Forum Topic

Winter Fuel Payments.

Should this payment and other universal benefits be paid to everyone(as they are now) or should they be confined to those who have incomes of less than say £15,000 per annum?

Gerry Tan ● 4548d11 Comments

As I say, assuming that you are 'in the system', then they will realise that you're entitled to it and pay it automatically. Only a minority will need to actively claim it.

Susan Kelly ● 4538d

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-paymentYou may not have reached state retirement age but still be able to claim the winter fuel payment.

Philippa Bond ● 4538d

'If you don't already take your state pension then you have to claim it.'This is a common misconception. Assuming that you have paid tax and NI at some point and are, therefore, 'in the system', the authorities know when you are entitled to the payment (i.e. the women's state retirement age) and  make it automatically.

Susan Kelly ● 4539d

There is indeed, run by the lovely people at St. John's church in Mattock Lane.There is also Hanwell Homeless Concern which provides hot lunches for up to 50 homeless people three times per week at churches in Hanwell.

Nigel Brooks ● 4547d

I agree with you Gerry.  It would be good if we had something local that we could support - instead of sending it back to go and get lost in all that government bureaucracy.There is a new food bank in Acton - isn't there a soup kitchen in Ealing?

Philippa Bond ● 4547d

I guess it would be very costly to collect the unrequired universal benefits from those who don't need them. Perhaps there should be a trust fund to which unrequired benefits could be gathered and then distributed to those who really need the money. Or perhaps given to food banks.

Gerry Tan ● 4547d

Jean, quite simply those MPs are rich.I think that a lot could be done to make life easier for pensioners but unfortunately everything is so compartmentalised now with it seems more time and energy being spent pushing responsibility from one department's budget to another than is spent on those needing the services.It is very important to keep mobile but that is easier said than done.  It can be very difficult just getting your toenails cut. You would have thought that it would be sensible to make sure that people leave hospital with the best chance of being mobile and staying out but that simply just doesn't happen.  So tunnel-visioned and short-sighted.There should also be more opportunity for pensioners to try out different equipment so that they can find out what suits them.  That doesn't mean that they necessarily want everything free or that everything should be free but what should be free and more available is ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE.This would include hearing aids - where it is not enough to just dole out hearing aids but there should be proper following up and support so that people get used to using them. (Action on Hearing Loss provides some volunteers in places to do this - but are always looking for more help.)There is a lot of whispering and moaning about dementia and wondering about how are we going to deal with all these people but MEMORY IS MULTI-SENSORY.  Look after the hearing and sight and less stress is put on just the memory because we actually use sight and hearing to help us remember.Hospital staff won't need to spend as much time explaining everything to people who can't see and hear if more effort is put into helping them with sight and hearing in the first place.

Philippa Bond ● 4547d

I don't know why certain MP's think that pensioners should not receive the Winter Fuel Allowance. With the ever increasing levy it is becoming more and more difficult for pensioners to decide whether to heat their homes or spend the money on food. Not all pensioners are millionares.Another point, If they ever take the Freedom Pass away from pensioners I can imagine that more pensioners will be lonely, and more depressed. At least with the Freedom Pass they can get out and about, meet friends, attend appointments and so on.Without the Freedom Pass many would just be sitting indoors and in the end will be a bigger burden on the NHS. It is better to keep active if at all possible.Those who don't need it can always not use it and donate some money to those worse off.Means Testing is extremely expensive and another thing, many pensioners are too proud to claim all that they can from the State. Our pensions are the least generous in Europe I believe, some MP's should try living on a pension they might take a different view!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4547d

I wonder whether there couldn't be a better way of paying it.As people get older they definitely do seem to feel the cold more.  I expect a lot of this is because you tend to become less mobile.If you don't already take your state pension then you have to claim it.There is nothing to stop you giving the money to a charity or to another family member or friend who is struggling. The trouble is that nobody knows what the future holds.

Philippa Bond ● 4547d

It's one of those Universal Benefits Gerry that would probably cost more to withdraw from those, as example few, aged over 65 and paying higher rate tax than would be saved.

Nigel Brooks ● 4548d

Stay with it Gerry.Possibly pay it when the beneficiaries reach about age 65.Br Gas announced its next increase of 9%.

George Knox ● 4548d