Blowing hot and cold on winter fuel allowances

The winter fuel allowance for older people is a welcome – if barely adequate - security blanket for those who are really hard up, writes Louise Jew.

And that's particularly so for winters like last year's horror freeze-up.

But everyone aged 60 and over gets the same amount, regardless of whether they need it or not – and there is much discussion over whether the better off should get it at all or be encouraged to give it to charity.

There were even calls recently for those who could afford it to donate the money to a charity for young unemployed people.

Surely this would be better directed at campaigns for older folk – and several high profile pensioners, including Terry Wogan, Michael Parkinson and Joanna Lumley, have pledged theirs to the Surviving Winter campaign, which is backed by Saga.

This year the amounts handed out by the government to help older people with their fuel bills decreased to £200 (from £250) for over 60s and to £300 (from £400) for over 80s.

Most people by this age have paid many thousands of pounds in taxes and feel, quite rightly, they have earned a bit back – and how nice that they don't have to get it through the begging bowl of applying for benefits.

Equally, it seems plain wrong that extremely rich folk get it with no questions asked.

Means testing, besides being anathema to many proud older folk, would cost us all administratively and so be counter-productive.

Maybe the obvious answer is to ask older people who really do not need it to give it back to the state – with the proviso that the refunds are shared among those pensioners who really could do with it.

But there is no mechanism for just handing it back to the state, leaving it to people's own conscience whether they keep it for themselves, give it to their grandchildren or decide to donate it to charity and, if so, what kind of cause.

At a time when people are living so much longer – and as the retirement age is creeping up and up – maybe it's also worth considering whether people aged 60 should really be classed as old in any case.

I thought 60 was the new 50...

See what the rest of Lou's Women think – and add your comments below.

Grandmother Helen Broadhurst says: "I'm 81 and my winter fuel allowance is very welcome at this time of the year. Well-off pensioners should make their own minds up whether to keep it or not.

"If they feel they do not need it they should make a donation to a charity of their choice. Means testing is not the answer – the administration involved would probably cost more than giving it to everyone."

'Llama Lady' Chris Armstrong, aged 60, says: "This will be my first year of getting my winter fuel allowance and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I don't really need it but I have worked all of my life and paid excessive taxes so am happy to get something back for everything I have put in.

"It's very little considering what I have paid over the years. I would also point out that the taxes I have paid are now contributing towards the winter fuel allowance of millions of people who have never worked in their lives so no I don't feel guilty about keeping it."

Kidderminster midwife Ellie Wright says: "I do not think the winter fuel allowance should be means tested.

"Once this starts where will it end? for eg. stop their bus pass, stop their NHS contributions, stop their state pension.

"These people although very fortunate to be well off have paid their taxes like the rest of us.

"Besides, what is the definition of well off? The way forward?

"People entitled to the WFA to apply for it, those who do not feel they need it will probably not apply."

Stacey Senior, a social worker as well as being Willenhall Carnival Queen, says: "Wealthy pensioners may still struggle to keep their houses warm and some are desperate to leave a legacy to their children, which I empathise with.

"They are also not taking from other people as the benefit is given to anyone who qualifies.

"On the other hand I think that those more in need should receive perhaps more than those who are more comfortable and can afford to make a bigger contribution.

"No-one should be living in poverty to keep a warm house and stay in good health."

Student Holly Dodd, of Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, says: "I'm all for equality of opportunity and provision but it seems ridiculous that the fuel allowance scheme, which is to be applauded in its foundation of providing help to the elderly, could be providing a £300 donation to the penniless and prosperous alike.

"The allowance, as it stands, is surplus to those who don't need it and not enough to those who do.

"There is no question, for me, that a user-friendly system should be put in place and advertised to encourage those who don't need the money to donate it to those who do.

"Means testing is a lengthy and costly process in itself but us students are given loans proportional to our own household finances so perhaps the same measures should be put in place across the board to ensure the system is effective and provides help where it is most needed.

"There has been a lot of support for the charitable donation system already, and it is certainly 'heartwarming' to see a little evidence of the yoke of human kindness in time for Christmas."

West Bromwich vicar's wife Amanda Robbie says: "It seems crazy to pay people a fuel allowance when they don't need it.

"I'm guessing that means testing costs more than giving the allowance to everyone. Perhaps when the new universal benefits system is launched this allowance will be included in its scope.

"I don't think there's any need for it to be returned to the government.

"Anyone who feels they don't need it could give it to a charity that helps the elderly, with the added bonus of gift aid if they're a taxpayer."

Chess supremo Julie Wilson: "If we means tested older people for winter fuel payments it would cost so much more in administration - and it would be demeaning for people who felt they were going cap in hand for money.

"But I think there should be some mechanism for people who don't need the money to repay it so it can be used for those who need it more."

Conservationist Sheena Hamilton, aged 69, says: "A couple of hundred pounds means a lot to someone who's hard up - and even then it's not really enough.

"I think these payments should be means tested and more given to those who really need it."

Elaine James, from Cookley, near Kidderminster, says: "I know some very well off people that get the fuel allowance whom I'm sure wouldn't miss it if they didn't get it.

"It probably would be a good idea if it were means tested if the money saved would go back to the elderly that really need it, but my worry is that the money the government saves wouldn't go back to the elderly and would be squandered on a less needy cause."

Tennis fan Pat Bailey from Halesowen says: "On the winter fuel for well off pensioners good luck to them they deserve it, they must have saved in their lives to be in that position, or have been in a good situation to be there, it's the luck of the draw.

"I feel you should not return it to the government as there are other things they do not think about like being in a situation where we are not married to our partners and if something happens to them we would not get what they own it would be taken from us."