[Politics] The Labour Government

DavidinSouthampton said:

Ok, perhaps I should have put “I personally would have no doubt…..”. I do not subscribe to the “they’re all the same“ view of politicians.
and to be honest I have long thought it ridiculous that we as a couple both received the winter fuel payment - I would have had no problem if the Tories had removed it, while realising that (as many on here have pointed out) there are pensioners who now will not receive it who do actually need it.

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

But the winter fuel allowance is being means tested now isn't it? I was not aware it has been abolished.

Indeed: "those not in receipt of Pension Credit will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment from this year onwards"

From the helpful Independent web page:

"The first thing anyone affected by the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment should do is check if they’re eligible for Pension Credit. If you are able to claim this benefit, it will now unlock the Winter Fuel Payment for you."

Research from Age UK shows that around 800,000 pensioners are missing out on the means-tested benefit. The charity recommends calling their helpline or using their handy benefits calculator to check their eligibility.

To qualify for Pension Credit, you must be above state pension age – currently 66 – and on a low income. It will top up your weekly income to either:

£218.15 if you’re single
£332.95 if you have a partner (shared jointly)
This works out at £11,343.8 a year if single, or a shared income of £17,313.4 for two."

So, if you know a vulnerable old person, why not speak to them to make sure they know how to navigate this? There is no need for anyone to have to turn their heating off so they can afford to eat.

And like with many things, if people who are not vulnerable and confused but are too lazy or stupid to sort themselves out, there will be yet more false narrative when others start claiming on their behalf that English people are being left behind while the government gives free houses to illegal Muslims.

(That research tool me a whole 2 minutes.)

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mwrpoole said:

So 800,000 pensioners now apply and get Pension Credit, unlocking the Winter Fuel Allowance. Surely this costs more overall than the savings made by means testing the allowance in the first place?!?

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loz said:

I have always thought child allowance and winter fuel allowance should be open to all who want it, but should be claimed, if you want / need it claim for it and you will get it.

If you don’t need or want it just don’t claim it….can remember Peter springfellow saying how ridiculous it was that as a millionaire he received £200 quid he didn’t need or want for fuel.
That maybe to simplistic but surly would not be too expensive to administer?

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

But the winter fuel allowance is being means tested now isn't it? I was not aware it has been abolished.

Indeed: "those not in receipt of Pension Credit will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment from this year onwards"

From the helpful Independent web page:

"The first thing anyone affected by the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment should do is check if they’re eligible for Pension Credit. If you are able to claim this benefit, it will now unlock the Winter Fuel Payment for you."

Research from Age UK shows that around 800,000 pensioners are missing out on the means-tested benefit. The charity recommends calling their helpline or using their handy benefits calculator to check their eligibility.

To qualify for Pension Credit, you must be above state pension age – currently 66 – and on a low income. It will top up your weekly income to either:

£218.15 if you’re single
£332.95 if you have a partner (shared jointly)
This works out at £11,343.8 a year if single, or a shared income of £17,313.4 for two."

So, if you know a vulnerable old person, why not speak to them to make sure they know how to navigate this? There is no need for anyone to have to turn their heating off so they can afford to eat.

And like with many things, if people who are not vulnerable and confused but are too lazy or stupid to sort themselves out, there will be yet more false narrative when others start claiming on their behalf that English people are being left behind while the government gives free houses to illegal Muslims.

(That research tool me a whole 2 minutes.)

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DavidinSouthampton said:

Sorry, I probably wasn’t clear…… as usual.
no, it’s not being abolished. It will no longer be going to every pensioner……. Like me.

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DavidinSouthampton said:

Sorry, I probably wasn’t clear…… as usual.
no, it’s not being abolished. It will no longer be going to every pensioner……. Like me.

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mwrpoole said:

So 800,000 pensioners now apply and get Pension Credit, unlocking the Winter Fuel Allowance. Surely this costs more overall than the savings made by means testing the allowance in the first place?!?

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Harry Wilson's tackle said:

Not if 'millions' like me, who are comfortably off, lose their winter fuel allowance.

The people moaning about this have conveniently conflated the millions in the majority who don't need the benefit with the minority who do.

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mwrpoole said:

So 800,000 pensioners now apply and get Pension Credit, unlocking the Winter Fuel Allowance. Surely this costs more overall than the savings made by means testing the allowance in the first place?!?

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Chicken Run said:

Whilst i agree wholeheartedly with the changes to the Winter Fuel Payments I can’t help think that if the previous government had done this, the usual crew on here would be going bat shit, “Cruel Evil Tories”

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Weststander said:

The means testing is in place already. 2.4m of the 3.2m eligible claim pension credit.

For 9.4m other state pensioners, the public purse will now save £b's.

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mwrpoole said:

So 800,000 pensioners now apply and get Pension Credit, unlocking the Winter Fuel Allowance. Surely this costs more overall than the savings made by means testing the allowance in the first place?!?

Click to expand...

Chicken Run said:

Whilst i agree wholeheartedly with the changes to the Winter Fuel Payments I can’t help think that if the previous government had done this, the usual crew on here would be going bat shit, “Cruel Evil Tories”

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Mellor 3 Ward 4 said:

Reeves has just shown that with the HUGE Public Sector wage rises.

After all, she wants those 6 million votes again.

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Herr Tubthumper said:

“These new 5p pieces are a bit fiddly”
“IT’S QUARTER PAST TWO!”
“I’m 82 you know”
“That Nigel Farage seems like a nice young man”

This is the usual chat from the elderly.

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Machiavelli said:

I was prompting you to offer your opinion on a particular topic, but you've just diverted onto something else. I'll try again:
you don't seem to like Labour's plan for renewable electricity generation: do you think that we shouldn't have electricity? if you think we should have electricity, which source would you prefer it to come from?

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cheshunt seagull said:

As a former public sector worker my experience is that pay has virtually been almost frozen since the 2008 crash. Meanwhile the banks, which caused it, have been extravagently renumerating their staff. Our pay also lagged behind that of much of the private sector. OK, we had some benefits like pensions but the calculations for these have become much less favourable. I get seriously pissed off with people banging on about how cosseted we are. If we inhabit such a land of milk and honey why don't they apply to join.

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