Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

It was only the LibDems who promised compensation for the Waspis which is why they got our vote. Labour never said they would compensate if they got in.

 

When they first brought in Winter Fuel Payment I asked if they could donate my payment to people on benefits instead. They said it would be too awkward to administer that system. So I give it to charity.

There is also a different payment called Warm Home Discount that goes to people on benefits. This is awarded to people who are in receipt of certain benefits.
The qualifying means-tested benefits and tax credits are:

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Housing benefit
• Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)

I've been looking after someone since 1983 who is very disabled (his father died in 1983and he was one of my employees) and he was receiving the Warm Home Discount which was administered by the power company to whom you pay your bills. This was taken over two years ago by DWP and they stopped his payment. Neither myself nor the MP could get any sense out of DWP about it. All they would say was that it was dependent upon the size of his dwelling and of where he lived. He lives in a small council flat. They couldn't, or wouldn't, explain how they decide who gets it or not. So I now give him our Winter Fuel Payment.

This government will take it away from me so he won't get that. I'll have a go at the new MP to see whether he will chase up a proper explanation for his loss of the WHD.

 

Thing is, my understanding is that those who are in receipt of pension credit are only so because they are not receiving the minimum state pension - so a single pensioner, only on state pension (like my mother) is not someone who is well off; I could almost sympathise with their approach if the person was sitting on £20k of savings or had various workplace pensions (especially final salary), but there are a great many pensioners who only have the state pension to live off.

 

Reeves is using the receipt of pension credit as being the deciding factor as to whether a pensioner will get the winter fuel allowance or not - the inference is that they are means testing the allowance so it isn't paid to wealthy pensioners. A pensioner can be in receipt of nothing more than basic state pension and they would therefore not qualify - - would you say that they are well off?

 

Those who are in receipt of less than £218.15 per week in pension (perhaps due to insufficient NI contributions due to raising children etc) qualify for pension credit to top their income up to £218.15 per week:

Those who do qualify for pension credit will also get the winter heating allowance payment. Those who are in receipt of full state pension of £218.55, will not.

The inference has been, particularly in the media, that pensioners are "rich" on the basis that they may own their own home, or have loads of private pension incomes. Now, whilst I can accept that there are some pensioners who are very well off (such as my friend who has recently treated himself to a brand new BMW 7-series on the strength of his savings and significant pension income), I would suggest that this is not typical of the majority of pensioners.

Particularly for single/widowed pensioners who may only be in receipt of £218.15 per week and have to start off by paying council tax at near on £200 per month as a starter for ten. Those are not well off people.

Reeve's use of pension credit as being the line of demarcation as to whether someone will get the winter fuel allowance or not is abhorrent at best.

 

I agree that cuts are inevitable but the methods of demarcation leave a lot to be desired. There needs to be a lot more thought put into it before rushing out changes that can adversely affect people that should be supported.

This sort of thing tends to be done by all political parties and this seem to be a quick political dig at the previous incumbents without sufficient information about how they will administer things for exceptions.

It's quite possible that they do have a way for dealing with the exceptions but haven't announced them. In which case it has been a too hasty announcement.

I think there needs to be some consultation with organisations that help look after people that are on the bread line.