Handing Back Your Winter Fuel Payment.

[Georgiesmum]

Do you know any pensioner who intends to hand back their winter fuel payment? Everyone i know is really grateful for theirs and they have worked all their life.

[craft1948]

I usually give mine to a charity, but I like the fact that it is my choice to do so..........

[vakayu]

Do you have many really wealthy pensioners in your circle georgiesmum,I agree with you very grateful to get it is the consensus of opinion.

[Georgiesmum]

No, all my friends and relations rely on it for their winter fuel bills, myself included.

[vakayu]

At least this idea is voluntary,which is unlike a lot of their current ideas,I was just thinking yesterday that many of the elite pensioners probably do not even realise they are receiving it,never mind relying on it,to help pay winter bills,which are becoming more horrendous as time goes on.

[EvianBaby]

I thought you had to register (or similar) to receive it as opposed to it just showing up in your account when you're the right age?

[New Judge]

It cannot be handed back. The DWP has no mechanism for it.

[Svejk]

They're so out of touch.
Don't they know how selfish OAPs are.

[Georgiesmum]

Selfish? Why selfish?

[maggiebee]

No Svejk, not selfish at all. The winter fuel payment is theirs by right and what they choose to do with it is their own business. Most pensioners I know (myself included) are grateful for this payment. If I didn't I would donate it to charity.

[B00]

Maggiebee and Georgiesmum....hook, line and sinker ;-)

[Svejk]

;-) lol. They are a bit though, aren't they?

[Georgiesmum]

Why do you say we are selfish because we receive the winter fuel payment and are grateful for it to pay some of the winter fuel bills? Thats what it is meant for?

[Iluvspikey]

My parents gave theirs away to a charity that redirects it to those who do need it. You can't 'give it back', there is no facility for you to do that, but there is nothing to stop you giving it to a charity of your choice.

[emmie]

i think svejk was being a little ironic, non?

[factor-fiction]

Svejk is either winding you up, Gergiesmum or suing sarcasm to make a point.
This was only a suggestion made because some people criticise the government for giving such benefits to millionaire pensioners, and some very well off pensioners have said they don't need it.
I think only The Lib Dems have suggested means testing it.
Means testing would be silly In my opinion. Far better to add the amount to pensions or increase it and make it taxable.
Noone can agree on what a rich pensioner is, though

[emmie]

i only know one rich pensioner, and he would hate me for calling him that x

[tamborine]

£200 - hurrumph, peanuts! If we could have special rate petrol allowance I may consider returning it.

[vodkancoke]

My Mum gives hers to charity and when Dad reaches pension age, he will donate his too.

[cupotee2]

I know several pensioners who are far from rich, who pass it on to adult children with families, who need it more.

I also know other pensioners who use it to buy christmas presents. Most people pay for fuel by DD all year round so they don't get big bills.