Payments to pensioners living in North Cyprus

Glorybee


Joined: 30/04/2010
Posts: 132

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 08:50

Do UK pensioners receive the winter heating allowance if they live full-time in North Cyprus?

hawkeye


Joined: 12/09/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 08:54

read the bumph..............you are supposed to be resident in UK on a certain week in septmeber!!!!!!!!!! Yes most do get their winter fuel allowance............ Once claimed it arrives automatically.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 09:15

oh god not again - there you are basking in what temperature when there old people being found frozen in their houses - yeah why not , no wonder this government is going tits up !! when it gives money like this away to expats in the sun !!

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 12:21

sienna,



Why shouldn't expats receive their winter fuel allowance? The majority of expats have to heat their homes in cyprus during the winter. Also we must save the NHS thousands of pounds by living in the TRNC. If you have paid your contributions all your working life then the winter fuel allowance is part of the benefit you receive. I agree that some elderly people are afraid to put on their heating in the UK but the government should stop paying so much out to incoming immigrants and they would have the money to give to the poorer senior citizens. The TRNC will not give us any handouts, so why should the UK give it all and sundry?



The butlers wife

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 12:28

Well said Butlers Wife.

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 12:34

The butlers wife I could not agree more with your post, well said..And to think that once my husband was insulted on his very first and last ever claim for help. He was given £6 a bloody week..nice one. then told that he could apply for a crisis loan to help him through, He had just had a hernia opp. Same we now live in the sun and need to purchase logs and gas ! winter coats and boots too )







Spider,X

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 12:47

I disagree sorry

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 13:22

sienna you may disagree but could you live off £6 per week and heat your home, it was winter time too. We were not expecting any more than anyone else would need to live on ! We have worked hard all our lives paid all that has been asked of us. Some people get help in claiming.some people do not.some people get their rents paid. even in London food places for assistance. The country is full of people milking it.and when its time for the ones paid into the country all of their lives they do not give a tuppence ! Fact is fact..thats why the country is going down the pan far too many people getting what they feel they are entitled to, generation after generation getting what their parents get.and never working or contributing what-so-ever.Please do not say you have never met these sort of families. Please do not say you disagree because that is what is going on.Will they be could this Christmas and go without bet you socks they will not they will be getting all the bloody trimmings )

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 13:28

Perhaps, sienna, they should stop all winter payments to all who have payed and give them to benifit cheats and any illeagal migrants from hot countries. Incidently, heating your home in winter in Cyprus is just as important as in the UK, a point you would know if you lived here.

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 13:29

......................or,you could consider it to be used for cooling in summer instead.

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 15:34

Daily Mail on line...Mother spends £30000 on Christmas for her children and guess what the TAX payers are paying for it..Dont you just love it ) And you know what I could send my heating allowance home to the grandchildren for Christmas if I had it ( far too young) Too right I have worked for it..35 yrs..I even did voluntary work week-ends when I was 15yrs old, Yes Free ! Every Sat and Sunday with children living in a special needs ward at a local hospital.Some people are just too darn lazy and this I am sorry to say is a family thing as well as the governments fault.



Spider,X

Tatum1


Joined: 23/03/2009
Posts: 337

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 15:46

Hi Sienna



I live here in Cyprus after working all of my life in the UK... 32 years of which was as a Manager at the DWP.

I know all about the payment of benefits and who gets them and who doesn't.

All I will say i that for all of my working life I paid NI and Income Tax (and incidentally I'm staying paying Income Tax in the UK on my pension )!!!!!!!

Work that one out when I have declared correctly that I am living here..... yes I still pay taxes for the people who benefit in the UK FROM MY PAYMENTS!!! I get no benefit at all from the UK (FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE)

Also as someone else has pointed out ..... what about the cost of air con in the Summer.

Please think before you speak ...... are you a pensioner yet???

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 16:05

I fell gutted for you all current temperature 19 degrees at 4 oclock in the after noon TRNC current temperature here UK MINUS-5 degrees at 2 o'clock hmmm - every one has there opinion, getting annoyed about this thread will keep you warm !!!



Nope not a pensioner yet!! aw ay to go - just feel not everyone should get it automatically, expats included.



I am not saying the money should go to scrounging scum bags that dont want to work it should go to those the REALLY need it - so a millionaire higher tax payer needs the winter heating allowance I dont think so the system needs sorting out thats my opnion

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 16:07

Please think before you speak ...... are you a pensioner yet???







No & 20+ years to get her pension ..



Long live the fuel allowance ..

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 17:10

oh I have thought



the whole benefit system needs looking full stop !



Enjoy the sunshine out there and wrap uo wrm those in the UK

kavenkoy


Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 1787

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 17:12

nice debate ....top and bottom is if you dont live in uk how can you get any uk benefits ?

i admit you have paid taxes and it appears unfair ,but then again all taxes are unfair lol



immigration is great isnt it in the uk .Its where we take everybody body in from "war torn coutries" (my arse ) and feed them ,clothe and give them money to spend or send back home .....all at the expense of elderley people who have worked and been honest enough to pay all their working lives ......



dont fall out with each other guys ....join the E.D.L



top and bottom is the country is run by nobody that cares about the workers .....their called politicians



kav



off his soap box now for another week

Isabella


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
22/12/2010 18:24

It is less expensive for the Government in the UK to give all pensioners the heating allowance than to try to ascertain who is entitled to it and who should not be - more staff would be needed in Government departments, more expense in printing and postage. It is only a small amount in the grand scheme of things.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
23/12/2010 18:11

.................. and there in lie the problems doesnt make it right though IMO

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
23/12/2010 18:26

UK PLC is on the brink of an Ireland/Greece scenario, it doesnt really matter who is getting what in a couple of years we will ALL be getting a lot less.



83 + BILLION £ is being taken out of the Government Budget next year alone !



How much the following year who knows ?



And those poorest in our society will be shouldering the biggest cuts, especially hard on children in low income families.



Tis the time to be jolly ! Think not of yourselves but of others less fortunate. Merry Xmas !

bar88jack


Joined: 16/12/2010
Posts: 50

Message Posted:
23/12/2010 18:29

Do UK pensioners receive the winter heating allowance if they live full-time in North Cyprus?



only if they have a stall on one of the numerous markets in the trnc.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
24/12/2010 13:51

yorgozlou..it would not be called WINTER heating allownce if you used it to run your air con,would it or do they all want an allowance for that too,after all they have paid all their lives quote un quote.

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
24/12/2010 13:59

Coachi for some poor pensioners over here although its very expensive it may well be their only form of heating ! they do blow out hot air too )



Merry Christmas to you and your, and a very good New Year too.







Spider,X

kaiserphil


Joined: 14/12/2008
Posts: 1096

Message Posted:
24/12/2010 16:14

Anyway, it is 'winter fuel allowance', so I guess in the case of heating with air-con units electricity would class as a 'fuel'.

vadiev


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 204

Message Posted:
24/12/2010 16:57

The qualifications for winter fuel allowance -

A Winter Fuel Payment for those aged over sixty is available in the United Kingdom, this short guide explains who qualifies and where to submit a claim

With fuel and energy prices rising, UK government financial aid to help meet the cost of keeping warm is a blessing for many.

What is a Winter Fuel Payment?

This benefit is an annual tax free payment to aid people aged over sixty, meet their home heating costs. Importantly, receipt of the Winter Fuel Payment does not affect any other benefits including Cold Weather Payments, which are payable for each week of extremely cold weather in the region a person resides.

Qualifications for Winter Fuel Payment

To qualify for the 2010/2011 Winter Fuel Payment an individual’s date of birth must be before 5 July 1950. Additionally, you should reside in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the week of 20–26 September 2010.



This copied from official website.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
25/12/2010 17:23

Yes we are saving the NHS thousands of pounds by living abroad and also we have to pay £17 per kilo for a leg of lamb and £14 per kilo for lamb chops, and a fiver per kilo for turkey. But would i swap never.

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
26/12/2010 23:56

The whole point of the "Winter Fuel Allowance is being missed!

UK Citizens, who paid Taxes and National insurances in the United Kingdom for the qualifying periods are paid the lowest pension in Europe ! If the Government were to pay "standard" pensions, as paid to all other countries in the EU, there would be NO REASON to pay out "Winter Fuel allowances.

By paying such small pensions in the UK, the government is saving millions of £'s weekly and the "WFA" is a pittance, given as a carrot, to stop pensioners from complaining at their meagre pensions. (PS it was Maggie Thatcher who initially stole pensioners money by changing the way pensions were calculated and then Gordon Brown who thieved billions off the pension funds by changing tax allowances to pension contributions. )

They should both be charged with treason. ( In my opinion!)

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 10:03

Birdman. ........ and also in the opinion of millions of other pensioners !

nigetj


Joined: 22/07/2010
Posts: 176

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 10:57

i think its a bloody disgrace .........if u want uk benefits go live there ........

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 11:29

Just announced on the news that the UK is cracking down on expats claiming benifits. I dont mind this and perhaps they will give me back the tax I have paid on my pension which I earned from serving all over the world for 27 years in the forces.

I worked from the age of 14 until the age of 60 during that period I was on the dole for two and a half weeks.

On leaving the forces I bought a newsagence shop and seen the the local layabouts go to the pub every day whilst my wife and I worked from early morning until 7.00 pm to help pay for their leisure time.

Then came the illegals and the aid workers came out of the woodwork in their droves to assist whils I was going to SSAFA ( forces aid orginisation ) on behalf of men who had gone through the war and who the local council could not help.

Our own OAP's were sitting freezing whilst the layabouts and immigrants were getting well looked after.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 11:40

Perhaps our government should start to look inwards before sendin aid to,amongst others, Haiti (For the second time), China, Chili, Greece ( again ) and Pakistan where they are training people to kill us.

Millions being sent in cash and food to foreign countries whilst our own OAP's are on pensions much less than immigrants are getting. We read of pensioners freezing to death whist our aid orginisations are trotting overseas to give away our money.

If we are going to start targeting people then lets start with those whoe have not paid into the system. If we are going to give aid,then lets start at home with our own and then if there is anything left over we can assist those others.



THERE. I have got that out of my system so I can go and have a cup of gruel and put on another two coats to keep warm.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 11:45

"Just announced on the news that the UK is cracking down on expats claiming benifits."



I've said it before and just for the record I'll say it again... the initiative to crackdown on ex-pats will fall flat on its face when they realise how many extra civil servants will be required... The cost/benefit analysis will show that the wages will outstrip the savings.



The government of the day (pick any one from the last 40 years) think it sounds sexy to talk tough about immigration and benefits but in the end they do very little.



To achieve real savings, savings that would realise a net increase in available revenue, they ought to be chasing those not paying income, VAT and corporation taxes properly due but that would be turning on their own cronies, so that's never going to happen... is it?

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 13:07

Carndi,



i couldn't agree more. Like yourself we used to run a newsagents/convenience store and saw all that you speak about while also working from dawn to dusk. One of the reasons that we sold up was the number of hold-ups we had, at one point it was weekly. A low-life who admitted to robbing us ELEVEN times was sentenced to 1 year in the YO holiday camp claimed compensation from us for an injury caused when my husband hit him on the head with a pricing gun, causing the poor guy to have to have 2 paper stitches in his head. Big mistake for us as he was 'in retreat' (it was the back of his head) and no longer a danger to us or our staff! Cost us £200 and they didn't deduct the money he got from our till on that one occasion, never mind the others. We had to pay all the legal fees to try to fight it as well.

He got Legal Aid.



When he was released he was given a flat, furnished and rent paid for by the DHSS and the 2 girls he made pregnant the same.

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 13:30

Carndi,



Money for overseas aid comes from different budgets than pensioners' heating allowances. The two have no connection. To crtiicise aid to Pakistan because "they are training to kill us" is xenophobic nonsense. Helping the needy across the world is what marks Britain out as a civilised and besides, we gain geopolitical advantage.

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 13:33

ballyboffin,



Sorry to hear you were repeatedly targeted by this scumbag. However, the legal protection of self-defence ends when the assailant no longer poses a threat. Therefore to have attacked him from the rear as he was running away is common law assault. I'm guessing that the compensation you were ordered to pay him was as a result of you being charged and convicted of the attack?

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 14:04

Denny



Shut up and stop defending a stupid criminal system. People like ballyboffin have suffered they don't want your purile legal explanations. If it had been me I'd have price gunned him to death.



The other point to this thread is that, in typical Brit fashion you are arguing amongst yourselves and not at the real problem. When will we ever unite to form our country as other states do!

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 14:30

Denny. I dont care which budget the money comes from IT should go to our own needy first.

We are sending money to Singapore,8.7million, Saudi Arabia £380 thousand, 40.2 million to China and best of all India 312 million in the last 10 years. I wonder how much of that went to their nuclear programme. India has also started it's own aid programme.

Those countries also insist that all DONATIONS HAVE NO PRECONDITIONS ATTACHED. In other words they can use the money as they see fit.

Your comment that we gain geopolitical advantage is disputed by quite a few of our politicians.

As to me being zenophobic, at this time when our health service,schools,housing,social services are all having to take cuts in their spending and when we are sending our young men and women out to fight wars with out the equipment to do the job then perhaps it's time we all got zenophobic and started to use our money for our own needs.

Quarmby


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 975

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 14:49

Carndi

try telling that to Cameron and Clegg the dishonest. they don't give a damn about the voters.

the butler


Joined: 22/06/2007
Posts: 1958

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 14:52

We are losing track of things again and I would like to say that the winter fuel allowance is not a benefit. It is not means tested and is given to all senior citizens who are eligible to claim a UK pension. Having paid my taxes and contributions all my working life, then I am legally entitled to it even though I choose to live in the TRNC. I will live there permenantly from January and I am moving for health reasons as I have arthritis and the warmer climate suits me better. I will no longer receive free prescriptions or medical care and this comes to a lot more than the winter fuel allowance. I feel we get little enough in the UK and as mentioned in previous posts, it is the very people who have worked hard and paid inhto the system, who are penalised when they need help. Those have contributed nothing seem to get it all.



The butlers wife

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 14:59

It shouldl be means tested along with otherr benefits like the child benefit ! some people shoudl not get it - it should go to those that need it hte most.



we pay too many taxes so that payments like this are needlessly made, we would pay less if the government stop just giving it out !! it needs sorting out

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
27/12/2010 15:38

Thanks Tom for your support but Denny is completely right. I did say that he was in retreat and yes my husband was charged with assault and at the age of 58, never having even had a parking ticket has now a criminal record for assault. He was aware of the law but at the time anger overcame reason. It was unfortunate that the police managed to catch the robber after that particular hold up and as all the other times watched the security video and saw what happened.



Had he been a better liar, he could have played the system and claimed that he was having a breakdown due to the stress of so many hold-ups, had Trauma Councilling and DLA for years because of his nerves. But being the honest hardworking man that he is, he faced his responsability and paid for it dearly.

pollymarples


Joined: 08/08/2010
Posts: 1778

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 15:29

Sienna, if you really believe the UK pensioners being trod on and having to be means tested for the heating allowance will make a scrap of difference on any level, you are mistaken. Will it make a difference to the amount of tax you pay - no. What would make a difference would be, to be more prudent with the money paid out to scroungers which the majority of pensioners are not. If they are receving their old age pension, then they should get their heating allowance.



We all had to pay in, now its our turn to have a little paid back, you certainly could not call the UK state pension generous.



I would be interested in your opinion if you were 20 years older.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 16:17

FOR THE WANT OF PUTTING THE CAT BACK AMONG THE PIDEGEONS..when the winter fuel allowance was thought of the person in charge forgot to exclude those living abroad.and can now do nothing about it.It was basically designed for the really poor pensioners who only have the basic state pension to live on and reside in this country.Others with extra pensions and other sources of income really dont need it,and I include myself in that catergory, and those that live outide the UK.I bet there are not many retired ex-pats living in the TRNC on just a basic state pension...I also agree that it should be means tested,that would sort out the really gard up from the greedy scroungers who seem to think that they have a right to anything cos they have payed all their lives.In fact I think the next time I go to my MP,s surgery I will bring this point to her attention. If you wish to live in and support another countries economy do not expect any help from the UK...I now will don my flak jacket......

pollymarples


Joined: 08/08/2010
Posts: 1778

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 19:01

No coachie, you do not need a flak jacket, your opinion to which you are entitiled. I too have other pensions

and when I worked I paid into them an amount I chose. The state took what they wanted from my pay and because I worked long hours it was a lot. Now because I paid a lot into the scheme, I am not expecting more than anyone else out, but I am expecting the same and that includes the heating allowance. If it were deemed necessary to qualifty for it, then it should have been introduced on that basis. Seems it will disappear

soon anyway.



A lot of really poor pensioners as you describe them are because they chose to spend what they earned, as they earned it and made no provision for their old age. If we all did that there would be a lot more of us on supplementary pensions, I know they have to have enough to live on, but it does not mean those of us who did provide should have to forfeit this once a year allowance or feel guilty about receiving it. I don't.

Carndi


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 613

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 19:30

I was means tested all my working life. It is called a tax return for workers.

sienna


Joined: 09/01/2009
Posts: 1627

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 19:41

coachie exactly - what I am saying, is it should go to those that most needit as exlpined in coachies posting, this includes all benefits - I also am not condoning 'scroungers' as said the whole system needs reforming in my opinion 40 - or 60 doesnt matter.



I am not a pensioner so my opinion doesnt count - I can just look at it a bit more objectively as said a millionaire gets it, a hard up pensioner with no other inocme gets it is that fair, the answer would be no it isn't to me there isnt an arguement - but that is the reality

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 21:15

YeniTom said:

"Shut up and stop defending a stupid criminal system. People like ballyboffin have suffered they don't want your purile legal explanations. If it had been me I'd have price gunned him to death."



Please don't be rude. Being reactionary get us nowhere. BB has freely admitted the reaction to the raider was unlawful. You're starting to sound like the people who praised that old farmer for shooting a gypsy burglar dead. In the back.

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 21:19

Carndi said:

"We are sending money to Singapore,8.7million, Saudi Arabia £380 thousand, 40.2 million to China and best of all India 312 million in the last 10 years."



OK fine, but would you hazard a guess at the comparative value of UK exports and investments into these countries?

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 21:22

Ballyboffin said:

"Had he been a better liar, he could have played the system and claimed that he was having a breakdown due to the stress of so many hold-ups, had Trauma Councilling and DLA for years because of his nerves. But being the honest hardworking man that he is, he faced his responsability and paid for it dearly."



I sympathise entirely. Honest answers are honourable but sadly don't provide the same access to escape as the lying b****** get!

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
28/12/2010 23:38

Nigeti message 28



If you put money in the bank, do you leave it there when you go abroard you moron !

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 08:29

I know this is off the subject, but ballyboffin I feel for you and your husband, what a liberty!!!!, and yes, praise to the farmer, bless him, I wonder how much he went through before he had to retort to protecting himself.



A lot of tax payers money could be saved if they didn't spend so much on luxury prisons. For goodness sake, when you go to prison it should be a punishment.

Myra Hindley got a degree, the Jeremy Bulger killers led a more luxurious life in prison than they did when they lived at home. Mmmmmm.....punishment, I think not.

Redwine


Joined: 15/01/2009
Posts: 565

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 14:31

I still pay UK taxes on all my pensions so why shouldn't I get fuel allowance. I am not a drain on the NHS so they are getting money off me for doing nothing but getting a pension. Anyway logs expensive here and we should get our air fare back in Sept so we can claim the 2011 allownace.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 15:20

redwine..If you live inTRNC permanently you are not entitled to NHS for free,and along with you I still pay taxes on my pensions,but I also pay tax on every thing else,you do not.Isupport my countries economy much more than you do living in the TRNC there fore i do not see why you should be entitled to the payment when you are living in another country and use it to support Kibtec etc.



As for the really less well off,these are the 75/90 yr olds who did not have the money to partake in pension schemes and have to rely on the state pension only. Do not forget there are a lot of people out there living on their own on about 100quid a weekor less,these are the people who need the allowance,not the likes of you and I.I f you need the money that badly to buy logs then to me you should not be living so close to the breadline....



And we have further increase in tax which you will not pay,an extra 2.5% on VAT.

Redwine


Joined: 15/01/2009
Posts: 565

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 17:16

My My touchy. You donot not know my finacial circumstances and furthermore I do contribut a lot to the british ecomony so I am entitled to the allowances. I also pay taxes here so supporting both countries so get a life!!

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 17:38

Coachie,



"when the winter fuel allowance was thought of the person in charge forgot to exclude those living abroad.and can now do nothing about it"



Come on - stop living in a dream over there in the cold. That comment is like saying "They" can't stop people smoking in public places or that "They" can't make a law to make it illegal to drive under the influence or not wear seat belts. Get real - "They" can do anything "They" feel like regardless of the effects it has on "Them" that voted "They" into power!



"They" just don't want to lose there winter allowance either so they won't change the system. Craftily, I moved abroad on my 60th birthday and told the Gov'nt that I was leaving forever, so I won't get that huge amount for my winter heating anyway - but I have no doubt at all that the tax I pay on my pensions pay's for everyone else that is eligible to get the allowance! Now that is fair.

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 18:17

Coachie message 42,



I heard an interview with Peter Springfellow, who said that like you he wasn't in the category of pensioners who needed the Winter Fuel Allowance, so he was donating his to a homeless charity. There's an idea for you.

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 22:15

waddo, you plonker ! If you have paid into the UK tax system, it is your entitlement to recieve the "winter Fuel Allowance" IT IS PART OF YOUR PENSION! As explained earlier, if you were to recieve a correct, comprehensive pension from the UK government ( which we do NOT get ), there would be NO NEED for a winter fuel allowance. The government did NOT forget to exclude those of us living abroad in their calculations,(!) WE PAID OR TAXES JUST AS THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THE UK PAID THEIRS. No matter where I live, my contributions to the UK tax system are now paying me back for my supporting ccontributions. Why should I NOT get back, wherever I choose to live, the interest on my contributions? ( which is called a pension!!!!!)

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
29/12/2010 22:30

sienna post 39

If I put £20000 in the bank ( i.e. I pay money into my pension fund), why should I be means tested to recieve back any interest on my investment ? It has F.A. to do with anyone else what I recieve back ! The more I invest, ( into my pension ) the more I expect to recieve back and as for those who invested less than I ( into their pension funds) then why should THEY expect to recieve benefits from MY investments? Are you prepaired to give part of your salary/pension to the idle/lazy/workshy ? ( Yes to those in real need, the rest are the ones who should be means tested and if found lacking, they should get NOTHING!)

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:31

birdman..I would hardly call anyone over 60 idle /workshy/or lazy. Your last sentance"yes to those in real need,the rest are the ones who should be means tested" then that must include you,because if you put that sort of money into a PRIVATE pension scheme then why do you need the allowance from the State pension scheme. I agree with you that what ever you invest in your pension fund is your business,but are you that desperaye for a £100 pound ayear fuel allowance???

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:34

birdman ....surely if you choose to leave the country ....you should foriet all benefits .??

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:57

£250 A YEAR for WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE and because I had not recieved it for the last two years I was given a further £500 this year, a total for this year of £750 and I only have a small private income, so the government pension of which I contributed to for 50 years, having started work at 15, has been well contributed to! The IR know that this is my only address, TRNC



apc2010 Message 59 WHY? ( by paying contributions for 50 years into MY pension fund through taxes and National Insurance contributions, I should be allowed to draw it wherever I live) Having paid into the NHS for 50 years also, I lose the benefits by choosing to live here i.e. free prescriptions but every immigrant to the UK gets benefits with NO contributions, is that fair?



Coachie ,I was not saying that over 60's are workshy etc. I was referring to the benefit cheats who should be means tested. I also believe that child benefit should not be given, as it is our own choice how many children we have.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:38

This is a thread which has been done to death before with many conflicting views. What is clear is that there are many who, for whatever reason, do not qualify but believe that those who do should not.