marsh man Posted October 11 Report Share Posted October 11 Evening All . Did you chaps over a certain age get a letter to see if you qualify for this years heating allowance , I got one today and sadly I don't qualify but maybe some of you will , if everyone get one then it must cost a fortune for post and package . MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted October 11 Report Share Posted October 11 (edited) Yes. I got one. Labour's "Poll Tax" moment. And we've four more winters until the next General Election. Mine had a written note in blue biro pen at the bottom. "If you now can't afford to put the heating on to get warm this winter...find a match and light this instead" It's signed "Yours in solidarity K. Starmer, KCB, KC, Prime Minister". Edited October 11 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 (edited) These 10 million letters must have cost enough to pay 50,000 winter fuel payments to the poorest pensioners on £11400 a year! Disgusting decision,yet they are okay with giving over 12 billion out to parents for child benefits tax free and some parents could earn up to £80,000 a year! Heating allowance £200 or £300, child benefit average £1000 a year for every child costing over 12 billion yet Labour choose to cut 1.4 billion from pensioners.Even if they set a threshold at £20,000 income fair enough but at £11,400 is disgraceful! Edited October 12 by TOPGUN749 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 Yes, had mine yesterday .......... despite the DWP/HMRC/Gov't knowing full well that I would not be eligible from various sources (e.g. Self Assessment returns, other non state pensions which are taxed). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 48 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: Yes, had mine yesterday .......... despite the DWP/HMRC/Gov't knowing full well that I would not be eligible from various sources (e.g. Self Assessment returns, other non state pensions which are taxed). Yes you would have thought with today’s technology it wouldn’t have been too difficult to not send to those that they were aware of being over the threshold for claiming, thus saving 1000s. Another example of civil servants (who I assume would do this) of being too damn lazy and just send the letter to ALL pensioners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow Bear Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 2 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Another example of civil servants (who I assume would do this) of being too damn lazy and just send the letter to ALL pensioners. Both this and justifying their existence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 You really couldn't make this carp up. Their defence would surely be "we have to notify everyone rather than miss the "genuinely" needy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 5 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: You really couldn't make this carp up. Their defence would surely be "we have to notify everyone rather than miss the "genuinely" needy. According to Labour the genuine needy are only those pensioners below £11350 a year and have under £10,000 saved for their funerals! Any more and you’re on your own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 Just now, TOPGUN749 said: According to Labour the genuine needy are only those pensioners below £11350 a year and have under £10,000 saved for their funerals! Any more and you’re on your own. Well in my case, my state pension - which because it includes some SERPS additions - alone takes me over the WFA limits. - It is the SAME DWP sending the letter that are already paying me more than the qualification threshold. As others have said they (or more likely their 'system') is just not doing the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 2 hours ago, Old Boggy said: Yes you would have thought with today’s technology it wouldn’t have been too difficult to not send to those that they were aware of being over the threshold for claiming, thus saving 1000s. Another example of civil servants (who I assume would do this) of being too damn lazy 13 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: You really couldn't make this carp up. Their defence would surely be "we have to notify everyone rather than miss the "genuinely" needy. Is the correct answer? The fact that it gave an opportunity to waste lots of money possibly was not lost either? It's now very difficult to see any sort of future here for the majority? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 My brother in law was sent this letter to an address he once occupied. He doesn’t live there anymore. He died 15 years ago !! In that time the fact that he has not paid any tax or NI nor drawn any benefits should have given them a clue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 17 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: Well in my case, my state pension - which because it includes some SERPS additions - alone takes me over the WFA limits. - It is the SAME DWP sending the letter that are already paying me more than the qualification threshold. As others have said they (or more likely their 'system') is just not doing the job. Everyone on the new full state pension of £221.20 a week is over the threshold even without any serps additions,and they know exactly who gets what,and to some extent how much savings they have due to interest paid.Those letters 10 million of them, would have covered the cost of 50,000 heating allowances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 12 Author Report Share Posted October 12 THANKS for the replies , I am glad it wasn't just me who thought it was sheer madness sending us all those unnecessary letters at a vast cost . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 Just now, marsh man said: THANKS for the replies , I am glad it wasn't just me who thought it was sheer madness sending us all those unnecessary letters at a vast cost . Madness and a Labour Government staffed by too many ineffectual civil servants, result = pointless waste of money and resources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserableolgit Posted October 12 Report Share Posted October 12 I received mine a few days ago, such an honour to have received a personalised letter from a great department of state informing me of something of which I am not entitled. I am truly grateful, humbled even.🥸 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 15 Report Share Posted October 15 On 11/10/2024 at 21:53, marsh man said: Evening All . Did you chaps over a certain age get a letter to see if you qualify for this years heating allowance , I got one today and sadly I don't qualify but maybe some of you will , if everyone get one then it must cost a fortune for post and package . MM Wondering why the photo of the letter is not showing now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claydodger Posted October 15 Report Share Posted October 15 Got ours too, what a complete and utter waste of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted October 15 Report Share Posted October 15 (edited) On 12/10/2024 at 09:12, TOPGUN749 said: According to Labour the genuine needy are only those pensioners below £11350 a year and have under £10,000 saved for their funerals! Any more and you’re on your own. Eh? My state pension is £10617.60 and I seemingly don't qualify pension credit because my partner also gets 8370.24 state pension. It seems to be based on joint pensions if living with another pensioner - our joint pensions are £18987.84. I think many who do qualify will be some £3-4K PA better off than some single paid up state pensioners. I got a letter too. Edited October 15 by Dave-G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPGUN749 Posted October 16 Report Share Posted October 16 8 hours ago, Dave-G said: Eh? My state pension is £10617.60 and I seemingly don't qualify pension credit because my partner also gets 8370.24 state pension. It seems to be based on joint pensions if living with another pensioner - our joint pensions are £18987.84. I think many who do qualify will be some £3-4K PA better off than some single paid up state pensioners. I got a letter too. It’s totally wrong how the government make up rules to prevent the people such as yourselves from getting it. £9,500 average each is so low! Then they also have the ridiculous rule that says any savings over £10,000 between you can make £1 a week per £500.(An interest rate of 10.4%) Yet they can give away £1331 a year to parents for their first child even if earning £60,000 a year,and child care money on top! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted October 16 Report Share Posted October 16 1 hour ago, TOPGUN749 said: It’s totally wrong how the government make up rules to prevent the people such as yourselves from getting it. £9,500 average each is so low! Then they also have the ridiculous rule that says any savings over £10,000 between you can make £1 a week per £500.(An interest rate of 10.4%) Yet they can give away £1331 a year to parents for their first child even if earning £60,000 a year,and child care money on top! Pales into insignificance when levied against none contributed rubber boat pilots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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