Paul Burstow

I wasn't saying they were wealthy - just that PB had defined where he would draw the line - that hadn't happened before with NC

the thing is - those who get pension credit already get cold weather payments, glasses vouchers, full council tax benefit, mortgage interest paid (if they have a mortgage), full housing benefit (if they rent) - and a few more passported benefits I think.
but consider those just outside the pension credit means tested level - single pensioners who get a state pension, a bit of SERPs and perhaps a private/works pension which takes them over £147 per week or a couple who have the same income that takes them over £217 per week. Not sure of those figures but you get my drift.
so a single pensioner with an income of £200 per week on which they pay tax have to PAY for all the things that the pensioner on pension credit gets for free
ditto the pensioner couple. so on an income of £10,400 (single) or say £16,000 (couple) - are these 'wealthy pensioners' - I don't think so.

I realise London and south east is much more expensive but Wales, North etc much cheaper

To be fair to PB , he has defined who would get WFA - those who receive pension credit. That would also make it cheap and simple to administer. I've been struggling with the 000s - there are about 400, 000 people in care homes: average cost 27k(care) 38k ( nursing)Everyone just about would have pension income to contribute so balance left for state to pay would be less than that but still seems 2bn not enough but more than Mollie thinks.

If you need nursing care, as opposed to just somewhere to live in a supported environment, a BUPA care home in London costs 1,100 pounds PER WEEK
(57, 200 per annum).

apologies - just returning from walking lurcher dog and en route discovered I was out by a small factor of 3 zeroes.
the total number of people helped would be 100,000 but given that only say one in ten need care the total number needing care at any one time would be 1 million so who are the lucky 1 in ten!
ana agree your figure is more realistic but I was aiming for simple maths (but still a big fail)

I think your estimate of £20,000 per year is a bit out of date, mollie65, it's more like £27 - 30,000 depending on which part of the UK you live in.

I feel most oldies would be happy to fund their own care (there are already safeguards in place to prevent the sale if an over 60 relative or spouse lives in it)
the problem is that inheritors have anticipated a windfall from the parents' overpriced house and do not want to lose it
the cost of care homes is very high for the quality of care some of them give
those who are self funding see others having to pay nothing (paid for by the tax payer) and think it is unfair (which it may well be)

did you know that if a person is self funding and a tax payer they are not allowed to offset the cost of their care against their tax (I know because my mother fell into this category) - unless the rules have changed.

but to stick to the point - the winter fuel allowance is £200 (is it £300 for over 75s?) and this is per household. At a guess the number of households eligible may be 10 million (to make the sums easier) so this gives a £2bn cost per year. how many deserving old people can be cared for when care homes cost around £20,000 per year - does that come out at 100 pensioners per year. How will they be selected - given that those with no means already get paid for
all that said if I need to go into a care home I want it to be the best I can afford and to be given a choice. I don't need my house to live it do I.
do think maybe the amount of savings you are allowed to keep should be increased (perhaps to £50k) as I think it has been at it's current level for some years.