Allotments 4 All
General => The Shed => Topic started by: jimtheworzel on December 23, 2010, 18:02:17
-
3 cold weather payments so far, the cash is rolling in! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
Along with your other benefits, I assume.
valmarg
-
if this weather continues, I'm sure you'll need it, I'm dreading our next fuel bills :-\
-
if this weather continues, I'm sure you'll need it, I'm dreading our next fuel bills :-\
So are we, but we don't qualify for any of the 'benefits' which in turn qualify you for the cold weather payments. Believe me we are not well off. Gordon Brown, when he abolished the 10% tax rate effectively doubled OH's income tax. My state and personal pensions do not add up to enough for me to be a tax payer.
Your bragging jim does not go down well with the likes of OH and me.
valmarg
-
[/quote]
Gordon Brown, when he abolished the 10% tax rate effectively doubled OH's income tax.
valmarg
[/quote]
My OH read something the other day that the personal allowance is going to go up by quite a lot. I find it strange that we have to pay income tax on salaries that are not a living wage, but hopefully that will help a lot of people on low incomes.
-
The VAT on the fuel bills was supposed to raise the revenue to give to those who need it.
It is bemusing that people can pay tax from a meagre income and still be eligible for means tested benefits.
My old age pension exceeds my tax allowance and because I have a small private pension (which I saved for.) The excess is given as a minus on my tax code for that pension. I can not claim any means tested benefits because I have savings. House paid for. I probably could claim if I paid rent and had spent instead of saving.
I was told that the cost of processing means tested benefits exceeds the cost of giving out certain benefits to those who are not needy. So, it is cheaper to give every one over 60 their winter fuel allowance, free bus pass, £10 Christmas bonus and for over 75's. A free TV license.
It stands to reason that the cost of collecting income tax in small amounts from those with an income under a far higher figure than is set as the current tax free allowance is not cost effective either.
Perhaps the system is in place to keep more people employed dealing with all these tax forms and queries.
By my reckoning. If the tax code was increased to 15K and the tax rate was increased, then people earning over 20K would still be paying the same in income tax. The loss from the collection of small amounts of tax would be off set by the reduction in the cost of processing same.
However, I suppose the headlines would just show that the tax rate had increased. That could be political suicide for the millionair MPs for whom a restaurant bill probably exceeds what many of us have to live on for a week.
-
Just checked the gas meter, there goes the 'lead' I had with the direct debit. Gas price now going up too, oh well you can't complain much at £11 per month and yes it is a rather cold in this household. Now where's the downstairs duvet?
-
No cold weather payment here, but I've calculated that my gas usage for December will be more than 1/3rd higher than this time last year, so I'm not looking forward to the bill!
Tricia
-
You people on gas central heating should consider yourselves fortunate. I just filled my oil tank and it was just a little under £1200. Since I ordered mine back in November, I read in the paper that oil suppliers have tripled their prices in the last couple of weeks. :o
-
Wow Pauline that is one hell of a bill.
We do appreciate being on mains gas, but whilst it might be cheaper, and with the added advantage of being 'on tap', this month has been horrendous.
We are still fortunate that we do not have to choose between heat or eat, but it is getting worrying, with the savings dwindling.
Still, it's nice to know that while we are struggling to keep warm, we are all keeping jimtheworzel in the warmth we can only dream of.
valmarg
-
You people on gas central heating should consider yourselves fortunate. I just filled my oil tank and it was just a little under £1200. Since I ordered mine back in November, I read in the paper that oil suppliers have tripled their prices in the last couple of weeks. :o
:o How long before you have to re-fill?
-
My daughter has fired central heating & in the last year it has cost her £120. per month. We had a new boiler fitted 15 months ago & our gas went down from £73 a month to £31 & we are £80 in credit so hopefully that will help towards having to have it on so much with the cold snaps.
-
You people on gas central heating should consider yourselves fortunate. I just filled my oil tank and it was just a little under £1200. Since I ordered mine back in November, I read in the paper that oil suppliers have tripled their prices in the last couple of weeks. :o
:o How long before you have to re-fill?
Last year the oil lasted 12 months but this year has been much colder for longer so we will use a lot more. We use very little in the summer because we have solar energy which supplements our hot water. If this weather keeps up we will have to fill up again before the winter is out.
We have cavity wall insulation, double glazing and very thick insulation in the loft so have done our best to keep the heat in and minimise the oil we use but with such extremes of temperature, it really gets through it.
I am pleased that there is a cold winter payment for pensioners and certainly do not begrudge Jimtheworzel and others in his position getting help in this very cold weather. I know I wouldn't be happy if I had to live on £132.60 a week, the single allowance or £202.40 a week for a couple, yet there are a lot of people struggling along on this income.
-
I get cold weather payments and up to now I have had 4 x £25 paid to me. I have to live on £130.00 a week. I worked for 40 years selfemployed before I retired, and I never earned more than £90.00 per week, Never had any benefits and I have been a widower for 25 years (No widowers pension for me as I didn't qualify). I had to look after my disabled mother for the last 7 years of her life, and I also put my two children through Uni. Only now do I get a little help from the state I also get a small pension from when I worked for Powell Duffryn which is for the grand sum of £23.00 per month before tax. Out of my £130.00 per month my outgoings for Gas Electric Council Tax, Insurance etc., come to £98.00. Which leaves me with £32.00 for luxuries like Food, clothing, house repairs, TV license. The only Holiday I have had was a day trip to Barry island last August before that I had a holiday in 1986. To me the allotment is not just a hobby but I need my plot to feed me. Not every body on benefits are living a life of pleasure to me its a daily struggle
-
Mums on oil and logs but the last 1000 litres was only 69p a litre. It's really important to shop around other people paid 10p more in the same village. She's also trying to get a double delivery with next door which drops the price.
You people on gas central heating should consider yourselves fortunate. I just filled my oil tank and it was just a little under £1200. Since I ordered mine back in November, I read in the paper that oil suppliers have tripled their prices in the last couple of weeks. :o
I totally agree Pauline7 although that's at least in part because I can't afford an expensive house out in the country or to own any house/flat for that matter.
-
Mums on oil and logs but the last 1000 litres was only 69p a litre. It's really important to shop around other people paid 10p more in the same village. She's also trying to get a double delivery with next door which drops the price.
Your Mum paid over the odds then gp.girl. Mine was 58p a litre because I ordered it at the end of November. I shopped around before I ordered and found some Companies were charging at least 10p a litre more. According to the press, because heating oil is in such demand, Companies are now charging over a £1 a litre! We will definitely install a wood burning stove next year.
-
valmarg i live on £135.18 a week pension after 50 years working
i pay gas , electric ,council tax, t/v licence ... not a lot left for food
AND I DONT CLAIM BENEFITS
jimtheworzel
-
The DHSS consider the OAP as a benefit. (They told me that when I said it was an entitlement we had all paid into it).
But to get the £25 a week cold weather payment. It is dependent on being entitled to a means tested benefit of some sort.
A lot of people get annoyed that they can not claim these benefits because they have deliberately been frugal and saved.
When some one brags that they are getting extra. Understandably those who are not , get annoyed.
JIM you started it..........THAT was bragging
Now you are winging
May I add the sum you say you get a week is more than I get and I can not claim the cold weather payment.
I do not care if you worked for 5 50 or 500 years. But if what you say is your pension then it is not a full one.
Neither is mine. I took years off to bring up kids because before 1978 we women, did not automatically get our contributions covered whilst we took time off to take care of our kids.
-
When did his obvious delight at getting a bit of much needed extra cash become bragging? Something to share with your friends who will be Pleased for you?
We vaunt ourselves on A4A as being "a community", so let's be pleased that "Jim", who I think is called Pete, has got some much-needed help with his fuel bills. It would be great if we all had loadsa dosh but until that happens let's be happy for those that do get a bit of extra help!
-
When did his obvious delight at getting a bit of much needed extra cash become bragging?
When he made his first post about his glee in getting the £25 a week rolling in.
THEN he said he did not claim benefits.
You have to claim benefits to get them...........derrrrrrrrrrr
-
When did his obvious delight at getting a bit of much needed extra cash become bragging? Something to share with your friends who will be Pleased for you?
We vaunt ourselves on A4A as being "a community", so let's be pleased that "Jim", who I think is called Pete, has got some much-needed help with his fuel bills. It would be great if we all had loadsa dosh but until that happens let's be happy for those that do get a bit of extra help!
Well and said and I agree. It's not bragging to state that some extra money had come in. Maybe more of a 'hallelujah, finally!' Sheesh ::)
-
Good on you mate, grateful for my £250 payment, was in credit, but it all evens out as I pay the same all year, and don't use the heating in the summer, only for hot water. Not so cold here in London, but realise that it much colder elsewhere in the country.
-
I do not care if you worked for 5 50 or 500 years. But if what you say is your pension then it is not a full one.
Purple Heather, as stated previously, the full state pension with a pension credit is only £132.60.
See:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/DG_188551
Jim states that he gets £130. He may get an extra £2.60 or maybe they take something off his pension perhaps for an overpayment last year. Whatever he gets it is a very small amount to live on and I am delighted he gets help in the form of a cold weather payment.
Purple Heather, if your income is less than Jim's, why are you not receiving the pension credit?
Where I do disagree with anyone receiving a pension credit is when they have previously had money and then spent it. Someone I know separated from her husband twenty years ago, got several thousand pounds from her house sale and then spent it all touring the World. When it came to her retirement she had no savings left, no works pension and has to rely on benefits. That is unfair.
When did his obvious delight at getting a bit of much needed extra cash become bragging? Something to share with your friends who will be Pleased for you?
We vaunt ourselves on A4A as being "a community", so let's be pleased that "Jim", who I think is called Pete, has got some much-needed help with his fuel bills. It would be great if we all had loadsa dosh but until that happens let's be happy for those that do get a bit of extra help!
Well spoken Grawrc.
-
valmarg i live on £135.18 a week pension after 50 years working
i pay gas , electric ,council tax, t/v licence ... not a lot left for food
AND I DONT CLAIM BENEFITS
jimtheworzel
Lucky you, my weekly income is £32.66. Fortunately, OH's is slightly more.
To receive the cold weather payments you have to be in receipt of other benefits.
I assume as you don't claim them they are paid automatically. >:( >:(
valmarg
-
There is something quite repulsive going on in some of these posts,some begrudging others a cold weather payment.
Presume none of us too badly off in the scheme of things as we seem to be able to afford a computer and go on line,all which has to be paid for,not exactly a priority for
those who are obviously close to poverty.
Good luck to you Jim.
-
thanks BETULA for your post
while they slag me off someone is left alone, even them!
regards jim
-
The goverment would have us believe that anyone in reciept of benefits is a scrounger and probably a fraudster.
They can't really go wrong when people are prepared to promote that belief direcly or, indirectly.
Seems that it does'nt pay to share information of this kind anymore.
You can get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credi and, if this is the case for Jim, good luck to him.
-
Wow - I thought I was on MSE then.
:o
-
Good luck to you Jimbo. :P ;D ;D ;D
-
I am pleased that people who cannot afford it get cold weather payments. I hope you are keeping warm Jim.
I am always pleased that someone gets something back from the government if they are entitled to it. What concerns me is people who are not entitled to it or choose to have benefits rather than work. But there are not enough jobs to go round at the moment, so it is impossible to expect people to do jobs which simply do not exist.
I am not looking forward to my gas bill at all. But thank goodness for thermal underwear.
-
Lucky you, my weekly income is £32.66. Fortunately, OH's is slightly more.
To receive the cold weather payments you have to be in receipt of other benefits.
I assume as you don't claim them they are paid automatically. >:( >:(
valmarg
[/quote]
I can only assume if this is all you are receiving you must have millions in the bank, to receive pension credit you are not allowed to have more than £8.000 in the bank ( I think it is even higher now) if you receive pension credit yu will automatically get the cold weather payment.
-
I sometimes help people claim 'benefits' (?) ie, money to which they are entitled.
Sorry, can't provide a link, but would urge everyone over 60 reading this thread & who think they might qualify or who knows some who might, to please Google something like.."Pension Credit/Savings Credit" which should bring you to the relevant up-to-date Gov.site. There you can do an on-line calculation, and take it from there....
It's possible that a Savings Credit entitlement won't qualify you for the Cold Weather Payments, but it certainly will ensure that, if you have entitlement, you will get a weekly amount credited to your bank account and, as the ad. said........every little helps" ! Even a small amount might give you knock-on benefits, ie, reduced dental payments, etc.
And I want to stress that this money is an ENTITLEMENT (shouty caps used) and not a 'benefit'.
-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/index.htm
-
Jim, all the best to you, very pleased indeed you are getting cold weather payment. Do not concern yourself with others that are making comments to you.
Just keep warm s*d the moaners.
-
Thanks for posting the link Anne 8) To keep this simple, please anyone, click in the Penson Credit pic of the lady on the rt, the one with the CAKE and the prezies?......she, unsettlingly, morphs into a fella, but the info is sound.....
And Rosebud is SO right, for me........keep warm, everyone .
-
Hurray for Rosebud, hurray for Jim. What a nasty streak is appearing here, perhaps it is the after Christmas blues.
-
Perhaps some people would prefer to return to the days of the 'workhouse' ::). ::) ::)?
We probably all know of benefit cheats, frauds whatever you want to call them but then we must also acknowledge that there are cases that do not get what they are entitled to. Our SiL was assaulted & suffered a very severe head injury which almost killed him. As a result he needs a walking stick & as he is young, 41 but it happened 5 years ago, he is often accused of fiddling the DLA by using his stick. If only the doubters could see what a struggle every day is for him & our wonderful daughter.
-
AND HURRAY FOR BORLOTTI WHO'S BEEN SHARING HER WINTER WARMTH WITH THE TERRIBLE TWINS 8) ;D
Wanna Nupdate on the TTs....
Pleeeeease?
:-*
-
3 cold weather payments so far, the cash is rolling in! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Whether it is right or wrong, the sentiment of this opening post is undeniably boastful, so don't get upset when people take it as it was intended. Saying that they are spiteful or nasty is frankly deluded.
-
Yes, but if you knew Jim, you'd know that he wasn't boasting in the way some people might think and that he probably wishes everybody could have the same and more (and for the record, I don't think too many members saw it as boasting)
Ok, all together now (http://www.lakemountaincabin.com/icons/animated-camp-fire.gif) Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya. I'll be dishing out the marshmallows later.
-
(and for the record, I don't think too many members saw it as boasting)
Or if they did, they didn't say so, which in my book is a lot worse.
-
Spot-on S-L 8)
but although I 100% agree........please, please, do I really really have to eat marshmallows? :'(
Cos if so I'm gonna haveta change my mind...DOWN WIV JIMBO!!! Down wiv Marshamallows!!!.........
Not that my mind's easily swayed nor nuffink.......
grrr........shudder.....
-
D'ya want to share my quality street, H ?
I don't like marshmallows either and my throat's too sore for kumbaya from the 'flu ;D
Jim doesn't boast :)
-
Manics, I'll share your QS if I can share your purple ones.
PS Jim doesn't boast.
PPS Does that get me extra purple QS's?
-
Now if we're talking boasting ... I've got some Ferrero Rocher!!! Came parcelled with a thrive mug. Courgette seeds and plant labels all the way from somewhere near Haywards Heath courtesy of Daveyboi!! But that's another story!! ;)
-
At last!!! I knew that if I hung around long enuff the thread would turn into a Sensible Discussion 8)
Choklit. ;D
I've got loads here but honestly, yes, really really honestly, from a Dedicated Taster of Chokit (well, someone's gotta do it - sigh.)
A box from l'artisan du chocolait
www.artisanduchocolat.com
Seriously, seriously superior and seriously, seriously bloody brilliant.
XXX
-
Sorry, Mrs Bucket, only got strawberry and orange creams left, few fudge and some turkish delight. Could I interest you in some Irish Cream liquers..BTW, the purple ones are my favvie ;D
Anne, thank you but I'll pass on the ferrero rocher, got a box of them in the fridge, wish I could taste things ;D
-
Hope you are soon better Manic.
-
Hope you are soon better Manic.
thanks, Pauline, at least I am able to think straight today ;D
-
What gets my goat are the expats living in the likes of Spain and Portugal getting £250 Winter Fuel Payments. So leave Jim alone. ;D
-
Very well said Daitheplant.
Now who would like a piece of my Terrys DARK cholite orange Mmmmmmm.
I like father christmas now LOL.
-
There used to be a shop in Soho, on the way to work, that I could buy Gala Peter chocolate. Dark, hard and qute bitter (cholik that is), does that chocklit still exist?
-
lol, lol, Lottie lou.
-
I'm a Leonidas girl myself!
www.leonidas.com (http://www.leonidas.com)
-
I don't blame you. Leonidas chocolates have to be the very best in the UK.
Mmmm my mouth is now watering and cornflakes just won't cut it for breakfast
-
Im glad Jim is getting what he's entitled to ;D
So many people do not claim what theyre entitled to and its a shame.
For me, I have a gas card meter prepay thing, which is nice because I always know where I am with it, even if it did run out on Christmas day ::) and I had £5 emergency credit o last until the shops reopened.
I have 2 very ancient gas fires downstairs and no heating at all upstairs, no loft insulation, the kids and I have extra duvets, blankets and hot water bottles. Now that the house is in my name (cos of the divorce), next year will mean new fires, loft insulation and hopefully central heating for upstairs.
I just wonder what the January and Febuary weather has in store for us !! ;)
-
Mortality, now that you are on your own with the children, you may be eligible for loft insulation and cavity wall insulation grants of up to 100%. Have a look below and click the button "Click here to apply now". It is very straightforward and gives you an instant answer after answering only three questions.
http://www.government-grants.co.uk/cavity-wall-loft-insulation-grants.shtml
-
Sorry, pauline, but that site is not a government site so the info may not be accurate. I see from the directgov site that all this year's money under the warmfront scheme has been used up.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018661?CID=MTB&PLA=warmfront&CRE=lowincome (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018661?CID=MTB&PLA=warmfront&CRE=lowincome)
The best chance of grants is probably through your own energy supplier as they are obliged to offer a certain amount of help to some people.
-
I have so many goodies but I am not saying what in case you want me to share and I am not sharing.
Forgot to say a friend of mine has a very small entitlement about £2 a week but this has enabled her to get Heating payments so it is worth applying even if you think you are not entitled as you may just get in.