dmu

So, as a retiree who paid into the French System for over 30 years, I'm wondering why the successive French Governments haven't passed a Law systematically giving every French OAP a WFA, too. It's just as cold in France, even in the South....
Just call me envious, nay jealous, of your "acquired right" which you are so loathe to relinquish.

EsuriJohn

Perhaps the French pension is half decent to start with. Gordon Brown only introduced this to save labours embarressment at the poor level of the standard pension which they did not add the amount too since it would then have been taxable.

UK pensions are among the worst in Europe less even than the Greek pension at the time.

tommy.irene

An end to madness of winter fuel cash for expats on the Costa del Sol: As bill reaches £130million, the law WILL be changed | Daily Mail OnlineEXCLUSIVE: New rules curbing handouts to start from September
Pensioners living in Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and France will lose cash
But people in 25 countries will still be eligible for help with heating bills
Iain Duncan Smith condemns 'absurd and offensive' use of public money


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz3NP3dyegH http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz3NP3dyegH
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

calman014

"Iain Duncan Smith condemns 'absurd and offensive' use of public money"..

What? he's going to quit???...

casa del sol

Why do non means tested state pensions have stupid add-ons anyway....like winter fuel, tv licence and freedom passes?....why not just increase the basic state pension by a set sum a year and scrap all the extras.

This is not that dissimilar to people working in UK paying taxes and child benefit payments being sent to the other European countries where the children live.

Im_and_Er

That's the plan.

New State Pension - what is it? | Age UK

dmu

The GENERAL State Pension in France is approx. 1300€ per month. If for any reason you haven't contributed sufficiently to the two compulsory Funds and receive less, below the official poverty threshold, you can apply for allowances/benefits, and your case is studied by the Regional Authorities.
This applies to employees from the private sector and is separate from the special Funds that executives pay into. The public sector and the likes of SNCF, EdF, etc... and farmers, have different régimes but I've no idea what the average Pension for them is.

bobd22

Under the proposed single tier pension the Winter Fuel Payment is not affected and will still be paid to those in UK and other defined areas.

Red Eric

There's at least one other Stop the Governments victimisation of pensioners living abroad who have contributed to the welfare state by withdrawing their winter fuel payment - e-petitions - that one got 16,380 signatures, which was enough to require a response from the DWP but not to get it considered for debate.

Banjoboy

It's closed. To be honest it came across as a bit of a rant and didn't really justify why it considered expats were being victimised other than the originators "belief" that withdrawal of the WFP was unjust.

Pica

I understand the principle going on here but isn't WFA only £200.00? Really not worth getting stressed over is it? I don't receive it even though I'm an OAP expat and don't actually feel I'm entitled to it. I reckon that our heating costs over a whole year here in Italy are the same as or possibly a little less than what I paid in the UK for a whole year.
£200.00 extra is going to make very little difference.

surreygirl

And far less than the Spanish. The UK pension is the worst in Europe, or the lowest should I say

Banjoboy

Agreed.

It will indeed be a waste of time as that particular e-petition is closed! However there is a new one just started specifically regarding the manipulative way the UK government is defining the boundaries of France. This can be found at EEA Winter Fuel Allowance should remain for Mainland France expats - e-petitions

davidinspain

There are some geographical anomalies on the coastal areas of Spain,for example I doubt a fuel allowance would be needed most years in Gandia but half an hours drive away in Xativa it would come in very handy every Winter.But as this change in the allowance is only to catch the votes of Mail readers hurrying to work on rainy dark December mornings,you must excuse me while I go to hunt for a fresh olive for my daily poolside martini!

bobd22

Yes without doubt you are right as much if not more to do with wooing voters than saving the money which will just be spent elsewhere. Thing is they have no hope of meeting their immigration targets or preventing EU immigration under the freedom of movement provided by the EU. So why not take a few quid of nasty expats that have moved to spin out their pensions having paid into government coffers over a working life. Its a good alternative for the government. As I said earlier there will be little or no sympathy from most in the UK. Anyone who thinks should labour win the next election will change it is dreaming they will not.