Heating benefits could be cut for pensioner ex-pats

[AnonymousParticipant]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/heating-benefits-for-expat-elderly-to-be-cut-1987490.html

[katySpectator]

I fully support the winter fuel payments to pensioners (who have paid into the UK system all their lives). I doubt if they could change it anyway as it was a concession fought for through the European courts. So Clegg is speaking of “sunny Spain”! clearly he has never spent December/Jan/Feb there in those jerry built properties. My heating bill in the UK is less than it was in Spain. Perhaps they should begin by looking at housing benefit of immigrants first which would mean a considerably higher saving than being miserly with a bunch of pesnioners who have paid the way for 40 years or more.

[peterhunParticipant]

So you think immigrants like yourself should be singled out for special, less generous, treatment?

Although I agree with you to some extent, you have abandoned the UK and take your expenditure and wealth out of it – so you are a drain on British society as much as the Spanish are entitle to view you as such on theirs.

[MelosineParticipant]

The WFA is only classified a ‘benefit’ because it was the cheaper option rather than bringing UK state in line with other EU countries. Most of whom pay far in excess of the former.
Obviously I think it should either stay because temps here are akin to southern England or better still become included in basic pension but be taxable.

[katySpectator]

I think you will find that most ex-pats pay some tax in the UK. The fuel allowance is not a benefit in the way that housing benefit etc. is dished out.

What I do think is unfair is the high number of people claiming invalidity benefit whilst living in Spain. A large number of them who are working, golfing etc. There is no way of checking up on them.

[AnonymousParticipant]

@katy wrote:

I think you will find that most ex-pats pay some tax in the UK. The fuel allowance is not a benefit in the way that housing benefit etc. is dished out.

What I do think is unfair is the high number of people claiming invalidity benefit whilst living in Spain. A large number of them who are working, golfing etc. There is no way of checking up on them.

i didn’t think you could actually claim and live outside the country.

[katySpectator]

Invalidity benefit is transferable within Europe. Not a bad pick-up when they have a bit of cash in hand work too. Costs the British taxpayer a bit more than the fuel allowance.

[peterhunParticipant]

Molly cuddling of pensioners is probably going to stop, as Anatole Kaletsky explains

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/anatole_kaletsky/article7142095.ece

I cannot understand why any young person would consider joining the workforce today. Massive taxation so that you can keep house prices high while paying high rents to keep your retired landlord in his comfortable, taxpayer supported comfort.

The best career advice I’d give to anyone leaving school today; go on the dole get housing benefits and live off the state like your parents.

[Author]

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