Winter Fuel Allowance...

My father says exactly the same thing. He (and his wife) receive the allowance every year, but they are retired, comfortably/bordering well-off and are very aware that they can afford to pay their bills.... yet this money gets sent to them regardless of need etc. They too feel that this money should be given to those who need it rather then given to all once the required age is reached. I don't know how this could be addressed but it does seem to need rethinking.

Hadn't realised it wasn't means tested, seems ludicrous to give money to people who don't need it. Maybe it'd cost more in administration to differentiate than it does to pay everyone? I don't think its much is it?

Just think of all the people who get benefits who aren't entitled to them do you really think they would say no I don't need it even when they are fiddling every way to receive it. If anyone wishes to give this to charity it will be their choice to do so. Incidentally ours goes to a charity every year and we shall continue to do so but I wouldn't force that on anyone else. The Government already pokes it's nose into our affairs and doesn't even know how to rule the Country so keep them out of it. There are millions and millions of people receiving money they are not entitled to so I would suggest they are targeted first.

This year the over 60's receive £200 per household and I think the over 80's receive approx. £300 it used to be £400 and £250 per household but they have cut it down this year. It's not exactly millions is it? I understand it would cost too much to have it means tested. Bearing in mind that millions of elderly people are on the poverty line it isn't a lot to give them is it?

Sabre is right. It would be expensive to means test the Winter Fuel allowance but giving the money to charity on receipt is a good idea.

No it's never been means tested as far as I know.

I agree there are folk out there who need the allowance more than others and I don't understand why it hasn't been.

I think your parents are very stout hearted KKK as is our Sabre who generously send what they don't need off to a charity.

My hubby's company, with his permission, donates a days pay to a central charity fund. Quite a few larger companies still continue to do this as far as I know,proving that as a nation we are a generous,charitable bunch.

Thanks for re-posting this.

My husband will receive this for the first time this year. As we have just built a very highly insulated eco house we are expecting that the allowance will completely cover ALL our heating costs for the year. We will give his to my mum who feels the cold dreadfully and has the heating up very high now.

This issue is raised every year mainly because the fuel allowance is not means tested. I have read that means testing would be very expensive - and we know how good government departments can be at sorting out who should receive benefits! As we know, those in most need are always the ones that miss out if there are claims to be made for any benefit. I think that the system should stay as it is even if some of the money goes to the better off or to those living on the Costa in Spain after all, they have contributed through taxation during their working lives. It is a good idea to make people think about whether they could donate their allowance to a charity to help those in fuel poverty. I think a lot of people will do that this year. I would like the government to make much more effort to root out benefit fraud which costs millions and the money saved could go to those that really need it.

I fully concur with what you are saying, common sense prevails, keep Government out. If people continue to say that they do not need this benefit the Government will latch on and either drastically reduce the payment or stop it all together which will then cause untold misery to the needy and will cause the death rate to be increased dramatically. How would the abolitionists feel then having been a party to all the misery this will cause. PLEASE THINK BEFORE EXPRESSING THESE OPINIONS because if the fuel payment is stopped those wishing to donate theirs to charity will not have the opportunity to do so.

Does anyone remember this news story from this time last year?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11850514

Hi kkkk20 ..... you are of course right in what you say and many benefits are similarly 'untargetted', like Child Benefit or Bereavement Allowance. Perhaps though being a 'blanket' payment ( no pun intended ) is not that bad as the cost of the admin involved to target this appropriately might outstrip the savings. And I have absolutely no doubt that in time, the WFP will vanish or become targetted at the over 70s only, it's already been reduced this year ( 'thin edge of the wedge' thinking! ).

But in the meantime, isn't it nice that you folks can let the government pass on a couple of hundred quid to charity? Goodness knows, the charities need it!