My elderly British neighbour's daughter has just told me (seen on BBC1 Money Box?) that UK pensioners in France are entitled to winter fuel allowance.
Has any one heard of this new European Directive? How does one apply? Unfortunately our combined Pensions are probably too high for us to be eligible (and OH is French anyway), but my neighbour has a very small Pension, and every little helps!
Thanks for any info!

It's not a new directive but a court ruling over the misapplication of a long existing one. Neither does it only apply to pensioners in France but worldwide. It is not a means tested benefit.

UK has been ruled against for denying WFA from persons becoming eligible by age but not residing in the UK at the time, those who had it before they became non resident keep it. Clearly seen as unfair and discriminatory.

It was suggested on the BBC news this morning that it would be looked at on a case by case basis with possibly some qualifying criteria such as average Winter temperatures in the applicant's place of residence, that's presumably another army of civil servants then to pore over worldwide weather history probably costing more than the total amount of WFA it were just paid to all regardless !

An alternative was it's withdrawal completely across the board and another way found of paying the equivalent to UK residents only. I don't think the EU court would like that very much though.

The DM but what the hell !

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sh-expats.html

Our friend who lives in the very warm Gers department gets it.

I get it dmu and have been out of UK since early 2008 and now in 65th year. It is correct it is non means tested and is a payment per family, rather than two age-qualifying people (married, partners, whatever). I did receive it in UK and it comes as a nice fuel help. Our winter isn't bad, but heating is needed, either wood or electricity. Does sound like some misinformation going around by the mandarins.

Certainly when we lived in Spain we got it because my wife had been receiveing it when in the UK, but at that time you only got it if you have been getting it while in the UK, I asssume that the EU has decided that it is illegal to pay to one lot of pensioners and not the other. It is also true that it payment per household, that is only one payment per household, even if there are more than one family living there, so if there were 4 pensioners living together in the same household they would receive £50 each. The present Government is threatening to remove the payment from everyone. There is also the £10 'Christmas Bonus' given to every pensioner.

Over the last six weeks here I would have liked a summer air-conditioning allowance! Any chance....

Currently in UK and it would be nice if we could get it paid earlier Brrrrrrr !

Thanks for all the reponses!
My neighbour has been living in France even longer than I have, so obviously has never received WFA in the UK. I'll tell her daughter to follow any developments and/or make enquiries at her end....

If you look on the site members list there is one member called DWPinSpain.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/member.php?u=114467

This someone from the DWP and he/she posts official announcements. I assume that anything that was correct for Spain would be correct for anyother EU country, you couls also ask them a question.

Did you get your payment reduced last year -down to £250 ?

Thanks for that!

Yes, think I did, but will check bank statement.

Hi, I live in Spain. Having read about the new judgement, my OH rang the Overseas Pensions Dept in the UK to enquire about the possibility of claiming the winter fuel allowance (he did not receive it before leaving the UK as he has only reached the age of 60 since emigrating to Spain). He was told that the claim forms were not available yet but should be some time this month, and the person he spoke to took his details and said he would receive one by post.

It is their new avoidance tactic

We have our doubts, but are waiting to see what happens. If no form arrives, rest assured he will be on the 'phone again!