Freezing this 🎄… by Sir Starmer and The Granny Harmers!

We are all different, but on average prices are less than they were last year or the year before. Here is the evidence.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9491/

I agree Rosie, everyone’s circumstances are personal to them. Our houses, the temperature we prefer to maintain if we can, and our cooking habits are all different. My experience is very different from Flittermouse’s. I have only electricity. The only alternative for heating would be oil as there is no gas supply here. My December bill was horrendous and certainly way more than that for December 2023. No help with fuel bills this winter though. I’m fortunate that I can afford to keep warm. So many can’t. I doubt FlitterMouse’s experience is typical unless she is extremely economical with her use of fuel.

Flittermouse Your personal circumstances are just that, personal. Your large open plan detached home January bill (which as we're only early January is mostly for December usage) is £80 cheaper than my tiny end of terrace cottage bill of 30th December. My estimated annual cost is over £600 more than yours. While I can be pleased for you, your experience doesn't replicate mine at all. I was sad to lose the WFA but it hasn't impacted on my ability to heat my home, and I recognise how fortunate I am to be in that position. I generally find January to be the most fuel expensive month, and that bill won't come until the end of the month.

Martin Lewis's advice was fine for those that weren't still locked into previous plans, but one size does not fit all.

Talking about catastrophising and going back to the OP about freezing this Christmas, can I ask if people are doing their sums to see what their winter energy bill will actually be?

When I look at my own energy bills compared to what I was paying at the height of the energy crisis (but getting help through the EBSS and boosted WFP) the current bill is not much more than I was paying before the energy crisis.

As I have posted elsewhere, I do strongly believe in universal benefits and was as annoyed as most people about the sudden removal of WFP - not least as I had to wait until 66 for my State Pension and therefore another six years to get the fuel payment (and my bus pass). However, what’s done is done and I’ve now lost £200 a year.

I’m a widow and live alone in a large open-plan detached house. I heat the whole house by gas boiler which also provides hot water. I could shut off spare bed rooms and not heat them but I’d rather the rooms didn’t get damp. Everything else runs on electricity. In warmer months, putting the boiler on for 15 minutes gives me enough hot water for a shower and for the rest of the day.

I keep a spreadsheet to record my costs. January is always my most expensive month. I have just had my January 2025 bill. For comparison this is what I have paid.

January 2022 £127.51
January 2023 £282.60 (after £66 from the EBSS I paid £216.60)
January 2024 £187.07
January 2025 £148.87

Pensioners also had a £300 boost to the WFP for the winters of 2022/3 and 2023/24.

Compared to four years ago, before the energy crisis, my January bill is now just over £20 more a month or £5 a week.

I took Martin Lewis's advice and fixed just before the October 2024 price rise. Before that my annual costs were estimated at £1,260 - which included an expected October rise of 13%. In the end the rise was 10% but I avoided that by fixing which means I have also avoided the January 2025 rise and am protected until next autumn.

Now my estimated annual cost is £1,060 (£600 gas and £460 electricity) - £200 lower than the previous estimate - coincidentally the same amount as the lost WFP.

I don’t receive full state pension as I have contracted-out deductions. Even though I was born after 5 April 1953, it’s calculated under the old basic state pension rules. In the last four years it has increased by just under £40 a week and will go up by just over £8 a week in April 2025. I pay tax on that as I have other income but it’s still a net rise of over £38 a week out of which I am paying £5 more for energy for the more expensive month of the year. The boosted WFP in 2022 and 2023 more than covered my additional costs during the crisis.

Of course, other bills that have to be met have gone up too but I don’t think a £5 a week rise in winter energy costs in four years is bad at all.

Doodledog

I can't see the harm in having a conversation about it. It used to be the case that (for women) free prescriptions kicked in at retirement age, when their income fell. Now that retirement age has risen, perhaps that link no longer applies.

If research shows that because the over 60s are more likely to have multiple conditions that mean that paying for prescriptions would disadvantage them, however, then there is a good reason to keep the age as it is.

Refusing to discuss things like this is very short sighted, but lately as soon as something is even mentioned, never mind properly debated, there are those running about like Chicken Licken making all sorts of pronouncements about the evils of the Labour Party. It's tiresome.

I haven't agreed with everything the new government has done, but the more this catastrophising goes on the more I am pleased that they are being strong and refusing to cave in to the disinformation and threats of those who are determined to thwart their attempts to create a more equal society.

We should always be open to discussing anything, what isn’t acceptable is deliberate misinformation.

Ilovecheese

He should regret not removing the 2 child benefit cap. A Labour party that refuses to help poorer children is not a Labour party. He should be very regretful and ashamed.

It would cost shedloads to do this, as the risk of seemingly heartless, (I’m not and worked in many jobcentres with very large families) should those already out of work choose to extend their families?

There are many benefits already for those with children, nursery places, infant school meals, some free breakfast clubs and child benefit.

I’m utterly torn, to be honest, over this policy.

All part of a nasty political game from certain parts of the press to scaremonger. (I see it was in the Telegraph, GB news, and Talk Radio)
Be careful on getting information based on speculation. It was discussed by Sunak for example and at the time turned down but where was the press outrage on those discussions.

That's good Casdon. It wasn't explained properly this morning on the programme that I watched. I still don't like Starmer and Rayner though!

I can't see the harm in having a conversation about it. It used to be the case that (for women) free prescriptions kicked in at retirement age, when their income fell. Now that retirement age has risen, perhaps that link no longer applies.

If research shows that because the over 60s are more likely to have multiple conditions that mean that paying for prescriptions would disadvantage them, however, then there is a good reason to keep the age as it is.

Refusing to discuss things like this is very short sighted, but lately as soon as something is even mentioned, never mind properly debated, there are those running about like Chicken Licken making all sorts of pronouncements about the evils of the Labour Party. It's tiresome.

I haven't agreed with everything the new government has done, but the more this catastrophising goes on the more I am pleased that they are being strong and refusing to cave in to the disinformation and threats of those who are determined to thwart their attempts to create a more equal society.

Liz46

Now they are thinking about taking away free prescriptions from pensioners. I am not normally very politically minded but I hate Starmer and the fawning Rayner.

As far as I understand the rumour, put out by some of the press, it says for those aged over 60 to 66. So not pensioners.
Whether this is true or not, I like most people have no evidence.

No, they aren’t Liz46, the consultation is about the right to free prescriptions being withdrawn for people aged between 60 and 66, ie pension age.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60e455b08fa8f50c7683861d/changes-to-giving-free-prescriptions-to-people-aged-60-and-over_easy-read.pdf

Now they are thinking about taking away free prescriptions from pensioners. I am not normally very politically minded but I hate Starmer and the fawning Rayner.

He should regret not removing the 2 child benefit cap. A Labour party that refuses to help poorer children is not a Labour party. He should be very regretful and ashamed.

Shinamae

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Mind you ….

Daniel Martin
Deputy Political Editor, Telegraph
19 December 2024 8:52pm GMT
Sir Keir Starmer has said he has no regrets about the decisions he has made in the past six months and would do nothing differently.

The Prime Minister made the comments as he answered questions from the liaison committee of senior MPs from all parties for the first time.

I saw this. His arrogance and ignorance is astounding…. 🙄

What regrets do you think he should have about the decisions he has made in the past six months?

madeleine45

Well as an older woman who has been conned by the pension age going up and up, paying what I think was called SERPS which took about a weeks wage in the year and I received a letter telling me it would put 6d on my pension . No that wasnt a mistake that was sixpence in £sd. which converts now to I think 2-1/2p . I am trying to decide whether I shall put that towards my missing winter fuel payment? I have a pension now which is just over the level to get any benefits, and doesnt get the wfp, yet when I tried to get a better bank account with a bit more interest I was told I dont put enough in a month to get it. !!! Cant make it up can you? Well women even more than men have been shafted by the lot of them, Tory or Labour. We are portrayed as the elderly blocking beds and taking up housing etc. But I dont see much news about the huge amount of voluntary work that pensioners do. Everything from running the libraries that they have axed the money from, meals on wheels. Now making hubs where we can all huddle over a warm space, unable to stay in our own homes as we cant put the heating on. Well I have already made my new years resolutions
1. To keep breathing , and stay alive for as long as possible to annoy the lot of them. It helps me fight against the cancer I have now. I plan to keep going until I am at least 103.
2. to fight the injustice of waspi women, and the winter fuel debacle. How dare they say that they havent the money to pay and most women were not affected!! As women often have mixed jobs and time out , they have had all our small bits of pension to pay to the men and we have been conned by all politicians. I paid full stamp for 11 years, went abroad and paid the highest level class 3 to keep me in the system for which obviously I got absolutely nothing as I wasnt here! Brought up my son, who is adopted , so never had maternity payments, have worked, done voluntary things ever since I retired. Well I call on women to join me in the new year and we will combine the general strike with the suffragettes example. We will choose ONE day, and try to make sure the people we help are given the least problems, but if every woman stopped what they normally did on that one day and we will put on social media pictures and lists of what we would have been doing that day and everyone come out to collect together in parks so that we will show them just what we do and make them acknowledge our presence and our worth. If there is not enough money, then that should be shared by the whole population of pensioners , not yet again using the system where we were paid less because we are women so consequently had less pension. Well enough is enough. Whose going to join me? Have a happy and peaceful christmas everyone and we will fight the good fight in the New Year

I had a letter saying I'd get an extra 6d too from SERPS. I've no idea if I have been given that or not - how would I check? I have a small amount of pension on top of the state but I suspect that people on pension credit may end up with more than me as pension credit qualifies you for so much more. Thankfully I have some savings which I will probably have to dip into this year without the WFA, but I'm still better off than those who just miss out on pension credit by a smaller margin.

WFA should always have been means tested but unfortunately introducing a fair way of means testing it would be costly, so the government have gone for the cheapest option by linking it to pension credit. Despite the extra 40,000 pensioners claiming pension credit there are still many who won't. I spoke to someone today who would almost certainly be eligible but she won't apply as she doesn't want to give them all her information. At least that's her choice. But plenty people have no choice but to be cold!

I had a most Surprising letter from Dept of Work and Pensions!
On my 80th birthday, next week, I am getting an increase in my Pension of 25 p per week!!!!
What a joke!!!

open.spotify.com/track/7Cctma5cPR71xUSCAxlY07?si=S8rabkojQ_68vZquw5i2-w

For those who are interested

To put it into context, Last Christmas by Wham, is UK Christmas Number 1, and is getting 7.7m views a day on Spotify. Yesterday Freezing this Christmas was at no 37, which is remarkable - but not near the top.

JennyCee

Freya5. Who gets 83 pence on their pension? I get the magnificent figure of 25p like ALL of my fellow pensioners who have reached that grand old age, and i would gladly forgo it to be given to the NHS

Well bully for you. For some people that might mean a very cheap loaf of bread to eat.

I searched for Christmas songs on Spotify and this came up near the top!
This is Christmas 2024
Very timely!

Aw I was looking forward to getting 83p instead of 25p.!! How very disappointing!!! Ah well, the great thing for me is to be at last home with good coffee and hurray for radio 3 and 4. They give me so much pleasure, have been cheering my day all day today, and my great bargain is working well. I bought a long white padded gilet from a charity shop for £5. Presume it didnt sell because of the colour! It certainly does nothing for me in looking slimmer or smarter I must say. BUT it is very warm and saves the heating. Of course I shall have to look after it as I will need it on our day of Women Strike and Show them what we do!!! Ah well must go and make my dinner with the ingredients I got from the reduced shelf in the supermarket (not that they take that much off these days!) Still it gives you a surprise. You have no idea what you are going to eat until you see what is in the bargain box. Today I got some fish, so think I shall concoct a rice and fish kedgeree kind of thing. (Funny they have so many cookery programmes on the box , but you never see anyone doing a "what is there cheap in the bargain basket,?" and what can I make with this concoction.?) No point watching the other kind of cooking programmes ,as they start with a cheap item , but then their store cupboards have so many unusual and expensive bits and pieces, so I could never copy it if I want to!! Happy christmas to you all, and dont forget that you all have that useful excuse to get away from the family or annoying friends on the day. So if it is dry - you want to walk round the garden and see what is flowering. Take your secateurs and as you snip a small branch or whatever, in your mind it could be Donald Trump or your brother in law!! If wet, you promised to come on here and we are all going to send each other little messages , so you can shut the door on the lot of them. When the steam is coming out of your ears at the end of the day and you cant get to sleep we shall all be sneaking to vent our fury and tell each other what a rubbish present or whatever we want to say. It is so good , when you live alone as I do, to know that someone on here will listen to my rant about them cutting the winter fuel payment, or the way the tories have the cheek to try and blame it all on labour now when they have made everything worse for all these years.!!!!

Graceless

I am a life long labour voter but I'm not a supporter of New Labour Mark 2.
Winter Fuel Allowance should have been means tested from the start. Why should people like me who have a private pension as well as my stae pension get it when there are thousands of young families whose need is greater?

Of course you shouldn't and neither should the well off pensioners either. However it would have been much fairer and just as easy if they had increased the allowance to £15,000 and then it would have helped both the low paid and the pensioners on a small private pension that have been the people who lost out the most as they are only just over the threshold for Pension Credit. Then they could have coordinated with HMRC and only paid WFA to those pensioners NOT paying any income tax.

Freya5. Who gets 83 pence on their pension? I get the magnificent figure of 25p like ALL of my fellow pensioners who have reached that grand old age, and i would gladly forgo it to be given to the NHS

SillyNanny321

Have a friend who for years would not try to claim Pension Credit as she thought she would not get it! Now tried & got it! All the years of struggling when she did not need to is very annoying.

She should have checked shouldn't she. People complain, but will not do anything about asking for help. Your friend can only be annoyed with herself in my view. It takes one phone call to the DWP to get your finances checked or one to the Citizen's Advice bureau, which are doing a lot of the claims now. There has been an awful lot of advertising and awareness campaigns, hence so many more are now applying, it is no longer a stigma because they can blame Starmer!!

The problem is so many competing demands on the money that is in the pot not that there is none in at all.

Us older people are profoundly affected by funding for the NHS/care services and many many more issues, as well as younger people needing state help. My DGD, severely disabled, will need help all her life out of this same pot.

We've discussed those letters sent out before. People really did need to know where they stood, and what was equally important, the letter gave information about pension credit to those not aware