Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

OAPs are ok they get help at least, working age vulnerable dont get anything tho other than whatever normal income they have.

I used to grin and bear, it, wear 2 jumpers, coat etc. But whilst that may reduce the feeling of been cold and make things bearable its done no good to my health, I now have serious blood circulation issues which escalate every winter, I been more or less told to use the heating much more unless I want serious consequences.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

Some working age vulnerable adults get cold weather payments.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

Yes i got some cold weather payments last year and they were very helpful and greatly appreciated but they can be sporadic at best no one can rely on them to help them with the costs.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

Indeed but the statment from Chrysalis.

"working age vulnerable dont get anything tho" isn't accurate which is why I posted about it.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

who does then?

seems some confusion has arisen.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytax...nt/dg_10018668

There is cold weather payments and winter fuel payments. 2 seperate ones.

cold weather payments people on income support can claim it as well as state pensioners but is dependent on the actual weather.

The obvious problem with that is people who dont get income based benefits do not qualify, the way the system works its entirely possible and does happen that people on income support have a higher income than those not on income based benefits. eg. if someone qualifies for both income based JSA and contribution based, regardless of savings etc. they will go on contribution based which pays the same as income base (base rate). The former gets more help tho even tho they on the same income. What would be a better idea is like HC2 certificates where people claim and their qualification is calculated on their income levels, what benefits they may be on and if they work is all irellevant. Is going off topic a bit but is a reason why I dont like where income support is used as a way to qualify someone, because its a unfair method of means testing. This sort of situation can go on for years, if someone is on long term IB but via NI contributions (they have work history) then they will always be on it for their duration as IB also pays NI contributions for them to keep it going, whilst if someone is on IB without a work history they will be on income based version and it effectively counts as income support, they would then qualify for this extra help even tho they on exactly the same level of benefit/income.

Now the winter fuel payments which is what I believe was the original benefit been discussed is the following.

Its a garuantueed amount regardless of weather and not means tested.

It sums up the problem with our welfare system, the boundaries of qualifying for something is a straight line, you either get it or you dont, those just below the line will be better off than those just above the line.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

You can read up about it here.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytax...nt/dg_10018668

True not all working age vulnarable adults get it but a fair few do.

---------- Post added at 15:44 ---------- Previous post was at 15:37 ----------

No confusion no. Some working age adults get help.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

Is confusion as before this topic started I wasnt even aware of cold weather payments as a seperate benefit, I was always reffering to the winter fuel allowance, and since others here also were saying pensioners only its obvious they were as well. I only looked into it after yours and rizzys comments.

The cold weather payments are most defenitly not fair tho, eg. they also have a disability premium as a qualifying measure, obviously disability premium is a topup to benefits. It should really be based on income levels and nothing else and done the same way as HC2 certs are.

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

I didn't say it was fair ;)

And although you may have been confused I certainly wasn't, only replying to your post so you could keep informed.

Anyway I'm glad it's all cleared up now :tu:

Re: Pride of OAP and the cruel Energy Companies
 

indeed