Winter Fuel Allowance still exists

[gerryh]

Received my winter fuel allowance today here in Spain.
Cheers
Gerry

[lizzie]

I have had mine as well

[katy]

Here we go......

[elusive]

Stops next year i believe

[anyroads]

Quite right too......

The country can't afford it anymore.

Government borrowing for October alone was £7.7 billion.

Some cutting of deficit ! ( and every little helps )

anyroads

[Beachcomber]

Not giving away billions of pounds per year in 'overseas aid' to despots, dictators and tyrants to buy helicopters, limousines and finance space programmes would help much more.

[peteroldracer]

Quite right too

So it doesn't matter that the European rules state that benefits paid in one country must be offered to all those entitled to them, no matter where in the EC they live?
I am well used to the Spanish choosing which laws they obey, but really thought the UK was above that sort of skullduggery!

[Len S]

I absolutely agree with Anyroads.
It should only be paid to needy people in the UK, and it should certainly not be paid people who seek sunnier climes elsewhere. The vast majority of these people do not even pay tax in the UK. Let Spain or whatever country they are domiciled in pay their Winter Fuel Allowance.

There are hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of low paid tax payers in the UK contributing to the Winter Fuel Allowance of expats sunning themselves in Monaco, Costa del Sol,etc. Some even have the brass neck to go on forums and gloat about it. Shame on them!!!

[peteroldracer]

The UK government is perfectly entitled to change the conditions of eligibility to to WFA, but legally should pay all those living within the EU on that basis. Disagreeing with a law is fine (and can be protested about with writing to your MP or voting for a party that follows your beliefs) but ranting about the people benefitting from it is not, IMHO.

[El Cid]

Have you ever spent an entire winter in Spain?

Most pensioners in Spain are getting the same pension income as their equivalents in the UK and the cost of heating their houses in winter can often exceed the cost of doing the same in the UK.

Sid

[country boy]

We spend €400 per year on Logs alone, then there's gas and electric. Ludricrous to say it's a warm climate and therefore not necessary.

[markwilding]

There are hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of low paid tax payers in the UK contributing to the Winter Fuel Allowance of expats sunning themselves in Monaco, Costa del Sol,etc. Some even have the brass neck to go on forums and gloat about it. Shame on them!!!

Many places in Spain are far colder than the South of England in winter. Here in Bilbao it's not too bad although it's still winter weather but should you travel inland just a few miles, it becomes absolutely freezing.

[katy]

I agree but there are lots of posts on here, some recent, gloating how cheap their utilities are.

I think WFA should be universal but taxed, much fairer. There is now another allowance, came from British gas. Forgot the details as I binned it but it said if your bills exceed 10% of your income or you are on benefits. pension credit etc. you can claim an extra £140. I think they call it warm winter allowance or similar.

Ps. Monaco can be very cold in winter.

[gerryh]

I think WFA should be universal but taxed, much fairer.

I declare my WFA as part of my income here in Spain, so it is taxed.
Cheers
Gerry

[El Cid]

I agree but there are lots of posts on here, some recent, gloating how cheap their utilities are.

Usually from people who don't live all year round in Spain.

Yes, taxing the WFA would seem reasonable as most pensioners in the UK on a low income would not have to pay tax.

It is taxable in Spain at the moment as it does not qualify as a tax free payment and should be declared as part of your UK state pension, so we are already paying tax on it. Those in the UK are not.

Sid

[firsttango]

Agree with all the law is the law etc, however, the initial post in my opinion did come across as "gloating" especially with the very glib "thumbs up" smilie.

[Beachcomber]

I must have been reading a different thread because I haven't seen any gloating over receiving this allowance.

Stopping winter fuel allowance for Britons living abroad is a miniscule drop in the ocean compared with the billions of pounds of taxpayers' money that is squandered and wasted on a regular basis by successive governments.

[gerryh]

Agree with all the law is the law etc, however, the initial post in my opinion did come across as "gloating" especially with the very glib "thumbs up" smilie.

Sorry if I offended you.
I certainly wasn't gloating.
Just stating a fact.
I did this because last year some people wondered when they were paid as some of them received theirs late.
Cheers
Gerry

[El Cid]

That's exactly the way I read it.

Sid

[Enrique]

Talking to some of my chums in UK , they haven't received it yet......