That's not entirely true though, is it? If you are a pensioner and you're on means-tested benefits or pension credit - i.e. the ones who need it most - you'll keep the allowance. So the poorer pensioners will still get it. Arguably the limit for when the cap gets removed could have been more generous, but there were millions of well-off pensioners getting this benefit for no good reason, other than Gordon Brown saw it as an easy vote winner back in the late 00s.
You make it sound like those entitled to a means tested benefit can easily apply, you have absolutely no idea what’s going on out there with the elderley in need. I don’t mean that in a nasty way, many don’t. I work for a local charity, we have 4 ladies working full time filling in DWP forms for those that find them complicated, a form takes on average 50 minutes to complete, often longer as many are suffering from early stage dementia. Many are in their 80s they’ve never bothered with benefit claims before, either unaware they qualified or too proud too. This is another assumption many make, they assume it’s those who are late 60s who will suffer, it’s not, it’s those 80-90 year olds The Charity I work for has a 3 month back log, we just can’t keep up. We can’t signpost them elsewhere as other charities and organisations are in the exact same boat. This government never thought it through, they’ll have themselves to blame when hospital admissions increase and the elderly feel it’s warmer to remain in hospital than to be discharged or when hospital discharge teams can’t release patients until a care package is in place As an absolute minimum, they could have said this will happen next year, instead they’ve increased local charity work and put panic into many of the elderly
Warky, this does not affect all pensioners. Those most in need who get Pension Credit, disability, or live in a low-income household will still get their Winter fuel allowance.
Fair enough - your experiences on-the-ground sounds bad. When I left university many moons ago, I had to go on Job Seekers Allowance for a couple of months until I found a job, so I can appreciate applying for benefits is an arduous, thankless process. It must be even more difficult for elderly people who don't use technology or, in many cases, don't have an Internet connection. On a wider note, I think it's a depressing indictment of our society these days that charities have to step in for many things and do a job that - in my opinion - government should be funding and sorting out themselves. Unfortunately, after the age of austerity, charities - and the work that you do - has become even more important than ever (and don't get me wrong, it was certainly important beforehand!) I would still argue that the winter fuel allowance was always a benefit - and a recent benefit at that - that was being paid to far too many people who didn't need it or could easily manage without it. I agree that the government should have handled it better and put a plan in place to actually support the people who then needed to apply for benefits to continue receiving the money.
I admire what you are doing Ristac, I too worked in the charity sector for years. I fear this onerous unfair application process has been going on for years.
See I’m not all bad and just another WUM Thank you for your comments, you know exactly the challenges that charities face. We actually have clients calling us who live in council homes saying the council told them to call. It’s not Labour vs Tory, they all do it. I worked for a company for 19 years, I then went self employed for 19 years swearing I’d never work for anyone else then this charity position came up and I’ll be honest, it’s just so rewarding, only been in it for three years but I don’t regret the move
