Dick Dasterdly

Allowing prices to spiral madly out of control will only invite the same problem again.
It would be nice to think that ppl have learnt their lessons but no doubt others will always come along and foolishly jump in the deep end at just the wrong moment without a second thought.
It's the way of today's "want it, want it now" world we live in.

EMR

The ease with which mortgages were granted , low deposits and income multiples used will hopefully not re appear.
Which will keep demand and prices down.
I never take any notice of what someone tells me a property is worth.
All that matters is what someone finally pays for it.

tommy.irene

That is true..i got a house £35,000..the estate agent wanted £45,000

Neptuno

As I said before, pensions ARE classed as benefits now.
With the new style pension coming soon, I would imagine you would get a decent pension?

Domino

all this rambling on about where has seen the highest price increase for a house that was over priced in the first place because there is always some idiot who wants to impress friends as to how much they have forced the price up
Shouldn't this be in Siesta or PDT ? ? ?

What happened to the thread about Winter Fuel Payment

jackytoo

Well I did ask what it was to do with WFA a few pages back. Decided to go with the flow as a few misconceptions needed clearing up

EMR

You said It !!
I somehow doubt that we will hear again about WFA from HMG. it will quietly sit on that on that " things that we would like to do but never got around to pile " in No10.
If and when we leave the EU the legal reason to pay WFA to none UK residents will have been removed as past anti EU rulings will no longer apply.

johnnyone

It's absolutely ridiculous that I as a well paid working man am entitled to the WFA.

EMR

The changes in Child credit have mean.t that some those with high incomes will have to declare receipt on their tax returns and then pay tax on it.
The same should apply with WFA, it should be treated as income.
Obviously if you do not pay UK tax and submit a UK tax return then you would no longer receive it.

me me

I really don´t see why the WFA should be paid to people who have left the UK, vouchers to be redeemed in British power companies would be the answer.

The argument that people have paid into the system for X number of years, does not really equate or justify receiving it.

We paid into the NI for years, but we cannot "export" any of the perks from the British system. (and nor should we) A prime example being prescription charges.

In the UK prescription charges are capped at under 8 pounds an item for those that are not entitled to free ones.

Here in Spain, being under pension age some prescription drugs cost a lot more, and a percentage has to be paid.

I feel the WFA should not be paid to those who have not moved onto pastures new.

Some people may argue that they still pay tax in the UK, but not all expats do.

chrisjolly

Sorry but the argument that having paid into the system does justify especially for those like myself who paid Class lll contributions whilst living and working abroad to maintain our benefit rights. If you make the choice not to receive it then donate it but I certainly want mine. If I was living in the UK I would be entitled to Pension Credit so by living in Spain I am saving the government money.

EMR

WFA is NOT a benefit it is an allowance that is renewed annually and could in theory be cancelled at any time.
It has no relationship to tax or NI contributions .
It is an anachronism left over from the time when HMG did NOT want to increase pensions as this would have been a permanent and inflation linked increase in government spending.
In the minds of those whe created it I doubt that for 1 second there was any thought given that all these years later it would still be paid.
There is no reason for it to continue in its current form.
At least make it taxable so that those who do not need it , do not get it.
If you are one of those who live abroad and disappear below the UK tax radar then hard luck.

me me

By the time I am of age to get the WFA it will be long gone, I doubt if people in the UK will still be getting it, never mind expats.

The way see it the WFA is for people to pay the fuel bills in the UK, not to pay for heating to Spanish, Italian, French etc power companies.

Dick Dasterdly

You seem to forget that folk living in the UK are already paying their power bills to foreign companies.

me me

you are splitting hairs now, and you know it.