Russethouse Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 As thought WFA is going to be subject to a temperature test......it will be interesting to see the details.[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 And I just thought they needed a tape measure and a set of scales? Why a temperature too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 Details, such as they are here : https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209036/spending-round-2013-complete.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Acronyms are fine as long as you know what they mean. I cannot open the link, but it obviously wasn't for Weight For Age (WFA), which I did have a nosey at recently. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 'No longer payable to countries with an average winter temperature higher than the UK' Hmmmm, taken literally, that is us guggered. But then, it doesnt make sense: do they mean northern France, southern, eastern etc? The variations are large. Maybe south of the Loire? But maybe there is more detail as I only read the summary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Ah, winter fuel allowance, well never ever thought of that as I don't get it[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote user="woolybanana"]'No longer payable to countries with an average winter temperature higher than the UK' Hmmmm, taken literally, that is us guggered. But then, it doesnt make sense: do they mean northern France, southern, eastern etc? The variations are large. Maybe south of the Loire? But maybe there is more detail as I only read the summary.[/quote]I can see huge problems with this idea - as you say there are huge regional differences.....On the other hand, its really very little, £100 each, if that is really going to make a difference in calculation as to whether to move abroad or not then really the answer is not to...I know, I know, its the principle [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Isn't it the Principle ? [geek] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote user="woolybanana"]'No longer payable to countries with an average winter temperature higher than the UK' Hmmmm, taken literally, that is us guggered. But then, it doesnt make sense: do they mean northern France, southern, eastern etc? The variations are large. Maybe south of the Loire? But maybe there is more detail as I only read the summary.[/quote]Well down here in the south we can still get -15 deg in winter (except this year of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote user="Russethouse"]Details, such as they are here : https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209036/spending-round-2013-complete.pdf[/quote]Thanks RH. But 68 pages!! I think I'll get a few copies of the report and burn thse to keep warm! [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I wouldn't worry wooly. With this lot's record Vince or Nick will object, Danny will dither, and in the end it will be dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 I've just looked at a temperature average for Europe and people in Belgium, Germany and Holland should be fine with this. France, the Channel Islands, Spain, Italy and Greece etc won't. Wonder how it will work out, what geniuseses in a goverment department will make a right royal c ok up of it all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 The bit I think you are looking for is on page 10 and I quote...announcing that from autumn 2015, Winter Fuel Payments will no longer be payable to people living in a European country with an average winter temperature higher than the UK, saving £30 million a year. This is in response to a recent European court judgement that means more people in Europe can now claim Winter Fuel Payments.It's very difficult actually to discover what the average winter temperature really is as it varies between north and south plus which side (west or east) and how near the coast you live. However I did find a bit about the 2011/12 winter on the Met Office website which said the 'mean' that winter was +4.5 deg C which was +0.9 deg above normal. I have assumed that average and mean in this example are the same. Now France apparently has four recognised climate zones, if they take an average of the four zones then it is +6 deg C so your out of luck. If they accept that there are four zones then possibly the only one to meet the requirment would be the Alps at -2 deg.As a side issue I wonder what will happen if Scotland leaves the union. Technically their figures won't come in to the calculation and therefore the average winter temp in the UK would rise. However I have no idea if it would reach +6 deg.Sources.http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2012/winter.htmlhttp://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/climate/France.htmI have a sneeky feeling that those expats south of the UK will not be getting their winter fuel allowance in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 As I suffer from 20/20 hindsight, I was pretty sure that once the court case found in favour of all these additional people being able to claim WFA, even though the vast majority knew full well that they weren't going to be entitled if they moved to certain places or moved before they reached official retirement age, it was only going to be a matter of time before a way round this was investigated.Looks like a minority has spoiled it for the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote user="You can call me Betty"]Looks like a minority has spoiled it for the rest. [/quote]So what's new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 How long until we have temperature zones in the UK ? If Scotland leaves the union will they be treat as expats ?Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 To be honest, if Scotland leaves the union they will presumably be responsible for their own stuff. If you're English and want to move to Scotland, then I guess you'll be quids in. I don't think the Scottish temperature zone will prove to meet the requirements for warmer climes. If you're a Scot moving south, then you'll have to claim from Scotland when (if) they have rules in place.It'll be another of the myriad of issues and areas where Mr Salmond wants to have his cake and eat it, perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Its Cyprus, France, Gibralter, Greece, Malta, Spain & Portugal. Effective Dec 2015.I'm not at all fussed by it, because it was an illogical 'sop' introduced some years ago to mitigate a freeze in pensions. It took no reckoning of people's genuine needs nor means. To my mind, better that a low income pensioner received £1k, than an across-the board payment. However, anything like that would cost as much to administer as to pay.The thing that hisses me off is the assumption that anybody living in France is lappin up 20C in the depths of Winter. Not around here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 But, for people who live in the Uk and have never lived in France, their probable holidays in France have usually been to what appears to be sunny climes, and that they would imagine was the draw of moving to France for those that make the move. Who would think it could be cold and wet and perhaps very cold, in the south of France??[Www] Not really anyone I know in the UK, that is for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 The distinction between Winter Fuel payments, which should help with the extra costs of heating in Winter which is a general case, and the Cold weather allowance which is for people who have to face extreme conditions, seems to have been lost.I can understand the second being subject to temperature, but almost everyone has to pay more in Winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 It's to do with image though isn't it ? A bit like my townee friends who would remark on the 'fresh country smells' when they came to visit me in my fairly remote village.I sometimes wonder if any of our politicians ever leave London.Hoddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 Only if someone else pays fare [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 [quote user="NickP"][quote user="You can call me Betty"]Looks like a minority has spoiled it for the rest. [/quote]So what's new? [/quote] " The booze bill for Xmas covered "... as I have heard it referred to and bragged about many times ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 [quote user="Gardian"]Its Cyprus, France, Gibralter, Greece, Malta, Spain & Portugal. Effective Dec 2015.[/quote]Hang on a minute - what about Italy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Quite a few places in the South are cold in Winter:http://www.linternaute.com/voyage/climat/classement/villes/froidHow do those temperatures compare with Torquay for example? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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