Forum Topic

Happy news from The Pensions Service.

A letter has just been delivered from The Pensions Service of the Dept for Work and Pensions telling us that they're sending us £150 for our Winter Fuel Payment - i like happy news!

Gerry Tan ● 4098d15 Comments

People who have emigrated to warmer climes will no longer get the payment but I guess that doesn't apply to people who winter there while keeping their main home in the UK. Typical government scam: they announced that France was warm enough for payments to be abolished to Brits living there but it turned out that French overseas departments such as Guadeloupe and Reunion were being included in the averages.

Susan Kelly ● 4096d

Agree totally/ Some say the 'Costas are cold' - and ?

Nigel Brooks ● 4096d

People that go to Spain etc for the winter shouldn't get this payment.

Kevin Hemming ● 4096d

"...so she can spend it on drink and loose men?"Susan, you've got me worried now. My wife likes a bottle of wine and single malt Whisky occasionally, still knows and meets a few of her past art college fellow male students and has a lot of 'me time' to herself - and there was I having a pleasant quiet Sunday, only to be disturbed by this dubious thought of yours! Oh for a peaceful simple life! Ha ha ha!

Gerry Tan ● 4097d

Are you sure your wife isn't keeping her payment secret, Gerry, so she can spend it on drink and loose men?

Susan Kelly ● 4097d

Susan Kelly asked:"Why are they wasting money telling you this when you've presumably been getting it for years?!".............................Googling hasn't been a lot of help here, but possibly as with many such payments, the actual amount, and the conditions have changed over the years. In addition, sending out letters as to what's being paid, when, and why, would probably be useful in resolving any possible disputes in the future.  michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 4097d

Susan, my wife gets Works and Pensions Dept letters separate from mine, so she'll be informed later too - yet more bureaucracy and further postal costs! One thing that really annoys us are the numerous letters and notices we get from the Inland Revenue about our Tax Return forms and demands for extra tax at the end of a tax year - infuriating - they should be chasing the tax evaders and money launderers of this world not ordinary octogenarians who receive modest occupational pensions and measly State ones and who've been already taxed! Bah!

Gerry Tan ● 4097d

I was going to ask why it was only £150, Gerry, but I guess your wife gets the other half of the £300 you're due. Did she get a letter?The private sector is worse. I had to change my Tesco savings account last weekend in order to get my little bonus back and they sent me FOUR separate letters about it, all by the same post.

Susan Kelly ● 4097d

You make a good point Susan. We also receive too many letter from the Government Agencies about Income Tax Code changes, Tax Return forms, EU Elections etc and countless Local Authority letters about Council Tax, Electoral registration, waste collection etc - all a waste of stamp money, time and admin time.I only mentioned my Winter Fuel Payment because it was simply happy pleasant news.

Gerry Tan ● 4097d

Given the number of cutbacks and the implied threats to winter fuel payments it is money well spent to bring reassurance to elderly people. We waste billions on aid to rich countries and the EU so I don't begrudge this.

Nigel Brooks ● 4097d

It's the waste of about 8 million stamps if everyone gets one. That's a lot of wonga...

Keith Iddon ● 4097d

It's not like you're not expecting it. They might write to tell you in your first year but, after that, it's a waste of a stamp. Lucky it's only public money.

Susan Kelly ● 4097d

Apart from bills of course...

Keith Iddon ● 4097d

These are the only letters that some elderly people get!

Nigel Brooks ● 4097d

Why are they wasting money telling you this when you've presumably been getting it for years?!

Susan Kelly ● 4097d