AS government increases the winter fuel payment limit to £ 35,000, many Independent Readers say that last year’s means the test was very low – and now it is very high.
Sudden change The disappointment, confusion and claims of political opportunism have been provoked.
Many readers criticized move As has been politically motivated, coming a few days before a review of an important expenditure and following the electoral loss and Improvement pressure from Britain.
Many people argued that the new threshold is very high, a £ 35K salary with one should not warrant the government’s support, especially when many working families and unemployed are very rarely helped.
Others resonated the concerns of the IFS and the Resolution Foundation that the policy is poorly targeted and administratively messed up, potentially creating unfair consequences for homes above the income line.
Some welcomed the return of payment for low -income pensioners, but questioned why the government left them in the first place without a clear plan.
Pensioners themselves weighed – some said that they were completely successful without payment and realized that in poverty, young families needed more support. One commented: “We are hostage and are enough-give it to those who really need it.”
The overall feeling from our community was that the government had acted too late and without transparency. The move was described as the “headless chicken” response, which lacked implementation, repayment and explanation on the policy direction of future.
What did you say here:
Both parties wanted to test in advance
I hope that both Toris and Lib Dame are expecting everyone that they have both, for a time or another, either called to test WFA or limit it only to pension credit claimants.
It was in fact, in the 2017 election manifesto of the conservators. For the veneer, it was a Paul Barsto MP who served in the coalition government. In both cases, the rescued money was to be diverted for social care improvement, which was a very good idea, I think.
Rickc
What are your views on winter fuel payments? In the comments you say
Not a U-turn, just a high threshold
It is not a U-turn. They brought to the concept of means of testing WFA and now they have increased the limit. A U-turn would be returning to Universal WFA. Personally, I think they have set it very high. I know a lot of families who would like to earn £ 35k and get guaranteed pay every year, as well as money towards their fuel bill.
Crack
Meaning test is still not correct
Meaning the test was earlier very low and now too much – and should be based on domestic income.
We are both pensioners, who are accompanied by joint income close to £ 50k, no dependent children, no hostage. Added to it, we have got the security of triple lock. There is no way that we need this money, while many young families do.
Woke up
4,000 people are at risk
The permanent problem is that its estimates of the government said that if this policy is introduced, 4,000 people will die from the cold. Additional death figures will not be published for another year and in any case, now very complex. The question for me is: Will I ever vote for those who were ready to allow 4,000 old people to die because they do not understand economics?
Srimini
We manage, give it to those who need it
I have always said the same. We are hostage, I am on a state pension and receive a small private pension. My wife, who is small, still works part time and receives about 600 pounds per month. We manage completely. We know many young people who work and struggle with rent, to keep children, etc. Some pensioners are just plain greedy and want them to catch every money that they can grab.
IAN
Why should rich pensioners get it?
I barely earn £ 35k as a 45 -year -old professional in NHS and will definitely not get that kind of money for pension. When they are more than the possibility of paying their mortgage, they do not need to spend £ 300 handouts and spend money on children, etc.
Onlyfishleft
Social care funding was the original point
I hope that both Toris and Lib Dame are expecting everyone that they have both, for a time or another, either called to test WFA or limit it only to pension credit claimants.
It was in fact, in the 2017 election manifesto of the conservators. For the veneer, it was a Paul Barsto MP who served in the coalition government. In both cases, the rescued money was to be diverted for social care improvement, which was a very good idea, I think.
Rickc
Help pay the gas bill at £ 35k?
Thirty five grand grand is coming in a year and helps you pay your gas bill?
truly outrageous.
This suggests that a person requires £ 35k in a year, minimal, to live. So how to get disabled people and unemployed till that rate? Because they are very low.
Bigdogsmallbrain
A compromise, but poor communication
This seems to be a more intelligent compromise rather than going back to old universal payment, but the government should have announced last year so that people were ready for it, and it would not have seen that they were afraid of Faraj.
Ruthmayjellings
What if someone earns on the border?
I think we will have to wait for expansion, but what happens if a couple claims WFA (per house) through non-Kamai spouses, while the other’s income is more than £ 35,000? This is not very clear.
Stevil
Why not last year?
Last year there was no money so they cut WFA and they can blame it on toris. This year the economy is another worse mess and they restore it against all arguments, and then they raised the level much higher.
There is no description of how it will be paid, how it will be resumed, nor will they get those who can get it and those who have to pay it back. And if he suddenly got a system, why did he not use it last year?
And I do not think that in May, he got shelacing anything to do anything, is it?
Headless chickens, many of them – especially Reeves and Star.
Listen
Some comments have been edited to this article for brevity and clarity.
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