General Chat

Does anyone else realise that in the budget yesterday the pensioners winter fuel payment is being reduced from £250. to £200 this year.
Kept that quiet didnt he.

I had not realised that Ann

Typically sneaky, didn't the tv and newspaper reporters notice? I suppose the petrol penny fiasco distracted them!

Lizx

i think the disabled should get it to

but they dont

count your blessings

Is this right? Good thing I have started an Avon round to earn money towards next year's coal and logs.

All we need, isn't it. No indication of a pension increase either. We have had no notification of the usual couple of quid rise. Anyone else heard anything?

Yes we have had norification of pension increase. A small amount but definitely a rise.

Budget 2011 - Winter fuel payment blow for pensioners:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12846318

JoyBoroAngel,
I do count my blessings and yes I do think the disabled should get it as I also think people with asthma should get free prescriptions but i could go on and on.

JiminyCricket

The reduction in fuel allowance is in the budget of a Conservstive/Liberal Democratic government. The Labour party is no longer in office so I don't see how you can blame them.

Vera

PS May be I shouldn'tbe taking your comments literally?

Never heard that and did not see it in the paper. We need every little bit and some more than others. That wipes out the little pension increase then.

Vera I think that was tongue in cheek from JiminyC but to be fair I think labour had also mentioned it would revert back down this year.

The basic payment has not been reduced, it is the temporary increase that will not be repeated next year. The country simply can't afford it, thanks to the last government. Also thanks to the last government, I won't qualify anyway until I am over 61.

So, yes, Labour is fairly and squarely blame for the entire fiasco.

AnninGlos

Realised it later after bp had come down but I won't get into politics - not the purpose of the thread. I too am disappointed at the loss of the £50. Apparently it was not in the Chancellor's speech.

Regards

Vera

Jiminycricket

The penny has finally dropped.

Regards

Vera

it could have been worse they could have stopped it altogether,

this goverment has to have cut back wether we like it, and they could have cut it by more or scraped it altogether x

It didn't need to be in the chancellors speech as it wasn't a budget issue.....as last years extra £50 was a one off....!

It is a bit like complaining when the boss tells you he can't afford the £50 bonus he paid last year, that he has cut your wages.....!

Actually IGP it was not a one off we had the same amount two years running. But I agree, although it will be hard for some people it would have been a lot worse if cut altogether. I just hope it doesn't result in some of the elderly not running their heating next winter. We are lucky, we have two pensions each but those with a single DSS pension may find the atrociously high energy bills hard to pay. But that is not just pensioners of course that is all low paid.

A friend of mine just about got hers last winter I think as 60 during the year, but because she lives somewhere where the weather has been really dire, she has had to have the heating on more than usual, and is concerned about the bills coming in. If we get another long hard winter she will be even harder pushed to find the fuel money and as she is at home all day most days, needs the heating on.

I heard on the radio that several people who got the £250 and didn't need it have donated it to their local Age Concern group who will pass it on to those in real fuel poverty or having problems with replacing boilers etc.
Here in parts of Norfolk oil is the only option for heating so their costs have been high this year, and they don't know whether to get the oiltanks filled now or hope the price comes down and doesn't go up, later on.


Lizx

I suppose it's one way to get the pensions bill down, kill off a lot of the old 'uns!

Liz, definatly agree with you there and and JiminyCricket you always make me laugh.

Its a good job we can laugh at all this, isnt it although its no funny matter if you are cold in the winter and cannot afford heating.

But hey ho thats what we get for always paying our taxes etc and not sponging of the state all our lives.

Ann

Perhaps they should issue all pensioners with free tobacco goods and booze. That would hasten their end perhaps?????