£35 k now

It’s going to be paid out universally and reclaimed via tax for those earning 35k or more….wonder what the class as earnings.

Think we all know the answer to that, State Pension, private pension, most benefits, interest on savings, etc
Even so it's more of a fairer level than the previous one. Don't think it'll repair the damage already done, and expect another hit on pensioners in the spending review that's coming up. Might even see a tinkering with the Triple Lock.

How about a tariff for the over 65's.
Or how about cheaper energy prices for all!

You will have to apply for it like any benefits and prove you don’t have earnings of over £35k which will be off putting for some people and save the government money.

Pensioners above the £35,000 threshold will have the full amount of the Winter Fuel Payment they received automatically collected via PAYE, or via their Self-Assessment return,' says the Treasury announcement.

Seems reasonable to me imo. As a universal benefit or what we ended up with was a bit daft.

Who does self assessments, I don’t, no need to as HMRC know what my income is and tax me accordingly,never done one since I stopped working. Just another barrier to put people of claiming it.

Self employed for example.

All pensioners will get the full amount, those over £35,000 will have their tax code adjusted for it if HMRC know your income, pension, interest etc or if you are self employed, landlord etc etc, via the self assessment.

Is it BACK DATED.

Shouldn't need WFA, if the State Pension was at least the Living Wage, and of course energy companies weren't fleecing us to feed their greedy shareholders.

yes from 1939

Compare our pensions with a Europe.
Governments talk of a living wage…shouldn’t pensioners get that….but taxable.

44 pints!

All they have done is return us to where we were before they decided to put their hands into our revenue stream and remove £200/£300 last winter, which they are not going to return.
The figure of £35k as the threshold instead of £11k, below which you qualify, is interesting though. Is it an admittance of the amount people need to live on and not the measly state pension as it stands. People are lobbying for the state pension to be at least the equivalent of the minimum wage.
Playing the cynic card, I wonder what the sting in the tail for pensioners is. Are we being softened up for other measures about to be revealed.
How long will it be before they start bragging that they've given us something extra, when in fact all they've done is return the status quo for nine million of us.
Bunch of amateurs.
Farage says it is a step in the right direction. The fact is it is just a step back from the direction that should never have been made in the first place.

I'll be amazed if she doesn't take something more from us in the upcoming spending review, plans to means test triple lock, free prescriptions, bus passes, eye tests, etc
Labour always sees pensions and pensioners as low hanging fruit.

I hope the message has got through to the liberal metropolitan elite that working class pensioners vote.
So the message is to them "you touch us and we will touch you"

The Triple Lock will be under threat, it has been quoted in many sectors as being unsustainable, but who dare abolish it or replace it with something else ?
Some of the younger generation feel why should pensioners have a guaranteed rise every year not realising the State Pension is 50% of The Living Wage.

You are Not being cynical in the least, I would say realistic.

Free prescriptions, Always makes me laugh.

No you don't have to apply for it Jimbo, it'll be paid automatically to everyone who has reached state pension age by the 15th of September 2025.

And the tax will be reclaimed afterwards by HMRC for those who have an income of over £35,000.

Reform leaders don't believe in the Triple lock so it's under pressure if they get in but Mr Tice is fine with his offshore trust.

They said it was unaffordable, now apparently it is…bullshit.
Pointless pointing out the ‘what if’s’ when the problem’s here and now.
The winter fuel allowance was a pointless exercise that was reversed, but won’t earn them any points….they’ve just admitted they were wrong…from their point of view they’d have been better off toughing it out…because there’s a list of those who they’ve also upset and who can smell blood and waking up to pushing a review of their own grievances.

Self assessment doesn't include any income from ISAs so people earning substantially over £35k will get the wfa if they have their savings in the tax free pot. Or are labour going to go after tax free ISAs?

Mr Splod, wfa will be added to your income so you will pay tax on it if over the 35k limit. They will adjust the tax allowance.

If your income comes from ISAs then it's not part of your tax return so they won't be able to claim it back.

exactly. its not just pensioners who are having problems heating there houses. there will be millions out there earning far less than £35,000 who,ll be getting sod all. about time shareholders feel the pinch as well as the rest of us.

Greater control of the energy sector is needed in terms of regulation.

i,m happy with what i get if it was like it was for years, tax free. get the buggers to pay more of it who earn more and leave state pensioners and the poorly paid out of it. there will be many businesses out there who avoid paying there whack both legally and illegally and not just nail bars and mens hairdressing either.

could add water and public transport to that list. funny how the cost of living never seemed as big a topic till thatcher got her feet under the table.

You will not be amazed.

Until they tax isas

I bet some Party hack has read this and texted Rachel

Unless you have a few £20k ISAs over the years, the interest is negligible.

But then it wouldn't be an ISA!

They won't tax them but I can see the yearly limit getting pushed right down, maybe to 5K? There was a lower limit before - 15K I think.

If electricity and gas wasn’t so expensive there would be no need for WFA, the utility companies can’t lose, you get the WFA and it goes straight into their coffers.

The government encourages you to save so it takes you above the level to claim benefits, think the initial is £6000 savings then benefits reduced upto £16000 then nought.

The odd thing is, in their clean energy future, the energy will be electric….but if the same buggers are in charge, the screwing will continue, it won’t be any cheaper.

There are people, and sadly I'm not one of them, who have invested in ISAs since they came in who will have over £1million who pay no tax on the income of over £40k. This is not their original purpose. ISAs should be capped at 100k with no additional contributions allowed or tax free income capped at 10K PA. IF Rachel from accounts is watching please take notice.

£1million!!

I was going to question this figure until I checked it out, but I see what you mean.

WOW.