floradora9 Thu 18-May-17 18:53:38

Now that the Tories have decided to end the winter fuel allowance for "better off pensioners " I wonder how it will work. At the moment both my DH and I get £100 each. Are they going to add our income/savings together to decide if we are " better off pensioners" ?At the moment if it went on income alone and individually I would not fit this category. If savings come into it I might . DH has the good work pension and savings so one of us might miss out and the other not.

GracesGranMK2 Sat 20-May-17 16:22:41

I think an 88% chance of a specific pledge being carried out is pretty high whitewave.

Carol54 Sat 20-May-17 16:24:36

I was really confused when my Mother who is in a care home received a winter fuel allowance!! I checked and she is entitled to it but what is it for? Alot of money would be saved if those in care no longer got it

whitewave Sat 20-May-17 16:31:08

gg yes that's right. When Hammond tried and failed to raise NI because of the Tory manifesto, that meant something.

Without a manifesto what on earth do you base your vote on?

rosesarered Sat 20-May-17 16:32:39

Well, there you are Carol it's a nonsense isn't it?

Cosafina Sat 20-May-17 16:35:41

From what I've heard, if it's means tested then a lot of people who do need it won't claim it because they feel ashamed. So far better that it be a universal benefit - and those who truly don't need it have the decency not to claim it!

GracesGranMK2 Sat 20-May-17 16:39:09

I am not sure that I would ever call dying of the cold 'nonsense' RAR.

GracesGranMK2 Sat 20-May-17 16:44:06

I think a lot of people agree Cosafina. The only other alternative is to raise the pension by a one off £200 and then ensure those with a high enough income not to worry about loosing it are taxed. Our pensions are so low compared with other rich countries I have no idea why some people want older people to be poorer still.

rosesarered Sat 20-May-17 16:45:23

People in a care home may die of all sorts, but rarely the cold!

Ana Sat 20-May-17 16:47:53

And it's not 'loosing' it's 'losing'.

There, I've said it.

GracesGranMK2 Sat 20-May-17 16:51:24

Congratulations Ana

Ana Sat 20-May-17 16:55:37

What a pity that's your reaction.

Witzend Sat 20-May-17 18:12:15

Carol, if your mother was self funded then I think she was entitled to it.
If not, then it was probably a mistake.

gillybob Sat 20-May-17 19:40:08

Do those who feel they shouldn't get (or others shouldn't get) their WFA return their pension as well?

That's just silly GGm2 .

DH doesn't feel that we should have the WFA when there are plenty of young people struggling to pay their bills who get nothing. I will be happy for ours to go to a more deserving cause.

rosesarered Sat 20-May-17 19:43:45

Me too Gillybob and I suspect, lots more of us.

Norah Sat 20-May-17 19:46:45

DH doesn't feel that we should have the WFA when there are plenty of young people struggling to pay their bills who get nothing. I will be happy for ours to go to a more deserving cause.

This is it, brilliant and generous.

paddyann Sat 20-May-17 19:49:52

Yorkshiregel Labour is far from communism ,Trident is an unessesaary expense ,its parked 11 miles from my front door and a lot of people here want it gone.Its not a deterrent its a first strike weapon...do YOU want to belong to the generation who brings an end to humanity? Think what GOOD those billions could do for our countries ,needed even more now with BREXIT when industries will struggle and prices soar .Whatever you do vote DONT vote Tory,vote for someone who has the interests of the majority at heart not the few Billionaires /millionaires as the tory party has.I'm shocked that anyone will even contemplate voting these bloodsuckers back in

Ana Sat 20-May-17 19:53:28

I thought Corbyn was all for Trident now, despite his previous denials.

Voting Labour won't get rid of Trident.

rosesarered Sat 20-May-17 19:56:24

Soooo, you don't care for them paddy
Well, everyone has to make their own minds up , don't forget not everyone loves the SNP either.

GracesGranMK2 Sat 20-May-17 20:12:27

Well no Gillybob, it isn't silly but I will happily allow that you may not have thought there was more to it.

Perhaps you, who can damn someone else's post in this way would like to tell everyone else where I was going with this. After all you do not make silly posts do you.

Legs55 Sat 20-May-17 20:46:07

I have long believed that any pensioners living abroad should not be able to claim.

I'm only 61 so don't qualify, I took early retirement at 50 to care for my DH. I have a small civil service pension, claim ESA (Income based which entitles me to free dental treatment etc) I also get PIP, Council Tax Benefit & Housing Benefit.

I find it a struggle to pay my bills & WFA would help me enormously. I believe the fairest way to deal with WFA is to restrict it those entitled to Pension Credit as they are the ones with a low income & limited or no savings.

Alygran Sat 20-May-17 20:47:41

We recently received WFA for my aunt. She was self funded in a care home but died last October. We queried this with DWP. She was entitled because she was alive on the September qualifying date.

paddyann Sat 20-May-17 21:16:33

rosesarered what I do see is that the SNP are looking after all the people in Scotland ,the tories are only interested in people who are wealthy .....its what we call the "I'm all right jack and to hell with the rest of you syndrome" but I'd guess you understand that!If you dont think people who need a little help when they are sick or disadvantaged then I am sorry for you ,what a narrow little world you have.

rosesarered Sat 20-May-17 22:22:50

All that because I said that not everyone loves the SNP.....grin which happens to be true btw
The Conservatives may do well in Scotland this time, how awful paddy that some people there may not feel as you do.

petra Sat 20-May-17 23:22:47

paddyann
I see the people in Paisley are none too happy with the SNP. Due to cuts, a children's ward at the hospital has been closed.

daphnedill Sat 20-May-17 23:37:55

whitewave The NICs fiasco was ridiculous, as it would have benefited the lower paid self-employed. Conservative back benchers caused the u-turn and Labour supporters and politicians, who evidently know very little about the lower paid, fell for it. It's the same with the social care issue.