Exactly and i think that they will be reluctant to discuss it- because they just haven't thought it through. In fact I am in correspondence with my MP, the Chairman of the Conservative Party and the head of the No 10 policy unit on the subjet (The latter being Boris's brother Jo Johnson). It'll be interesting to see if I get a direct response or not. One response may be that the expat will lose 5% of the benefit because that's an uplift the UK has to pay. The wriggling will be immense.
Well done Doreen- I wonder if his neighbours have read his postings?
Here we go, let me just throw my cat in with the pigeons!
We have just learned that Military widows are to be allowed to keep their pensions if they re-marry. Without wanting to get into a debate as to whether marrying a military man is heroic of just stupid, I find it hard to see any justification for this, other than a cynical and relatively inexpensive way of winning votes by appealing to sentiment and patriotism.
In my youth, I was aware that there was a dying generation of elderly single women who had lost sweethearts or fiancees in WW1. Many never married because of lack of eligible males, but I am sure that some chose to remain single as an expression of genuine loss. Nobody gave them any financial help, and they had to get by as best they could in a male-dominated world where women were lucky to get 50% of a mans wage. The really unlucky ones, who found themselves pregnant, mostly ended up in lunatic asylums.
But that world has long gone. I can see good reasons why a widow with children would choose to remain independent, but if she chooses to re-marry or pursue a career, I don't really see why the state should continue to pay her a pension. Has anyone considered the possibility that she might choose to marry another unlucky soldier and be widowed again? How many widows pensions can one have? And in our present climate of equality, is there such a thing as a military widowers pension? The line forms right here, girls!
I would rather see the money going to carers, working 24/7 looking after relatives with long-term disabilities. They could really do with all the help society can give them.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. Here in Basse Normandie, the weather is about the same as the south of England. I can't afford to live in Bournemouth where I understand I would be eligible for WFP. Sort of Catch 22 isn't it?
Trevor, The UK Government decided France's average winter temperature was 7.0Ā°C (including the DOMs), Spain was 7.3Ā°C and as with France declared 'hot', but Italy, although 0.1Ā°C warmer than the SW of England at 5.7Ā°C was declared 'cold'. So those expats in France and Spain along with Cyprus, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, and Portugal will no longer receive WFP. Those in Italy will!
Well said! I think an income limit is fair enough, provided it's a sensible limit. From my knowledge of people round here (central Brittany) very few have incomes anywhere near the possible limits. Is there any information on whether it's household income or individual income? Taxation in France is based on the household whilst in the UK it's based, if you wish, on the individual. Child benefit is based on income already of course. It's all payable up to Ā£50k and stops being payable at all at Ā£60k.
One of the reasons of my divorce back in the 90's was that my ex THREW AWAY a box of prime Manx kippers from our freezer. I had made the investment during a fleeting business trip to the Isle of Man. Clearly one could not tolerate such provocative behaviour. Ever since that time I have drawn immense pleasure from each kipper I have savoured. Being a Scot (or at least a typically English one given to interminable expressions of Scots ancestry) she thought that kippers should only be from Scotland. She also refused to accept that some Scots fought for the English at Culloden, and our visit there was only slightly less fearsome than the actual battle itself.
Both Labour and the LibDems have said they want to set an income cap for the Winter Fuel Payment - Labour want a cap of Ā£42,000 - the LibDems a cap of the 40% tax threshold, but as that is currently Ā£41,866, thereās very little difference between them.
That means if either have a hand in Government next year WFP will have a form of means test - in other words, those who need it will still get it whereas the top 5% of earners will not.
Donāt know if that satisfies Richard Thackwray - but do you know something Richard, for me those proposals are a hell of a sight better than the policy of this Government, which is to fiddle temperature figures to stop everyone who presently receives the WFP in France from having it at all as from winter 2015/2016.
Iāve been campaigning for the past sixteen months against this ludicrous ātemperature testā policy, since I am very aware that there are some of our elderly compatriots to whom Ā£200 a year will be a major loss of income. And Richard, I intend to continue campaigning until this fiddled policy no longer remains a threat. If that makes me a ābleaterā then so be it. Iām prepared to stand up for expat rights.
Richard, since you appear to be a self-appointed UKIP spokesperson, just how much do you know of their policies, other than the sound bite words of āimmigrationā and āEuropeā? UKIP's spokesman on migration and financial affairs Steven Woolfe told the party's conference in Doncaster that net migration would be limited to 50,000 a year under an Australian-style points based system. That man Farage on the other hand said earlier in the year he wants it stopped altogether for five years and as many as 2m EU citizens who are settled in the UK would have to apply to remain in the country, or be required to leave!
Sooner or later UKIP will have to put some real policy flesh on the bones of these sound bites! Government cannot function on sound bites alone for any Party!
As a postscript Richard, does it mean you have received your WFP, since you appear to know itās the āseasonā!
If it is means tested, then it should be means tested no matter where based. Pensioners in Warmer climes also may need A/C... this would be a positive move in keeping with welfare changes in the UK (as Welsh based, hoping to move very soon to SW Fr. ). Even in Southern Spain, the winter can turn very cold and extra heating costs a great deal - no more or less than the UK. However, the recent state pension changes, although delaying pension payments have increased for new pensioners to a higher level than current pensioners. This seems unfair on pensioners wherever they are based as we all paid into the system. Pre-EU days, I continued to make my contributions to the DWP from the Netherlands where I was then working.
In the 60s my parents moved to Spain (then under Franco), they received only the basic rate of pension with no cost of living increases that we see today, as they were "foreign residents"; as we joined the EU, and Spain did, this never affected the amount of pension they received, despite the "superannuation payments" they had made, as it was grandfathered under the original "Foreign Resident" status. My father died in Spain and Mother returned to the UK and then her pension was then upgraded to standard national status at 87.
Also note that in the UK, Pensioners and those on benefit also receive a reduction of Ā£144/year from their electricity bills. Our water rates (for those not on meters) are also reduced. Heating oil in the UK, of which we and many rural residents have no alternate (although we have installed a wood burner to reduce oil consumption) is extortionate and no reductions in sight on this at all.
Is anyone aware of any reductions on utilities in France for pensioners? (Not looking to capitalise on this, just interested).
If the UK remains in the UK, it would be interesting to see some parity in utility prices accross the EU (and also similar projects as winterheating overall to those in more need and means tested).
like :p
They are also urging us all to lose weight- they can't have it both ways. WFP may be better spent on soup to keep you out of trouble, or perhaps porridge. Porridge coupons could be issued and that would also help British farmers (or at least their immigrant labour). The idea that fuel should be consumed as a direct result of subsidy is an incitement to unnecessary production of CO2. Warmer women may help. Pork pies would upset certain elements of British society; one has to be careful. What will be acceptable in Melton Mowbray may not be a good idea in say Luton. I have found that shredded newspaper (remember to read it first) stuffed down one's jumpers and strides can assist during really cold spells, but can lead to ridicule if worn out shopping and may lead to embarrassing misunderstandings (and could lead to arrest and a full body search). Whatever happens you can be sure that life will become tougher.
Hi Richard,
Just came across this discussion and it leads me to asking you why you live in France? An open question
Regards
Thea
In the event that UKIP have "arrived" (as 'twere like a dose of ebola) then help us all. Could any person supporting UKIP please explain their proposed policy regarding future healthcare to retired expats currently living in the EU should the UK leave the same? I am happy to remain a bleater for the time being. I will also continue to bleat about Equitable Life, possible removal of income tax thresholds for UK tax paying expats and of course the loss of the parliamentary vote after 15 years. As for immigration I am against it getting out of hand with non EU persons but submit that immigration has also done a great deal of good for the UK and its citizens and is far from being, as you are on record as saying, the No 1 issue facing the British electorate. It's the economy ******! British scientific and commercial success has derived enormously from successive waves of immigration. British farming could not exist without it. Statistics show that EU immigration has provided overall tax benefit, whilst non EU immigration has cost the taxpayer. UKIP shares some rather nasty characteristics with certain notorious politicians, and deserve no support.
Perhaps eating pork pies would give added lard to the body, hence no need for the WFP.
Lol Brian. I don't understand either.
I am not afraid of the UK being taken out of Europe. If that were to happen my husband and I would take French citizeship to stay here in France, but as it stands, I will be voting in next year's General Election and I imagine many more expats will too.
It, aka him.
To answer your last line question, you have not so why should anyone else?
If you read the majority of comments you may learn a few lessons.
The British Gov included ALL of Frances isles etc. hence the average temp of France is higher than Spain and Italy.
Those two Countries are still getting the WFP allowance.
As for your ukip bviews, I have to laugh.
Sleep well.
France works less hours and is still more productive than the UK
Must be a UKIP investigation. As someone said the reason UKIP are doing well is because Farage is keeping his mouth shut and the other parties are digging their own grave!