Winter fuel allowance

Unless you have a decent private/company pension, state pension does not give pensioners anywhere near the National Living Wage (pro-rata for a 37 hour week) - so how are we expected to manage? Every little helps and the WFA tops up what we do receive so we do not have to make such drastic cuts to everyday essentials such as food, to cover higher winter heating costs. if there is a National Living Wage, why are pensioners expected to live on less?

..no; it's Merrylegs; I truly am going ga ga....

Merryweather; apologies for going off at a tangent but I now feel the need to dig out my old Black Beauty book and read some of the bits about Merryweather…

Merryweather ,any spare money should be given to folk like you rather than to pensioners who don’t need it and to others with second homes in France or Spain who need it even less.
I hope everything goes well for you

I don't need the fuel allowance, and I am not "boasting" when I say it - I am simply very fortunate in that I have a decent pension from my husband in addition to my own pension. I have to say, though, that I've just had to pay for a new central heating boiler, so the fuel allowance will be spent appropriately this year, by contributing to this.

Yeah, boast you don’t need it and make me feel even worse. Thanks

I wish you all the very best for March.

Merryweather i really feel for you,i have been where you are now, and it is a terrible place to be
I hope things improve for you
Are you getting all the help you can?
Please try to keep warm, sometimes just a quick blast of the heating will keep things warm for a little while

Thank you mama caz
I don't think it will. I have another little mouth to feed in march too. A long awaited first for (and many times over rainbow baby) my partner and I. He's my carer and as I've been told by two consultants I shouldn't be left alone it means he can no longer work. Hence our predicament.
We'll manage somehow I'm sure.
Thank you xx

Oh Merryweather I'm so sorry.

The year before last ,i got 2 cold weather payments, so did my sister who lives in Lancashire, i'm in Yorkshire, but nothing last year, but i think it has started out colder this year it has been down to - 4 a few days and nights already

Merryweather

I'm really sorry that you are finding things so tough, and hope that they improve for you.

I haven't dared to out the heating on because of the cost. It's not doing my osteoporosis or brittle asthma good at all. The lights are switched off asap and nothing is wasted.
I honestly never thought I would be so poor.
I had a great a good career and was well and before my accident. It's a shame because my children are suffering too.
Christmas will be lean and miserable.

In most parts of England ( I can't speak for the other UK countries), I imagine it is rarely cold enough for long enough for cold weather payments to be made.

It has to be below zero - or forecast to be below zero - for seven consecutive days! While it isn't unusual for seven nights of below zero temperatures, it's a lot less common for it to stay so cold during the day for that length of time.

blodenana, my daughter gets pip and essa, they haven't gone on the UC yet, doesn't get a cold weather payment. I am going to look into it.

With temps in north Scotland below freezing, it was nice to be able to turn up the heating because of the Winter Fuel Allowance. Thanks.

Ellanvanin* David Cameron took it off us, the very first thing he did

marpau Do you mean the £25 cold weather payment?
I did read that people on universal credits got the cold weather payment, but one of my sons who gets UC and pip says he was told they didn't

I know I have said this before but I would just like to say again.

People (like myself) 64 who are not yet pension age so do not rec the WFA )

Can claim WARM FRONT GRANT of £140.

You have to meet certain criteria like earning under £16,000 a year, but there are other categories, so don't let that put you off!

Juts google "Warm Front grants" choose your supplier(you need your customer number and fill in a simple on line form or you can ring and speak to someone.

I know a friend who relies on this to buy her family Christmas presents .

I don't see it as "wrong" but it is very cumbersome and outdated. If your income is high enough for you not to need it you will be being taxed appropriately. This is why taxes sometimes have to increase.

I still like the idea of a Basic Pensioners Income of £12,500 for everyone with no personal tax allowance and no income-related benefits except for housing. Simplicity is cheaper, I feel.

No Lancslass, you won't, I'm afraid. I copied the "what you will get" list onto page 2 of the thread.

Basically, you will not get more than £300 per household if one or both is over 80, however that household is comprised, and you will not get more than £200 in a household where you are receiving your pension but no one is over 80.

The only exception is if you are in a care home when you will get half the household amount depending on your age.

Like it Callistemon!

Apparently so ,Gone Girl..
If or when I reach 80, will we then get £400.?
Isn’t it ridiculous and wrong?

So in a couple of years when I am 80, we will get £300 between us rather than the £200 we get at the moment? Why? Will I suddenly feel the cold more?

I won't be complaining though.

I nominate you for Chancellor of the Exchequeur Lancslass

The country needs you, turning £300 into £500 with the wave of a magic wand