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

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