mannytoo

I have just been reading on 'the goverment abuses expats' website that it is now possible to claim the winter fuel payment while living in Spain. Have I got it right, has anyone here tried it? if so has anyone succeeded? Any information would be helpful, as we keep getting told it's not possible.

Lionda

Only if you first qualified whilst living in the UK don't think it applies to new claimants living abroad.

lynnxa

yes - very cut & dried this one

if you were getting the payment in the UK before moving to Spain, you continue getting it

if not, then you can't claim it

licinius

Isn't this payment designed to keep desperate people from freezing to death? It's about time the condems put money where their mouth is & got to grips with the welfare state once & for all!

jdr

No it`s a payment that anyone over 60 can claim in the UK, we all paid into the system so why just because we left the UK shouldn`t we be allowed to claim for it ?
Oh I forgot, it doesn`t get cold in Spain so we don`t need it.

steviedeluxe

This is a strong argument. The strongest opponents of the payment seem to think that Spain is always warm and sunny. What if the Brit concerned lives in Madrid or Burgos (where winters are a lot cooler)? My flat is south facing in London, and barely needs much heating at all, even in the heart of winter. Yet I'm sure others in the same block who are pensioners are not chastised for claiming this payment...

Having said all that, it would not surprise me to see this payment get cut - a lot of things will be axed by the government, and this seems a prime target. Vamos a ver...

Chiclanagir

It has been cut 250 GBP last year, 200 this year. The reason given in the last budget when this happened was that the extra 50 quid that Labour gave was only temporary. It gets very cold here at night too.

licinius

I think you've answered your own question Jdr, lets not go down the Spain never gets cold argument. We all know how cold the UK can get & that's why it's paid. Winter in Spain is like Autumn in UK.

Chiclanagir

Nope.

licinius

Fair's fair Chic, if you're out of work & have paid into the system then yeah you deserve dole regardless of where you live. If you're sick, can't work & have paid into the system then you deserve the benefit regardless of where you live but winter fuel payments??????

All that's gonna happen here is it will be scrapped & those living in northern Scotland who have paid into the system all their life will freeze to death!

Fair's fair but this is wrong!

Chiclanagir

Ohhhhhh, I like being called Chic but still don´t agree with you. It gets really cold here in the winter at night with no central heating either. And Madrid is freezing.

stuboy

Every year this subject comes up in my pub. It is benefit that was imposed on everyone regardless of need. Many of my customes readily agree that they don't need it and they didn't ask for it. I know one Guy who uses it for flights to his apartment in the Canaries.

The original idea of the Winter fuel payment was to help people combat the worst of the UK weather not Spanish winters.

jdr

Rubbish
Cold is down to temperature drop between winter and summer from mid 40c to 4c is a little bit worse than 21c to 4c, it depends on what your body is used to.
I feel cold when it gets below 20c (when it is a hot day in the UK), probable just as cold as someone in the UK at 4c.

jdr

I am a UK citizen and it should be my right to have it if it is cold, no matter what part of Europe I live, I have probably paid into the system more than most of who receive it in the UK now.

stuboy

I don't deny your entitlement to it. What you may or may not have paid is irrelevant, it is not means tested.

What is questionable is whether the fund is being used to assist the people it was designed to. In your case and others in your position I don't think it is.

This is my opinon. No doubt as a new member I will be subject to the usual volley of criticism that eventually will drive me away.