Winter Fuel Payment

[David G]

They think we're all senile and don't understand whats going on. They tell us dont worry you'll be getting a pension increase in April. We would have been receiving that as well as the Winter Fuel Payment so I am net minus income of  £300 or approx £6pw. 


When they mention an amount the pension will increase by next year lets say £400 they dont tell us this is for a married couple on the higher tier pension.


A single person on the lower tier pension ( the hidden poor ) would receive something like £180 minus the loss of the £300 WFA leaving them £120 a year worse off before any other increases in the cost of living Council Tax etc.


Its all smoke and mirrors.They wont acknowledge there are pensioners who aren't entitled to Pension Credit on very low incomes, Either its an inconvenient truth or they're thick.

[stellamaris]

I don't think anyone begrudges those on pension credit.  They begrudge the way those who are not very much above the cut off rate are being made so much poorer.  They are the ones who have to worry about rent, council tax, heating, a number of costs relating to their health, and god knows how many other things they have to pay out.  Pension credit will never make you rich but it sure takes a lot of stress out of life. 


I know a woman who had brought up 6 children who did well. She had looked after parents, aunts etc in old age and was widowed at 70 years.  She had taken a low paid, short term job whenever she could. She said she had never felt so well off and even felt guilty about it.  Her children were constantly buying her stuff, holidays and things. A lovely woman. She was always worrying about me, recently retired and still paying a chunk of income tax as well as anything else.


Another woman who had been on benefits for a long time and had two university degrees and grown children had to start paid work in her mid to late 40s. She became a fully qualified social worker but had the good sense to not go into the council pension scheme.  She knew better than anyone how the system worked.  She was a good-looking, active, fun person - on disability allowance.


I admired both these women albeit in different ways.

[Joy B]

The new minimum wage £11.89 per hour and the pension going per £8.85 per week (for some)

[David G]

I don't think anyone begrudges those on pension credit.  They begrudge the way those who are not very much above the cut off rate are being made so much poorer.  They are the ones who have to worry about rent, council tax, heating, a number of costs relating to their health, and god knows how many other things they have to pay out.  Pension credit will never make you rich but it sure takes a lot of stress out of life.

Spot on. All I ask is to let me join them and be the proud recipient of a golden passport to freebies and perks.

[David G]

What next from Starmer ?.
Pensioners to the back of the queue for doctor's appointments so the workers the new elite can be seen first ?.
He seems to forget we were once workers in my case 6 to 7 days a week not 3 or 4 as now.
No it'll probably be council tax relief removed for single people that should hit pensioners nicely.
What a nasty vindictive little man he is.

[Joy B]

53 abstentions and 1 of his own against - said he couldn't go against his conscience

[Goingtoseed]

I wasn't directing the word at you personally .
It's not in my mind when I read elsewhere bitter posts from people  about  other people in receipt of PC because they haven't bothered to save  or pay into a private pension and worse ....they've simply squandered their income .

For those that are posting 'bitter' posts about others that claim PC need to research what they may be able to claim.
The reason why some claim has nothing to do with wasting money or not saving. It is more to do with information and knowledge that they have amassed on how the various welfare benefits work and interact with each other.
I realised a few years ago that the art of making a successful claim is to understand what the DWP want to hear & see and then use that knowledge when looking at your own problems and difficulties.
I have a civil service pension AND receive PC of over £75 a week.
 

[Zuleika]

Goingtoseed you've explained perfectly .

[CraftyCat]

It  won't make a scrap of difference !

 I emailed my MP protesting yesterday asking him to vote against  but he explained in great detail  in a reply today why the step had to be taken.

Probably stressed how unfair it was to pay WFA to wealthy pensioners?  Even though £200/£300 is just a miniscule percentage of the tax these pensioners pay?

In the overall scheme of things, WFA for all State pensioners is just a drop in the ocean.  I know that ideas have been floated to pay it to the 2 million pensioners who will be worst affected, because their income is just a few £s over the means test limit, but the admin costs of identifying these people would likely be more than the overall cost of just carrying on paying it to everyone.

We are fortunate in that we won't really miss the WFA - most of it went into the supermarket food bank collection box - but while I would class us as 'well comfortable' rather than 'wealthy'   (neither of us has ever been a higher rate taxpayer) £200 joint WFA is less than 3% of our joint annual income  tax bill. 

It was just an act of spite by Labour.  But to be expected - before the election they made a great fuss about how they wouldn't increase taxes for 'working people', so it was obvious that they were going to target the pensioners. 

[GrannyMac]

GTS makes a good point. For anyone just over the limit, check out claiming Attendance Allowance, (it’s not means tested) perhaps get a benefits check via Age UK or the CAB.  You may be surprised.

[Swimfeeders]

Hi


I get Full Attendance Allowance already.


That, with my pensions, puts me on over £40,000 a year after tax .


I have no mortgage.


Sounds great doesn't it?


A rich pensioner according to Starmer.


That is incredibly misleading, and he knows it is.


I am one amongst many who are what is known as fully self funding for my care costs because of my Income.


I have to pay for everything, so I have less income after costs than those on the old Pension with no chance of getting Pension Credit.


Starmer needs to be exposed for his lies, he is not protecting the poorest.

[Goingtoseed]

GTS makes a good point. For anyone just over the limit, check out claiming Attendance Allowance, (it’s not means tested) perhaps get a benefits check via Age UK or the CAB.  You may be surprised.

A required income level for a single person claiming Attendance Allowance at the day rate
£218.15 + £81.50 = £299.65 plus AA payment of £72.65 = £372.30 a week.



A required income level for a single person claiming Attendance Allowance at the night and day rate
£218.15 + £81.50 = £299.65 plus AA payment of £108.55 = £408.20 a week.


                                                                           ***************************


A required income level for a couple claiming Attendance Allowance for one person at the day rate + the other claiming Carers Allowance
£332.95 + £81.50 + £45.60 = £460.05 plus AA payment of £72.65 =   £532.70  a week.



A required income level for a couple claiming Attendance Allowance for one person at the day and night rate + the other claiming Carers Allowance
£332.95 + £81.50 + £45.60 = £460.05 plus AA payment of £108.55 = £568.60 a week


It gets more interesting if a couple each claim AA at the night and day rate and each claims Carers Allowance for each other.
That would give a required income level of £587.19 plus AA payments of £217.10 = £804.29 a week

 

[Zuleika]

A required income level for a single person claiming Attendance Allowance at the day rate
£218.15 + £81.50 = £299.65 plus AA payment of £72.65 = £372.30 a week.



A required income level for a single person claiming Attendance Allowance at the night and day rate
£218.15 + £81.50 = £299.65 plus AA payment of £108.55 = £408.20 a week.


                                                                           *****************

  I’m struggling  to understand  where you get the £81.50 from .

[Dextrous63]

  I’m struggling  to understand  where you get the £81.50 from .

Is that disability allowance?🤷🏻‍♂️

[Zuleika]

Is that disability allowance?🤷🏻‍♂️

No , Disability Living Allowance  is paid up to the age of 66  then  it's Attendance Allowance  .