General Chat

DAVID CAMERON HAS NEVER WORKED, LET ALONE HELD A MINISTERIAL POSITION, SO HOW THE BLOODY HELL DOES HE KNOW HOW TO RUN THE COUNTRY.

ME THINKS WE'LL ALL BE HIBERNATING IN THE WINTER, COS WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF HEATING.

"It's a pity those who say they can run the country are either Taxi Drivers or Barbers".

I'm with Quinsgran with the means test however I wonder how I would feel if I had 2p too much to qualify.

I'm sure I would be upset

Amokavid.
That is why I said means testing should be done sensibly according to each persons needs. If you live in a colder area and prove your heating bills cost you plenty then you should receive the extra.

Dont forget you have people who have retired to hot climates such as Spain and they still receive the heating allowance if they received it before they left.the UK.

How long do you think tax payers can afford to pay them especially when many might be millionaires

Then you will have people saying they paid their taxes when they lived in England so they are entitled.

One thing about ex pats who leave to live overseas. The new country pays for future hospital treatment etc. We cost more as we age.
Uk is a soft touch really

Whats wrong with means testing????

I so agree Joan. My OH and I worked in full time employment all our working lives and payed into private pension funds for our retirement. Our private pensions are only small and they take us just over the threshold where we have to pay full local council tax and don't receive any kind of benefit apart from the heating allowance.

Quinsgran....Then you will have people saying they paid their taxes when they lived in England so they are entitled.

If expats wish to retire to warmer climes that is their wish and should not expect to receive heating allowances that beggars belief. It was their decision to move from the UK so how can they expect to receive! They have decided to take their monies abroad...do they pay tax on them to the UK? What we pay in tax over the year on our private pensions far outweighs the amount we receive in our heating allowance.

Linda x

LindaB
I agree ex pats shouldnt expect to receive heat allowances once they leave but they do and get them.

The whole system is wrong and unsustainable. UK will be borrowing more money to pay these costs but it cant last forever.

I suppose it's no good us all getting upset about things until we know how they pan out, we might even get some extra bonuses that we didn't expect. Time will tell!

Lizx

Barbra, I am not sure I would cope on a desert island without a computer and a phone and lots of other things, I like my comfort too much, couldn't cope with roughing it in a tent or such lol

The cost of organising & running 'means testing' would probably be more than the possible payout savings.

Everyone fills in a tax return so the government already knows everyones income. Why can't this information be used to target the people who need the unclaimed benefits and allocate heating allowance

But Barbara. How many are working and getting paid under the table as well as collecting benefits.

How many people working for themselves put down all their earnings especially if it means being above the limit for heating allowance

People just above the poverty line are not rich and lack of heating allowance will be a great hardship for them. Linking benefits to earnings is a safety net for those who do not earn any cash in hand. We cannot exclude this group on the basis that some are earning cash in hand and not declaring it.