The tenner winter payment...

[sandyRoe]

I notice a tenner credited to my account. It must be my Christmas gift from the government. When this was first given out it would have bought a family Christmas dinner and enough left over for a box at the local pantomime. NOw it won't even buy a bottle of wine.
How much would it need to be now to have kept pace with inflation? I think it was first given out during Jim Callaghan's time as PM, in the late 70s.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes got mine too (DLA)

[hc4361]

boxtops, are you saying that every time the temperature goes below zero for 7 consecutive nights you get the cold weather payment of £25?

My parents don't get it because although they are both retired they are not in receipt of means tested benefits.
They do get the £200 winter fuel allowance and the £10 Christmas bonus though

[trt]

I wondered why I had an extra tenner added to my penssion last week!

[mazie]

That's strange then boxy..I get state pension and I don't get cold weather payments..How odd. It does say on the DWP site that it's people that get pension credit... I'll have another look

[Mamyalynne]

https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment/eligibility

[mazie]

Ahhh. Boxy are you talking about the £200 winter fuel allowance?

[factor-fiction]

Given that the (more substantial) winter fuel allowance has been introduced, and that the £10 bonus hasn't been uprated since its introduction, i feel the £10 Christmas bonus ought to be scrapped as it seems to be a source of irritation rather than pleasure.
No government has wanted to abolish it though because it would be perceived as robbing the elderly, so all governments have just let it wither on the vine.
It could be scrapped and added to the weekly state pension- but the government that does it would be mocked for giving a 20p a week increase, so I doubt it will happen.

[Mammar]

Well, 3 bottles of wine for £10 at Asda or 20 packets of ginger nuts at Iceland or several chocolate oranges, depending on who has the best offers. As a certain supermarket says, every little helps.

[Psybbo]

Shush sandy, Sammy has forgotten about it!

[sandyRoe]

I saw him in Bedford St the other day. He's getting as fat as a fool. ;-)

[puternut]

Not only pensioners - certain other benefits qualify too.

I am not an OAPension but DLA and Incapacity benefit. Male. Aged 60 next year.

Got it too a few days ago

[boxtops]

Sorry guys, I'm confusing myself - no, I don't get the cold weather payments, but I do receive the winter fuel allowance.