Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
Jun 26th 2013, 6:09 pm
#16
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
I also believe he said benefits claimants must be able to speak English.
Massive savings in the Northeast, Scotland, Wales and Merseyside plus others.
Massive savings in the Northeast, Scotland, Wales and Merseyside plus others.
Jun 26th 2013, 6:20 pm
#18
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
Unlikely I would have thought.
The winter fuel payment speaks for itself.
Opps that was in response to Fred's post.
The winter fuel payment speaks for itself.
Opps that was in response to Fred's post.
Jun 26th 2013, 6:41 pm
#19
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
It must be said. This saving is minuscule compared with the billions of overseas aid the UK wastes on corrupt regimes.
Jun 26th 2013, 6:49 pm
#20
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
Surely that is a completely different issue and totally off topic from winter fuel allowance being paid to expats which is part of the overall benefits review and a completely different discussion/thread.
Jun 26th 2013, 7:05 pm
#22
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
makes equitable sense
Jun 26th 2013, 7:06 pm
#23
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Jun 26th 2013, 7:12 pm
#25
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
a. UK pays aid to Bangladesh
b. Bangladeshi's came to the UK to work, but have now lost their jobs because they are being undercut by....... their own country
c. The EU also uses the UK's contributions to their budget to make aid payments to Bangladesh whilst also making that country a "preferred country" whose exports to the EU do not attract import tariffs
I would rather take the money given to Bangladesh (from UK & EU) to pay the unemployment benefits of those Bangladeshi's now stuck in the UK without work. I would also want to see equal opportunity within Europe actually work without having to fight against "preferred countries" who pay no taxes on their slave labour products.
Jun 26th 2013, 7:22 pm
#26
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
It's about helping people in their own Country to create work projects, employment and prosperity - in their country.
The idea is it prevents huge amounts of migration with half the world having a 'vacant' sign up and the other half of the world totally overcrowded with a 'full to bursting' sign up.
Yes I know that us a very basic summary, but it sounds like common sense to me. Yes it's not a perfect system but then what is.
Still makes more sense than paying WFA which was introduced to compensate for cold weather in the UK to expats in Southern Europe.
Jun 26th 2013, 7:27 pm
#27
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Jun 26th 2013, 7:27 pm
#28
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
if you agree with the stopping of WFA to those UK residents (irrespective of their original nationality) without being prepared to expand the discussion into other contentious areas such as Child Benefit etc you must be in agreement with the remainder of the package.
Benefits are, and have been for many years, a contentious subject. They are there to protect those who are unable to protect themselves - although we know of many who will not apply for such as they feel they are not worthy of receiving such payments. Those even older remember the days of means testing and would never go near it.
Conversely those such as Alan Sugar, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins and Shirley Bassey (to name a few) who probably don't need it still get it as part of the all inclusive rules.
WFA is just one of those benefits that have been caught under an EU "catchall" requirement. It was never intended to pay in Spain, South of France, Cyprus or Italy etc. But the British Govt will have to be very careful of the wording of the eligibility or they will once again fall foul of the EU.
Considering I was living in an unheated house in temperatures below that of the highest for the UK for a good part of the winter I suppose I would be eligible. However, it was never part of my financial projections and as I have difficulty in returning it to the UK I use it to pay my additional heating bills. For which it was intended.
Benefits are, and have been for many years, a contentious subject. They are there to protect those who are unable to protect themselves - although we know of many who will not apply for such as they feel they are not worthy of receiving such payments. Those even older remember the days of means testing and would never go near it.
Conversely those such as Alan Sugar, Cliff Richard, Phil Collins and Shirley Bassey (to name a few) who probably don't need it still get it as part of the all inclusive rules.
WFA is just one of those benefits that have been caught under an EU "catchall" requirement. It was never intended to pay in Spain, South of France, Cyprus or Italy etc. But the British Govt will have to be very careful of the wording of the eligibility or they will once again fall foul of the EU.
Considering I was living in an unheated house in temperatures below that of the highest for the UK for a good part of the winter I suppose I would be eligible. However, it was never part of my financial projections and as I have difficulty in returning it to the UK I use it to pay my additional heating bills. For which it was intended.
Jun 26th 2013, 7:28 pm
#29
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Jun 26th 2013, 7:42 pm
#30
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Re: Ex pats in Spain to lose winter fuel payment
I thought it was about saving money. Me, in times of austerity, I prefer to help the British first. Sorry if that offends anyone but this is how I feel. I think the WFA should be means-tested, not on temperature but on wealth.
‘Overseas aid is nothing to do with 'the benefits system' as it is known.
It's about helping people in their own Country to create work projects, employment and prosperity - in their country.’
In the past 40 years the world has given 400 billion to the African continent. They are today as poor as the day we started.
‘Overseas aid is nothing to do with 'the benefits system' as it is known.
It's about helping people in their own Country to create work projects, employment and prosperity - in their country.’
In the past 40 years the world has given 400 billion to the African continent. They are today as poor as the day we started.