Expats fuel allowance

windmill


Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 143

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:18

British pensioners living overseas are raking in more then £10million a year in winter fuel allowance,even if they have retired to the sun.

Campaigners from the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group will next week demand MPs crack down on 50,000 expats who claim annual payments of up to £300.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:25

hi windmill i dont claim as i live here but many people tell me i can have it i rang the DWP and i was told i would need a house visit to asetain that i lived in the property, many people hee claim it and good luck o them kay put a link on last week that should help if you are in doubt good luck xxx

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:33

I am a pensioner myself and I think those who are claiming it when they do not reside here should be made to repay it.Its what II call "extracting the urine"This is what annoys me when some people say "rip off britain" and half the time its them who are doing the "ripping"....

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:40

Paid NI all life. Still pay UK taxes. So why should not someone who is entitled not claim?

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:41

Very interesting discussion i never realised that they could claim if they lived in a other country or renting their property out i know they still do if they are in a residential home.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:41

So Peggy, a famous lady known to most, who lives here and is 101 years young should not get any addition to her pension to allow her to be warm in winter?



Remember it still gets cold here and not many houses are well insulated...



I don't some people think these things through... enough.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:48

it is paid to enable people to pay there fuel bills during the winter months here in england not in TRNC barbados or any other coutry with temperate climate..thats why they left the UKto go to warmer climates, so leave your cold weather payments behind thankyou...

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 22:50

Coachie



You made this "rule" up... it's for UK pensioners nothing about where you or they live.. next it will be... you can't have it in the SE of England because of global warming....

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:01

I am sorry Groucho if you disagree with my statement,but people ought to think about those things before they leave the UK,and I think the temps here are alot worse than over there, and for a longer period of time.Plus the prices of gas and electric over here are more expensive. If the lady in question can afford to live there then she shoudnt be feeling any hardship shoud she....

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:09

Groucho ..suppose you will be wanting the insulation grant as well.....

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:12

How much is the insulation grant?

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:16

Coachie...

The heating allowance is linked to your state pension... After paying NI contributions & tax for almost 50 years you are not getting anything you don't deserve... Come & live here 24/7 you will soon realise that for 2 months Jan/Feb the heating allowance is a just cause... Even in Cyprus...

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:22

You can only claim the Winter Fuel Allowance if you live in a EEA Country.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:26

I think it wonderful that all those foreign workers in the UK i.e. Poles are claiming child allowance for children they left behind at home. They can carry on claiming apparently even after they have returned home.

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:29

No1Doyen

Take it that you won't be getting yours then....

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:29

Maybe Coachie you don't know that when you live in a hot country full-time your blood thins to dissipate the heat... This means that you feel disproportinately cold in the winter...



Once people have acclimatised by living here full time for a few years this effect can have a significant effect upon their feeling the cold. That's why when it seems hot here you will still see some people wearing multiple layers, overcoats and hats...



It's a generally good thing because it does mean you are less likely to suffer some blood clotting conditions... and along with the mediterranean diet a healthier lifestyle helps too..



But people who don't generate a lot of body heat do feel very cold in Winter... not visitors of course who still waltz around in shorts and T-shirts...

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
08/12/2008 23:50

"extracting the urine"



Everyone's entitled to there opinion,

and I think some should keep it to themselves.



What about all the pensioners who are too proud to claim?





"£8bn of benefits unclaimed!!!

The government has admitted that up to £8bn of state benefits

is not being claimed by those who are entitled to it.

Figures from the Department for Work & Pensions showed that

there was between £4.8bn and £8bn of unclaimed income support,

housing benefit, council tax benefit,

job-seeker's allowance and pension credit in 2004/05.

Earlier this year, HM Revenue & Customs revealed that around £5bn

of working tax credit and child tax credit goes unclaimed annually,

bringing the total of money that fails to reach those in need to £13bn."



Follow link for more......... http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=414109&in_page_id=2



And some worry about others claiming an allowance!!!

There's a lot in the pot.

If you are due it, YOU SHOULD GET It

McSteviet



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1089

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 09:30

Don't get me started.....



Mc

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 09:42

You are entitled to it if you live here. If you have not received it you must complain to the appropriate authorities.

come_on_aylin


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 908

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 09:51

BTW TRNC is in the EEA - http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/tuition_fees_ewni.php#box5

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 09:54

You can claim the allowance in the TRNC -



The European Economic Area (EEA)

The EEA is a larger area than the EU. It is made up of all the countries in the EU (listed in Box 4) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.



For categories where the residence area includes the EEA, the residence area is made up of all 30 countries in the EEA including the whole of the island of Cyprus (that is, including Northern Cyprus).

Geoff1131


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 276

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 09:58

If you have an objection to people living here receiving winter heating allowance, think of it as a summer cooling allowance, this may just make it a little more palatable.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 10:24

Good one Geoff!



We're not pensioners (yet) is there anything we can claim now? ha ha ;¬)



Is there anything we can look forward to getting apart from the basic pension?



Coachie,



How would you police this rule? What if you live in Norway? What if you live six months here, six months there? The list in endless...



We live here and don't burden the UK with any health or education costs... we don't get child benefit... yet we paid full National Insurance for over 64 years between us...



We were contacted by the NI people in the UK and advised to stop paying UK NI insurance as the amount we had paid already guaranteed us the maximum accrued pension rights....



Now you want to employ extra civil servants to police who should and who should not be getting a fuel allowance...



sorry mate but you are simply wrong...



As Navek has stated £10m pales in comparison with the £8bn going unclaimed.

windmill


Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 143

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 11:40

No1Doyen,

What would you do without google

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 11:55

windmill. We'd be lost without google. We wouldn't be able to help people.

Geoff1131


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 276

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 12:25

Groucho, three things you can certainly look forward to as a pensioner,



1, arthritis

2, failing eyesight

3, eventually dementure.



hope this helps.

Cyprusquest


Joined: 09/12/2008
Posts: 428

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 13:49

Geoff1131 You forgot watch your bladder when you get excited or cough and that as your mind regresses you can forget the hurts of the past.



Enjoy old age while it lasts and hope it lasts longer than your youth.



How do we find out about what we can claim of the unclaimed? I'm still in the UK.

spangles


Joined: 22/10/2008
Posts: 411

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 14:10

You can only claim Winter Fuel Allowance for 2008-2009 if - During the qualifying week 15th-21st September 2008 you were of pensionable age and normally living in the UK. However, anyone who had previously qualified for the allowance in the UK will still receive the payment once they have moved to the TRNC. See http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk for details.

Whether people agree with this or not these are the rules and it will be difficult to isolate who lives abroad if pensions are paid to a UK bank.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 18:39

I unreservedly apologise to all concerned on remarks concerning witer fuel payments to pensioners outside of the UK...

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 19:02

hector: "I think it wonderful that all those foreign workers in the UK i.e. Poles are claiming child allowance for children they left behind at home. They can carry on claiming apparently even after they have returned home."



Just as UK citizens can claim allowances while abroad.



We wouldn't want to be racist by targeting Poles, would we?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 19:05

hi spangles i told the authorties that i was coming here to live and mine was stopped even though i had to go back 8 times in my first year as my son had a car accident and to sort out getting my dog here, so in effect i was in cardiff more than i was here. some of the people here get it and tell me to claim it but i dont want anything i am not entitled to. now after reading naveks and other posts i may rethink i am interested in this EEU and all the billions not being claimed i hope someone can help the pensioners back in uk thier rights keep on the campaign for them

dozza67


Joined: 11/07/2008
Posts: 607

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 20:41

We managed to come and live in this country through sheer bloody hard work and paid all our taxes/Insurance payments. Everything the government wanted from us. We went without for many years to pay off our mortgage and get where we are today. Don't anyone tell us that we don't deserve a bit back from the British Government who have taken from us all our lives.

kenny



Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 405

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 20:45

if you are happy to take it then carry on doing so.

if you dont want it u can you please send to me !!

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 20:58

hi doza you knowin am working and paying work permits here we have to do all that here also when you work but at least we are all alive and enjoying it, thought id left it behind but here i wont benefit from paying into a system which wonnt give me a pension as already im to old we wait to see the outcome of the talks bt we live and we make people happy so job done xxxxxx

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 21:01

Spangles ..It does say MAY be entitled to the allowance...

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 21:01

Coachie,



Well it takes a man, your abject apology is accepted in the manner in which it was intended...



PS I think it's outrageous too... (ah, not really). Just think UK Gov has bigger fish to fry...

Dixie Normus


Joined: 22/02/2008
Posts: 820

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 21:15

Still get my disabilty and uk rent paid while living out here, if youve paid into the system dont feel guilty about taking out of it if you dont, big fool you.



D.N

windmill


Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 143

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 21:20

Goverment are now thinking of abolishing winter fuel payments,and replacing it with running shoes.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
09/12/2008 21:26

Groucho ..I have apologised,but I still dont agree with it!!!!