| The Comments |
So what is it then, a winter fuel allowance or a cold weather payment? Shall we ask mr d.c.
0
Like
|
Those expats who live in spain but have given a UK address will obviously still get the payment,so how is Cameron going
to solve that one ??
0
Like
|
There are two separate payments. The Winter Fuel Payment which is available to all over 60. In UK, it's an automatic payment for those on certain benefits and those getting a state pension. You only need to claim if you are not resident in UK but live in an EEA country. The cold weather payment is paid to the same group of people in UK if the weather drops below 0C for a continuous period of over 7 days. It is not payable to anyone outside the EEA countries. It is not discriminatory to make it temperature related as it is discriminating against temperature and not people. You have not paid into a "cold weather" fund as no such thing has ever existed. It was originally designed to pay the VAT payments on fuel in UK. The Australians have it right. They say you know when a bunch of Brits have landed because you can still hear the whining when the plane's engines have been switched off. If those whining because Mr Johny Foreigner gets it if they live in UK but an expat living on the Costas doesn't then the solution is simple. Go and live in the UK and you'll get it. Mind you, the vast majority will be taken up by that TV license you have to pay for which you don't pay in Spain whilst watching sat TV. And your couple of hundred quid on a road fund license. Plus my 500 euros community fees seem pretty slim as opposed to the £1485 a year council tax to have my bins emptied once a fortnight. Let alone avoiding the icy pavements, the snow blocked roads, the icy winds and so on. Good 'ere, innit?
0
Like
|
Exactly as I see it bobaol, and I cannot believe the difficulty some people have in getting the simple facts straight in their heads - especially that a temperature payment is designed specifically to get over the problem of discrimination to those living outside of the UK but in the EU. How is that difficult to comprehend?
0
Like
|
Fifty pensioners could get a years winter fuel allowance, for the cost of ONE years MPs salary increase, (£10.000) of course this is taxable, so there would still be sufficient money going back to the exchequer, for the UK to send on to India thus helping to pay for their space programme !! Lets get pur priorities right !!
0
Like
|
Nels
That would be a first for this shower!!
_______________________
Phil.
0
Like
|
Bobaol thanks for the for the explanation over the wfa and the cwp, not needed though by the way. The point I was trying to make was lost on you I can see
0
Like
|
Bobaol-do you have to pay IBI on top of community fees? if so, then interpreters, accountants fees, cost of visits to UK will wipe out any gain.
0
Like
|
The point of your question is lost on me too haydngj?
0
Like
|
Sorry folks but they have taken away, or are hoping to, an allowance for winter fuel which we have all paid for and are entitled to in the winter. we never asked for the allowance, but were told we were entitled to it, It never mentions any temperature. The cold weather payment is paid when it freezes. We don't have the frost on the costa but we use winter fuel, that is my point, sorry if you cannot understand that, but who am I????
0
Like
|
So, the only way to avoid charges of discrimination is to relate it to temperature...........................
The same temperatures will apply to everyone and the allowance gets a new name.
0
Like
|
Interestingly enough, when first introduced there was no mention of temperatures. Winter fuel is fuel for winter. Are they going to abolish Winter for mainland Europe?
The only reason we get it here is because a citizen of the EU cannot be discriminated against simply due to his/her residence within the EU. This payment is NOT, assuredly, available to those resident outside the EU unless of course they are in, say, Singapore for the winter but retain the WFA on their UK home. I cannot imagine how they are to deal with the vargaries of multi based living! Yet more costs which will surely exceed the savings.
The Brussels response to this may prove interesting in due course!
0
Like
|
When the EU first said that the same allowances were to be paid to all over 60s the writing was on the wall for everyone - surely you can see this? Brussels will not have any interest in a temperature related allowance which no longer discriminates against those living elsewhere. In fact, I think this will be a step in the phasing out for all of this really suspect allowance.
You can't have it both ways. People on here, and elsewhere, complain about the too generous benefits from the UK welfare system. As far as the EU is concerned, you only have to treat everyone the same. This means, in order to tighten up on benefits for all, you have to tighten up on benefits for everyone. I cannot understand what is so difficult. Winter fuel allowance WAS for winter fuel - and in future it wont be. It is not like nothing ever changed before!!!
0
Like
|
My point about those with multi homes in differing continents is still valid.
0
Like
|
But we are only talking about the EU. If someone chooses to winter elsewhere but is still resident in the UK - and over 60 - then they will get the temperature allowance. Anything else would be impossible to impose. There is no recognition of multi base living as you describe as far as I am aware.
0
Like
|
marcbernard
Like your points who is going to tell the EU ?
_______________________
Phil.
0
Like
|
Brickwork
They will not need to be told. They are fully aware, I would have thought, of any devious plot to surcumvent their rulings.
Roly2
So fairness disappears further over the horizon!
0
Like
|
Tell the EU what??? ............... That the Uk intends to no longer discriminate?????
0
Like
|
Roly2
NO, tell them IT IS discriminating
_______________________
Phil.
0
Like
|
Back to the start then - just ignore everyone - HOW is it discriminatory?????????????????????????????????????????
It will treat all UK over 60s in the same way.
0
Like
|