bigglesworth

Well as those of us who DO live permanently in France don't have an issue with it, I really do not see what concern it is of yours.
The benefits bill has run completely out of control in recent years, and a line has to be drawn somewhere.
If I feel I am being discriminated against, I am perfectly capable of making that argument myself.
I would add that here on the France forum we are a pretty friendly bunch. We tend not to have arguments, and prefer to "agree to disagree".
I commend it to you.

InVinoVeritas

If the system were fair there'd be an air conditioning allowance in countries hotter than the UK

Lord Noze

While some poor souls are having their winter fuel payments stopped completely, it seems the British government is doing all it can to prevent payment to countries not on his excluded list.

I registered for the payment in August last year. I have still not received payment today 21 January despite 6 telephone calls to Newcastle. There have been all manner of excuses ranging from waiting for approval, it got put to the back of the pile for some reason, it's going out next week, we tried to get in touch with you but your number doesn't work, etc etc. The latest story is it is being put forward for payment processing starting February 11th. If true that means it will arrive in my account sometime in March. I even had one man with a very strong accent who tried very hard to wind me up. I was having none of it as he seemed to want a fight - perhaps he got some perverted enjoyment out of it. I kept very calm and actually ended up having to calm HIM down. I can imagine that those who don't keep cool are instantly disconnected and receive further trouble.

So, to cut this very long story short (sorry), are others experiencing this disgusting treatment? I suspect a great many are. In which case doesn't this rather point to the government doing this deliberately i.e. they couldn't ditch all the expats so they thought they'd make life as difficult as possible for the ones still entitled?

All rather academic, I know, to the unlucky expats elsewhere but what's happening to fellow expats in Germany regarding this?

cyrian

Please accept my apologies if I am mistaken but you perhaps understand why.
You joined the forum on February 2nd 2014 in the Portugal section where you discussed buying a boat to use on Formosa Lagoon in Portugal
All your posts were in the Portugal section and on May 7th in Tavira Portugal you stated that you would be in the UK and France "until the end of the year".
Your first post in the French section was on January 2nd 2015 - about - guess what - WFA.
All the main parties in the UK are intent on ending WFA as a universal benefit.
The sooner the better as far as I am concerned.

surreygirl

surreygirl

I am freezing at the moment. I have the fire on and I live on the Costa del Sol!

cyrian

What temperature is it?
I am showing 12 deg for Malaga dropping to about 6 deg overnight.
Compare that with London @ 4 deg dropping to -1 deg overnight.

Confusedinfrance

It's ok to talk from the lofty position of having a hefty pension (or 3) but spare a thought for those who haven't.

Chatter Static

Means testing the WFA in the UK and for overseas claimants would probably far better on the silly red briefcase.

If you are full time in France and on a low pension you may well qualify for aid here and they do give it after a couple of pints of blood and a pound of flesh, on the apathy front that you mentioned earlier in the thread I have met far too many English folk here that after a considerable amount of time still don't have the language skills to go in to an office here and ask for help.

aboris

I'll never understand why it is just not consolidated into the state pension. If it were those pensioners who had a pension/retirement income over £10,000 would pay either 20% or 40% or 45% of it back as tax due on their income. Far better than all the costs associated with means testing which would be a complete waste.

dmu

As mentioned in #9 and #66, you can apply to your Conseil Général for benefits/allowances, like all low-income French OAPs. Consult your local Assistante Sociale for info on the necessary documents to support your application.

Pica

I live in Italy and I don't get WFA but then I've not applied for it nor ever will.

surreygirl

You dont have the opportunity now even if you wanted to

Banjoboy

Apology accepted. It's always dangerous to make assumptions
Indeed but to be clear Labour announced last year that they want to remove WFP from the richest 5% of pensioners and the Conservatives want to withdraw it from those who pay higher rate tax. Just because you're an ex-pat it doesn't follow you fall into either of those categories.

The Lib Dems seem to agree with both parties and UKIP (if you can call them a major party) have no policy at all on the issue unless it's written on the back of a beer mat somewhere.

Coco pops

I thought Brits who live in Italy would be allowed to carry on with WFA ?