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[BazaJT]

If you get winter fuel payment at 64 will I qualify this year as I'll hit that age this October?How I got this old is a total mystery to me

[STEMO]

If you get winter fuel payment at 64 will I qualify this year as I'll hit that age this October?How I got this old is a total mystery to me

https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I have 6 years to go. No doubt the Govt. will have taken up my idea on means testing before then, and I wont be entitled as I have 47p too much in the bank. 

[LC0112G]

I have 6 years to go. No doubt the Govt. will have taken up my idea on means testing before then, and I wont be entitled as I have 47p too much in the bank. 

WFP is not means tested - millionaires like Alan Sugar are eligible. The amount you have in the bank is irrelevant, so no need to waste that 47p on a packet of Werther's Originals to get below the 'limit' .

[Lazydocker]

I have 6 years to go. No doubt the Govt. will have taken up my idea on means testing before then, and I wont be entitled as I have 47p too much in the bank. 

WFP is not means tested - millionaires like Alan Sugar are eligible. The amount you have in the bank is irrelevant, so no need to waste that 47p on a packet of Werther's Originals to get below the 'limit' .

Read the post again... Highlighted part of it for your benefit 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Thanks.   

[LC0112G]

I have 6 years to go. No doubt the Govt. will have taken up my idea on means testing before then, and I wont be entitled as I have 47p too much in the bank. 

WFP is not means tested - millionaires like Alan Sugar are eligible. The amount you have in the bank is irrelevant, so no need to waste that 47p on a packet of Werther's Originals to get below the 'limit' .

Read the post again... Highlighted part of it for your benefit 

Not going happen in the next 6 years though. This govt will stumble no from crisis to crisis for the next 2-3 years and get the square root of eff-all done except Brexit and Band-Aid panic measures post Brexit. Then we'll be within 2 years of the next election the Conservatives aren't going to risk upsetting their core voters (the Coffin Dodgers) so triple lock, WFP, Bus Passes, TV Licenses are safe.

Also, means testing millions of pensioners - the vast majority of whom don't currently file tax self assessments because their income is all basic rate - would be very unpopular, a vote loser, and very expensive. The only workable way would be to reduce the 40% tax band starting level for pensioners to reclaim the WFP in tax. Or just roll up the WFP into the state pension - but not everyone gets the same SP coz it's based on NI years so that gets complicated too.

Limiting WFP to those who are entitled to Pension Credit would have the streets of Westminster clogged with Zimmer Frames and Mobility scooters.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

All very true. I was just saying that as a matter of principle (as opposed to political reality) benefits should always be means tested.
The mess was created by Blairs Govt. and they left such a huge mess that it must be doubtful if it can ever be fixed.
They got a nation addicted to welfare, like a drug dealer gets people addicted to crack cocaine.

[Mister Rog]

Some (many!) years ago.I always remember being amazed when The Mrs started getting child benefit. At the time I was rather well paid and certainly didn't need it. Now, I'm not employed at all, so WFP is welcome.

[Shackeng]

I firmly believe that all benefits should be means tested. The lack of this system is what has allowed the welfare state to become a tool for politicians to buy peoples votes with other peoples money, instead of giving enough help to those who genuinely need it.
The fact you've move to Spain shouldn't come into it imo. If you lived, worked and paid taxes here for most of your life, then you should still be entitled to help if you need it.
On the other hand, someone who moved to the UK a few years ago claiming benefits for their kids who have never lived here is ludicrous .
I believe this is going to be allowed to continue post Brexit, for some unfathomable reason.

You should certainly be entitled to the State Pension, particularly as you will not now be using any other UK services. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Isn't there some rule that British pensioners who moved to countries outside of the EU such as Australia or the USA have their pensions frozen at the level it was when they emigrated?   

[LC0112G]

He said that, if I hadn't rung up, I would have got an 'invitation to claim' letter in the post. Same with the state pension, you have to claim it.

If you don't need it, and you have normal life expectancy, then the usual advice in financial places is to NOT claim it and defer for 2-5 years. Deferred SP is increased by 1% every 9 weeks, or 5.8% p/a. It used to be 10.4% p/a prior to April 2016.

https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/money/retirement/pensions/should-you-defer-your-state-pension

You won't get 5.8% in any (UK) bank account, and deferring by (say) 5 years may increase your SP from the current £158 maximum* to over £208 p/w. So £50p/w extra for a total cost to you of £158 p/w - you'll be in profit after just over 3 years from retiring. Therefore if you are expected to live for 8+ years after your SP age it usually makes sense to defer - assuming you can keep the wolf from the door in the mean time.

* New state pension under the new rules, no additional old rules Serps/S2P blah, blah, blah.

[LC0112G]

Isn't there some rule that British pensioners who moved to countries outside of the EU such as Australia or the USA have their pensions frozen at the level it was when they emigrated?   

Yes

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pensions-annual-increases-if-you-live-abroad/countries-where-we-pay-an-annual-increase-in-the-state-pension

Lord knows what will happen with EU countries post Brexit. Isn't part of Brexit that British tax payers money should be spent in the UK?

[Varche]

We can guess. The tories will penny pinch b >:(y freezing state pensions of expats in the EU. Brits at home wont give a damn just like they did when previous governments pulled the same stunt on commonwealth expats who had paid into the system. Meanwhile the rich will get richer and the poor poorer. Foodbanks will be ever more necessarydespite the UK being 5th richest country on the planet.

My fall back plan is to comeback and claim every benefit I can including WFP.   

[Lizzie Zoom]

I'm due mine in November apparently