howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
cannot see this happening, seems a bit off that people sunning themselves in a pleasant climate still get the payment.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059665/Give-winter-fuel-handouts-poor-wealthy-pensioners-told.htmlKeith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
i think you will find those pensioners just on the border line would not want there hard earnt dosh going this way.
maybe a u turn(barryw's dave is good at them)
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It's mad isn't it Howard.
My (older) brother still gets his winter fuel allowance - in Cyprus can you believe ?
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
its where you draw the line

ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
I have seen reports that a lot of those who are well off already give their allowance to charity.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
good for some of them jan
those that are wealthy enough to not have it fair enough
but you find with all these schemes its usually those that cant afford not to have it are the ones hit hardest
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i don't mind dave and george keeping the 50 quid to themselves, they will no doubt invest it wisely whilst i would just fritter it away trying to ward off hypothermia.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 730- Registered: 5 Nov 2011
- Posts: 221
I shall give mine to charity as I did last year. I don't need it. Why is this given to everyone over sixty? Surely it would make more sense to give it when you reach retirement age. Or why not just increase pensions by the same amount, that would save administrative costs wouldn't it.
This benefit should be means tested that would make it much fairer for all
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,883
I can not understand why it does not go to those who are actually retired pensioners, that way it would not matter what age the receiver was.
I would also like to see it means tested as I do not think it counts as income if you pay tax on your private pension.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
What's the point of the winter fuel allowance anyway now that we have global warming? Seems a bit odd to me.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
seems a bit cold today maybe chris huhne is doing his job and stopping it?
Guest 716- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 4,010
Posters must remember.........Last year 2,700 deaths through Fuel Poverty...........This year there will be more.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not those living in the mediterranean though.
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
It might be a good idea for those who can afford it to help pay for the electric bill of Rio Tinto Alcan who have today announced the closure of it's Lynemouth aluminum smelter in northern England employing over 500 people.
It strikes me that it's just another reason not to vote. Under this and the last government's policies which concern climate change, gravity and mining cheese from the moon expect more closures like this and many more thousands thrown onto the dole queue.
I mean it's not as if the government doesn't have enough to do like believe fraudulent statistics which we are expected to believe such as smoking in cars kills babies.
Sheesh! Haven't these idiots ever heard of Google just to get the other side of the argument?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i understand the need to draw the line somewhere but the temperatures in the nord pas de calais and the riviera in winter are not remotely similar, the same applies to the top and bottom ends of portugal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23065510Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Howard, the more significant point is that they are entitled to vote in our elections and many use the good old postal vote.
I know of posters on this glorious Forum who are/were in that category.
Interesting in marginal seats.
You would be surprised,
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
totally out of order in my view paul but the voting system in different european countries varies.
as a for instance i know of a french national that has been here for over 20 years - paying tax all that time and can vote in some elections but not others.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Philip P.
I thought you weren't obsessed?

"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"