Rachel Reeves has announced that winter fuel payments will only be paid to those on Pension Credit.nsion Credit

Peartree what is the problem? Of course downsizing is always an option if a house owner. It’s not snobby to say downsizing is good to consider in older age. It’s just practical. Especially now we have a government which seems to hate the aged. Maybe go back to multigenerational living as an alternative? Maybe not? Caves?

Peartree, and also saying we should all leave our homes and go and sit in a warm hub all day!!

Sunak said he would give them 100 days, it's not even that yet.

How dare someone saying you should down size what a Im alright jack thing to say. Did any of those on here who didnt need the heating benefit think of sending it back? NO! They say I dont need it so I gave it to charity! You lot make me laugh. Im glad Labour are showing thier true colours straight away. I always said the labour voters thought they had a magic money tree. Glad I didnt vote for them. Snobby lot on here makes me sick.

M0nica

I do think that there should have been a taper on the removal of the fuel allowance.

You didn’t mention that in your OP.

... sorry. That should have been to HattieTopper! Apologies.

Mt61
I don't think you can seriously be blaming Labour for the licence fee!
Didn't they use an opposition day debate to try to prevent it?
That was a Tory decision.

...Also, surely pensions have always been subject to tax.

paddyann54

I,ve been saying for years that Labour were just tories in red rosettes.Seems I was right,austerity is an ideal not a necessity as most of us know after the last 14 years of Tory rule

Yet the only political party to have a recent ex leader under arrest is? Oh the SNP

Many pensioners who are on the cusp do not have any viable means to increase their income. They may not be fit enough to work or unable to find a job because of employer ageism. This is a real kick in the teeth when compared with the "16 hours" a week working age brigade who turn down extra shifts because it will "mess up their UC." Lets hope there are tough new rules get this lazy bunch off their backsides.

ronib

Sorry to hear this HattieTopper. Miliband is very enthusiastic about spending billions on Great British Energy so all being well, energy prices should fall very quickly? Wind and solar power being all the rage …

Oh how do you make that out? They will have to re-coop building the dam things surely?

LizzieDrip

^As those people who have never worked but were eligible for the full sp can claim pension credits^

I’m a bit confused here. How can someone who has never worked qualify for the full state pension?

The amount of SP you get is based on your number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. If someone has never worked, surely they won’t have paid NI.

I’ve paid 41 years of NI contributions but because, as a public sector employee, I was contracted out for most of those years, I still don’t get the full state pension.

I just don’t see that someone who’s never worked will qualify for it.

When you sign on as unemployed, you are credited with NICs, so theoretically somebody who has never worked could have a full contributions record.

HattieTopper

They took away our free TV licence, now the winter fuel allowance and next April, I bet we will be paying tax on our state pensions. Why not shoot us and have done with it.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

chickkygran

Another money saving plan is the suggestion of the State Pension being means tested. That will be a huge concern for many

Who has suggested that?

AGAA4

I'm quite happy with this as it won't affect me but feel for those who will lose out and be worried about their heating bills.
I would like to know where the money saved will go.

Africa of course

I did report them. I assume if you are benefits your NI stamp is paid automatically so you will end up with maximum contributions.

Another money saving plan is the suggestion of the State Pension being means tested. That will be a huge concern for many

That was to NannaTuesday

NanaTuesday are you saying that your state pension and your private pension of £100 a month combined is still less than the £221.20 a week new state pension rate? That seems very unfair that you don’t qualify for pension credit.

My sole income is my new state pension which I receive in full so I’m not eligible for pension credit. I applied again a few months ago when Martin Lewis was urging everyone to apply. I was told I’m not eligible.

I do think that there should have been a taper on the removal of the fuel allowance.

As those people who have never worked but were eligible for the full sp can claim pension credits

I’m a bit confused here. How can someone who has never worked qualify for the full state pension?

The amount of SP you get is based on your number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. If someone has never worked, surely they won’t have paid NI.

I’ve paid 41 years of NI contributions but because, as a public sector employee, I was contracted out for most of those years, I still don’t get the full state pension.

I just don’t see that someone who’s never worked will qualify for it.

Why didn't you report them? You can do it anonymously.

👌Ditto

Go after the benefit cheats first. I have worked since I was fifteen. Never claimed benefits. I have a small pension beside my state pension. I know cheats that have claimed benefits most of their lives they will be entitled to the WFA. I was going to work 6a.m in the morning while these cheats were lying in bed, going on holidays and owning lovely cars. Blatantly boasting what a good thing they were on. Spend the money weaning out the cheats. So so annoying!!

Ditto & My DH voted Labour for the first time in his life 😢🫤

Grannynannywanny

Pension credit is awarded to those whose pension falls short of the new state pension to top it up. Those who are in receipt of full new state pension do not qualify for pension credit even if that is their sole income.

Grannynannywanny,
I am not sure if that is exactly true .
As I have put in a previous response to this post , my SP is well below the new sp . I am one of the thousands of WASPI Women who having had my SP age changed from 60 to 63 then had the insult of being in receipt of my very first SP 08/04/13 having reached SP age the previous month .
The new sp was payable to everyone reaching SP age after 01/04/13
A double blow to add the insult to injury & all my school friends having birthdays after 1st April received that higher amount . Not only but also people I know who have never worked gained the extra when they got to SP age .
Am I annoyed by this you bet I am !
Can I claim pension credits no sir as I have a small private pension , actually I have 2 one pays £300 annually the other less than £100 monthly. All of which means I am still above the amount to claim pension credit BUT still under the amount paid for the new SP !!
Crazy is the word !
As those people who have never worked but were eligible for the full sp can claim pension credits !!