Quote:
Originally Posted by Escapee
My mother phoned me earlier, apparently their pension income is 75 pence per week over the threshold to claim the heating allowance.
My fathers health is poor and they are not the type to attempt to get handouts, but this has annoyed them so much they are going to apply for attendance allowance.
My mother attends classes at the local adult education establishment, and she is aware that many of them in the class receive attendance allowance. When asked they usually become defensive and say it's because someone puts their bins out for them etc. She's really annoyed because the majority of these people receiving the attendance allowance are fit enough for foreign holidays etc.
They had a similar problem when my father lost his DLA and my wife persuaded them to appeal, as they didn't want to make a fuss. My father actually ended up having his benefits increased. They were annoyed then because they knew examples of people receiving DLA who were able to walk up Pen y fan, but my father would struggle to make it the length of the car park.
The benefits system has always been rigged in favour of those who know how to work it.
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Many people on disability benefits would be capable of climbing up Pey y fan, I don't understand your point.
---------- Post added at 18:02 ---------- Previous post was at 17:56 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh
And the last State Pension rise was £900 in April 2024…
I don’t understand why they don’t delay it until they can find a way of targeting at those most in need (just ask HMRC for a file if those who have incomes of less than £nn,nnn, then match the payments on NI number).
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There's lots of ways they could stop the more affluent pensioners getting the Winter Fuel Allowance, whilst continuing to help those not much above the Pension Credit level.
They could restrict it to basic rate taxpayers only, keep it for those in bands A to C for Council Tax or make it taxable so the more affluent pay up to 45% of it back.