Winter Fuel Payment
 

For anyone affected by the UK Government's decision to remove Winter Fuel Payment from expats in so-called "hot" countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Gibraltar) there is a petition at: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/peti...121%20%3Cbr%3E that needs 10,000 signatures to prompt a Government response. The petition currently has over 8,300 signatures (having doubled in signatories in the last week!). Do not be complacent over this issue - if the Government gets away with this, what will they target expats for next? Thank you.
Stop the Governments victimisation of pensioners living abroad who have contributed to the...
epetitions.direct.gov.uk
Many pensioners have decided to move abroad whilst still remaining UK citizens, All of these pensioners have contributed to the welfare state via taxes and national insurance throughout their working lives I believe

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

It is amazing just how little knowledge there is about the rasons for WFA.
It has got nothing to do with contributions, etc etc.
It was an allowance bought in originally just for 1 winter of extreme cold weather in the UK.
One of the good things about the Uk leaving the EU ( which of course will not happen ) is that HMG could remove allowances from non UK residents without the EU interfering as it did in the case of WFA.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I am usually based in Andorra at 6000ft altitude and can assure the government that it is a lot colder than it ever gets in the UK. Moving out of the UK does not mean you don't need heating.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

perhaps someone should start a petition deploring the loss of BBC and Sky for all those who are watching without a licence

because you had it in the UK doesn't automatically mean you should get it in Spain, Italy, Singapore or anywhere else.
you'll be wanting free bus passes and free medicines next.
:frown:

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I struggle to understand the logic of leaving a country yet expecting to be able to claim benefits from it ? I don't know which benefits apply to be paid out as I never claimed any benefits, heating allowances, child benefit, disability benefit etc ? I just cannot see how you can think the country you left should pay out once you choose to leave.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

You for got to add Pensioners
should get nothing..

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I struggle to see why moving from one country to another wipes out contributions you have made in the country you have left. Further more I'm pleased to see that the governments generally agrees with me.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I can't believe France is in that list of hot countries. It's absolutely freezing there in winter.:eek:

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Well struggle no longer..it is quite easy to understand so here goes.

Those if us who paid National Insurance contributions even Class lll when we lived and worked abroad are entitled to certain benefits, not all, unfortunately, so we are fully entitled to claim back from our country of origin wherever we choose to live.

I hope that has made it clear.

Worry no longer!

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

State pensions are classed as benefits-presumably you won't want yours?

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Pensioners have done better than any other part of the UK population in terms of increases in income and benefits during the recession.
Universal " benefits " not pensions are an outdated way of topping up incomes and this proposal is just the start of the process of ending them.
WFA should be ended asap and replaced by an income/resident qualification criteria.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I doubt I will would qualify for much of a pension from the UK if I live long enough to reach the age. Married woman stamp and was lucky enough ( in some ways) not to be employed for many years. I was talking about benefits not pensions anyway.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

oh so many people forget there is a difference
:(

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Yes true but have lost out on income they hoped for from any savings in order to keep some people with excessive mortgages in a house , who no doubt with the current increase in house prices in the south will capitalize on this. Swings and roundabouts as always I suppose.
By the way I do agree it started life as a vote catcher and that we should just have a decent flat rate old age pension for all. It would then be up to the individual to put aside money for colder times which we all know happen UK Spain and most of Europe. Bringing it in was to win votes and taking it from expats was the same realy just look at the reaction in the house when it was announced. Most in the UK think expats shouldn't get it.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

So has everyone else and do not even start of the catastrophe that is the private pension sector.
Those who retired before 2008 are in clover compared to the future that many will face.
Property priices may have risen in the south east but continue to fall in other regions and still have a long way to go before they recover to pre crisis levels.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

funny how the pension companies haven't really had a bad year since 2008, growth up, income up, profits up.

and they keep telling their people that the stock market is still down at 2008 levels - really just an excuse to cover that they chose some really crappy companies to invest Your money in.
something they wouldn't do themselves.

:frown::frown:

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Yes I am aware of all of that but some elderly their savings intrest is their top up pension. Sorry but it angers me that part of this problem was people having silly mortgages they have been kept in them and some will capitalize on that. The pensioner along with the rest of us that saved
have lost that intrest for ever. Like I said though swings and roundabouts, just my entitled view.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

For those with genuine fuel payment problems linking WFA to income and location ( UK ) would be much fairer than the current situation where it is given to all who qualify no matter how high their income or where they are.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

According to the Telegraph yesterday only Scotland and Wales has not recovered to pre 2008 prices (ONS)

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

For those with genuine fuel payment problems linking WFA to income and location ( UK ) would be much fairer than the current situation where it is given to all who qualify no matter how high their income or where they are.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

They obviously have not been looking at our part of the SW around Bristol where large numbers of properties are still on the market at 20% + lower than 2008 price levels.
The only part of the property market that is growing is buy to let.
Reports such as that in the Telegraph are leading to a substantial increase in properties offered for sale which will probably limit any increases in prices.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Well you would say that wouldn't you:rofl: The stats came from the Office of national statistics. Can't see what it has to do with WFA:confused:

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Lots of reports from a variety of sources other than the Telegraph, confirm UK property rises throughout the regions.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Yesterday George Osborne in an interview stated that UK house prices nationally were still an average of 25% lower than at the start of the crisis.
He was responding to questions about the suggestions of a new housing price boom.
The economy is still in a pretty unstable state and cannot afford the % of government revenue spent on benefits and universal allowances such as WFA.
One way to start is to take wfa and other benefits claimed legally or otherwise away from non UK residents.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Taking away WFA to help lower the benefits bill is like removing a flea from an Elephants ass:lol:

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

It is a start and one of many other policies like, under occupation supplements, tighter rules for DLA , reducing child credit for higher earners etc.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Don´t be so quick to pooh pooh the idea, removing a flea from an elephants ass could be the difference between a nice placid beast or an angry irritated one that goes on the rampage.:rofl::rofl::rofl:

And as it has been said it is a start.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Meantime Clegg in his infinite wisdom, or should that read stupidity, announces free school meals for primary school kids right across the board regardless of parents income.
Any possible saving on WFA gone in the wink of an eye.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

If we knew so much we would be the Deputy Prime Minister! Good luck in 2015 for the next elections

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

According to the latest UK House Price Index figures, prices fell in July in Wales, Scotland, the North West and the North East:-
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/media...-land-registry

When I was back in the UK in June, I noticed that my father's old house was back on the market, at an asking price 23% less than we sold it for in November 2007. According to the Land Registry records it hasn't yet been sold. Prices in my old postcode (in a different area of the North West) have also fallen over 20% since we sold in November 2006.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

I think you're way out of touch Lyn.

Most of the up to date reports I've seen in the last couple of days show recent increases near enough right across the board.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Since those Land Registry figures were only published on 29 August 2013 I hardly think they can be said to be out of date - they are the latest ones available.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

The latest and most up to date figures and estimates come from estate agents.
The fear now is of too great of a rise.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/358436

"A leading estate agent has tripled its forecast for house price rises in 2013, stoking fears of a destabilising house price bubble.
Online estate agent Rightmove has raised its 2013 house price forecast for the third time this year to more than double the rate of inflation. The chain expects the average property price to increase by 6% this year, up from the 4% it predicted just two months ago. At the start of the year it predicted prices would rise by 2%.
On Wednesday the Bank of England's financial policy committee will meet to discuss the possibility of a property bubble, and what remedial measures can be taken."

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Well, if you think "estimates" from estate agents are more reliable than Land Registry figures of what properties have actually sold for, that's up to you.

Only last week Mark Carney was saying to a Treasury Committee that house prices across some areas of the UK are still only at two-thirds or three-quarters of their pre-crisis levels:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24144844

I think I'd rather believe him than a bunch of estate agents, as well.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

You're obviously out of touch with UK news.
The Govt concern over increasing prices and a likely property bubble has been mentioned several times in UK TV news reports in the last few day alone, also the fact that the S.W. and London boom is now spreading throughout the land, though obviously to a lesser degree.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

There is one news item today which claims that prices have actually fallen in some London boroughs over the last 3 years, although in others, particularly Kensington and Chelsea, they have risen so fast they are (their words not mine) skewing the average figures for the whole country.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/mor...t-country.html

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

The only fall mentioned there is a mere half per cent, which is surprisingly small considering the way certain areas have changed for the worse in the past few years.
In contrast, the biggest rise mentioned is a whopping 20% !
Whilst the general trend throughout the land is not following that extreme, it is continuing to rise, hence giving the Govt concern about an upcoming property bubble.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

The telegraph, D Mail, Rightmove, why should anyone NOT believe their views!!!!!!

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

Yes sadly I think that sums the situation up in UK. Suppose in time the good news may spread north.

Re: Winter Fuel Payment
 

But denied by Mr Osborne