bigglesworth

I am no expert on this but I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you did this, then the pension might remain at the level when you effected the swap

Lionda

YES WE DO but unfortunately we are not yet pensionable age and so don't get anything towards our heating. However, there is plenty of wood to be collected aroundabouts and we have a lovely log fire going As has already been said, houses here are not adequately insulated and so although they are cool in the summer they are COLD in the winter. Some days it's warmer to sit outside - am I right jdr

DENISE WALTERS

At the risk of ruffling feathers, I object to Big wheels comment on fuel payments.
At I have stated previously both my husband and I have paid taxes at high rate and insurance stamps all our working lives. Its not being desperate for the money but WE ARE INTITlED TO IT
We have never taken anything out of the UK coffers only helped to support the less fortunate with handouts for free housing etc.
Now we are old age, I guess its nice to get a tiny percentage back
. Yes it can be very cold in Spain sometimes of the year and I do feel the cold so much.

jdr

Certainly is, sometimes we are on the balcony as it is warmer than in the apartment. ;-))

nessyp

My parents moved to spain for a better life where they could stretch their limited pension further.
Also since they worked all their lives in uk paying tax ect why shouldnt they get their discount?

big wheels

I agree it does get very cold here in Spain. But for how long??
Are you spending more than 10% of your annual income on fuel bills? That is the figure quoted by the UK government as being the reason for giving out this payment to UK residents.

Yes we've all paid into the UK system for years. BUT by deciding to cut our ties by leaving the country and setting up home abroad, I don't see how we can complain if the winter fuel payment is stopped for expats.

poshnbucks

One tries ones best..............Every little helps

Queen fights crunch with Xmas cutbacks
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news...-CRACKERS.html

Justlookin

Hard to see how it is an allowance taking into account year round fuel bills. It's what it says on the can isn't it "Winter Fuel Allowance"

Surely you get it because you became entitled whilst still living in the UK. On the basis you put forward we shouldn't be entitled to the state pension either. Try that one on here if you want to be really popular.

jdr

What you say is right it is part of the pension although it can be claimed at 60 by men also, I moved here before I was 60 so can`t claim it from Spain although it should be part of my living entitlement after paying into the system for 45 years.
It is also a household payment so if there are two pensioners at the address they only get it once.

helenba

cold it gets bloody cold from know till march in almeria .you need the winter fuel allowence wood is not cheap.

Justlookin

Yes I was entitled for 3 years and no one said. It used to be 65 for males but this had to be changed - they didn't let me know. They wrote to my wife just before her 60th.

Not sure about what you say about the 2 pensioner rule though because my in-laws get the payment and so does my wife (all been paid this year) and I was told I can also claim. We all live together.I've put in the claim and will post again if I get the payment. They wont be paying me anything for the lost years though.

jdr

Perhaps you are right then, but it does ask if anyone else is over 60 in your household.

Also have a look here about claiming back payments, let me know the outcome on the back of a 50€ note. ;-)

EsuriJohn

When one in the household reaches 60 that person gets the full allowance for that year. When the second reaches 60 it is halved and each gets half.

DENISE WALTERS

I agree with you Just looking

thatman

John and Kath are right. I lived at my in-laws when I became 60 and was told I could not claim it as it was already being payed to the household for the 2 of them.
If I had been living with my son it would have been paid to me because no-one in that household was claiming it.