Expats claiming winter fuel allowances
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It
has been revealed that almost 65,000 British expats living in Europe are
receiving winter fuel payments which could be costing the British government
nearly £14 million each year. The revelation has angered some British tax payers who think that the payments are unfair. Matthew Elliot of the TaxPayers' Alliance said "To get the deficit under control, cuts in unnecessary benefits are going to be essential. We should start with winter fuel payments to retirees in the Algarve." But pensions minister Anglea Eagle stated that "Less than one per cent of Winter Fuel Payments are made to people outside the UK, who all qualified for these payments before they moved abroad."
Winter fuel payments can range from £125 to £400 each winter and are available to British Citizens who were aged 60 or over on or before 27 September 2009 and living in the European Economic Area (which includes France) or Switzerland, to qualify for these payments ex-pats must have been eligible before moving abroad. They have been available since 1997 and European laws mean that Britain cannot discriminate against citizens that are eligible but living outside of the UK.
More Information
Find out if you are eligible for a winter fuel payment:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_10018657
Comments (4)
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Nicki Penaluna
said:
|
... I am an expat living in France and am eligible to claim the Winter fuel allowance; I am also a UK tax payer. I receive a government pension which is not large, for which I worked for over 35 years. Because of that pension I have to pay tax in the UK. I do not receive any other benefits from the UK whatsoever, but as a tax payed feel I am entitled to that payment. Before Matthew Elliot of the tax payers alliance jumps on his high horse, let him remember that many of the expats living abroad are still paying UK tax!!! |
Graham6905
said:
|
... Never mind winter fuel payment have a look, if you know how to, at recipients of disability allowances. Know of one living in France and claiming to be unable to work receiving 175GBP per week. |
Bertie Fox
said:
|
... I get incandescent when I read comments like those of the 'Taxpayers' Alliance'. For their information, most of us who are ex-pats have already spent a life time in work paying British taxes, and are STILL paying UK taxes as we aren't able to opt out if we were employed in things like teaching or public service. We get almost nothing in return for our taxes now as we live elsewhere and have to pay all over again, for things like the health service. What is iniquitous is that Winter Fuel Allowance cannot be claimed if you didn't claim it before you left the UK. There is no justice or logic to that, and many of us live in areas COLDER than the UK. Need, and your contribution record in taxes, should be the only criteria. |
Bob Williams
said:
|
... The winter fuel payment is the ONLY benefit that us expats get. Our Pension is a pittance, especially with the weak Pound. Maybe the "Taxpayers Alliance should consider that most of us have paid in to the NHS system all of our lives and yet as soon as we leave the UK we get kicked out of the UK Health system, yet any immigrant arriving in the UK can after a very short period get all the benefits that they have never contributed to !! If they want to try to stop the winter fuel payment then let them reinstate the right to free NHS treatment ? |
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Expats claiming winter fuel allowances
It has been revealed that almost 65,000 British expats living in Europe are receiving winter fuel payments which could be costing the British government nearly £14 million each year. ...
It has been revealed that almost 65,000 British expats living in Europe are receiving winter fuel payments which could be costing the British government nearly £14 million each year. ...
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