WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE PETITION

[patricia]

Just wondered if anyone would like to sign this petition in respect of the Winter fuel allowance and the intention of the British Government to stop it for expat Brits!

http://rivoice.net/petitions/expats-to- ... tries.html

[olive]

In the olive press , it was reported that expats in Spain receive(cost?) 8.7 million pounds a year in payments. Absolute chicken feed compared to the billions wasted on none sackable poor military procurement decisions or billions wasted by the inefficiencies of the NHS.

However it does make a good headline because your average daily Fail reader knows a million is a lot but has no concept of how big a billion is.

[IreneD]

Signed and shared on facebook.

[gerryh]

If anybody wants to start a petition then this link is a good place to start http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/check
There is already a "save the WFA2 petition for expats in France" petition.
These petitions, when they have 100,000 signatures, have to be considered by the Government for debate.
Having a look at the OP's link there are some very strange petitions on there, most with very few signatures. Not sure whether the Government would take any of these petitions, on that particular link, seriously.
Cheers
Gerry

[costakid]

There is arguments for and against giving expats money for there heating while living in the sun. All I would say to the government is our house in Spain is colder in Jan and Feb than our Uk home.

[patricia]

Signed and shared on facebook.

Well done Irene

[patricia]

If anybody wants to start a petition then this link is a good place to start http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/check
There is already a "save the WFA2 petition for expats in France" petition.
These petitions, when they have 100,000 signatures, have to be considered by the Government for debate.
Having a look at the OP's link there are some very strange petitions on there, most with very few signatures. Not sure whether the Government would take any of these petitions, on that particular link, seriously.
Cheers
Gerry

Well done delay Gerry get signing

[Manchesteral]

I will NOT be signing this petition although I will be a pensioner myself in less than eighteen months.

We're talking about £200 here c'mon if your lifesyle relies on £200 then you're living the wrong kind of life, this "benefit" was designed by the labour loonies who have left us in the broth, to boost votes from expats, we pay enough out, enough is enough !

You get your pension which you may or may not be entitled to (depending on how much you've paid in, but, if you choose to live abroad then you really need to do your sums if you're relying on £200 !!

[markwilding]

How wrong can you be.
The payment is to save lives. Not all pensioners have money to spare for higher electricity bills in winter and will sit in the cold sooner than get into debt. Living abroad is not important.

[Manchesteral]

Markwilding, presumably you are responding to my post, we all know when we're looking in the mirror that this is nothing to do with saving lives, it's just a knee jerk reaction to the loss of a few beers !! this payment didn't exist before 1999.
My point is this, it's nothing to do with saving lives or entitlement through contributions or any other excuse you can come up with, if £200 is the difference between life and death to someone who chose that lifestyle then why move to Spain (or any other country) in the first place ?

[patricia]

I will NOT be signing this petition although I will be a pensioner myself in less than eighteen months.

We're talking about £200 here c'mon if your lifesyle relies on £200 then you're living the wrong kind of life, this "benefit" was designed by the labour loonies who have left us in the broth, to boost votes from expats, we pay enough out, enough is enough !

You get your pension which you may or may not be entitled to (depending on how much you've paid in, but, if you choose to live abroad then you really need to do your sums if you're relying on £200 !!

No one is asking you to sign it or to tell us whether we are owed it or not or how to live. If you dont think you are owed it or dont want it dont sign it. It is that simple.

[Manchesteral]

You are absolutely correct, it's my choice, therefore I am informing any would be lobbyists that I will NOT be signing this pointless petition ! but good luck with your mission !

[markwilding]

Markwilding, presumably you are responding to my post, we all know when we're looking in the mirror that this is nothing to do with saving lives, it's just a knee jerk reaction to the loss of a few beers !! this payment didn't exist before 1999.
My point is this, it's nothing to do with saving lives or entitlement through contributions or any other excuse you can come up with, if £200 is the difference between life and death to someone who chose that lifestyle then why move to Spain (or any other country) in the first place ?

Obviously, you know each and every expat living in Spain and their financial situation.
You are entitled to you opinion but 200 pounds could make them difference between life and death. More people die from the cold in Portugal and Spain than the UK

[patricia]

You are absolutely correct, it's my choice, therefore I am informing any would be lobbyists that I will NOT be signing this pointless petition ! but good luck with your mission !

So what is the point of your post! No one has asked you to sign it have they and no one cares too hoots if you dont.

[Manchesteral]

Er Patricia, no offence to you but in your original post YOU were advocating that we sign your petition ! perhaps you should consider cutting back on the skunk a bit, 4 quid a week over a year will balance things out nicely !! good luck with your crusade though !

[markwilding]

You keep missing the point. For many 200 pounds is indeed a drop in the ocean but for others it's important. A lot of people in the UK believe that Spain is wall to wall sunshine, which as many posters have already pointed out, it isn't and can actually be far colder than some places such as London.

If you have paid taxes all your life and then choose to live abroad, why shouldn't you receive it?

[Beachcomber]

Er Patricia, no offence to you but in your original post YOU were advocating that we sign your petition

No she wasn't. She was wondering if anyone would like to. Don't try to put words into the mouths of other people just to suit your own agenda. If you feel that strongly about it why not start a petition (and, perhaps, another thread) advocating the cessation of the winter fuel allowance.

[patricia]

Good idea Beach Just trying to help people who struggle a bit in the winter and who could do with a few extra pennies

[gerryh]

I will freely admit that I don't actually need the WFA as I am sure many in Spain and the UK don't actually need it.
Also I am sure many in Spain and the UK really need it.
The reason I signed the petition is because of the assumption that nobody needs it in Spain because Spain is a warm country.
Anybody who lives full time in Spain knows that in some parts of Spain winters are a lot colder than in many parts of the UK.
Cheers
Gerry

[BENIDORM]

I have signed the petition and will continue to support all challenges to any erosion of pensioners entitlements.
I know many pensioners here in Spain who will find life even more difficult with the loss of the W.F.A, and I think it very sad to read some peoples constant bragging about how wealthy they are and that 200 quid is a drop in the ocean.
What has happened to compassion and caring for people who have less money ?
So many people have worked so hard through their lives to support their families and it is not their fault that they have little left to live in luxury when reaching retirement age.

I do hope that some people will connect their brains to their hearts before opening their mouths with such drivel about how clever and wealthy they are.

Regards,
Gordon...
Ps..Happy New Year to Everyone ....