All oaps can now claim winter fuel allowance.

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TAXPAYERS are to be squeezed for tens of millions more in winter fuel cash — for OAPs who have not lived in the UK for decades.

A Strasbourg ruling means the Government must pay the annual £200 to up to 444,000 expat pensioners in warm countries and tax havens across Europe.

Currently, only 73,000 OAPs living abroad get it, making a bill of £15million — but if they all claim it this could soar to £90 MILLION.

The blow comes after an ageing Brit living in low-tax Switzerland since 1988 won a landmark case against the Government last month.

Previously, the Department of Work and Pensions only had to give the cash to Brits living abroad if they became OAPs while living in the UK.

But the ruling means eligibility must now be extended to ALL elderly Brits living on the Continent — no matter when they hit pensionable age or how long they have been dodging UK taxes.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith last night vowed to create a rule on eligibility by temperature, saying: “We will fight these ridiculous EU rules. It is ludicrous we could have to pay more pensioners living in hot countries.”

The DWP confirmed: “It is now possible people living in the European Economic Area and Switzerland may be entitled to Winter Fuel Payment.”

Any household with someone who gets a pension qualifies for the £200. Those with someone over 80 get £300.

I thought you only got the money if the temp went below a certain level? Then folks in hot countries would not be entitled. Either way, as I said in an earlier post (You will be shocked) the amounts are miniscule compared to the total UK budget. They like to confuse you with Millions when they spend Billions and Trillions and you have no concept of how much a Billion (1000,000,000) or trillion (1,000,000,000,000) is, compared to a Million (1000,000). Confused?, I am, that's how they like to keep you.

Well, it didn't seem fair that those who were pension age before they moved here and qualified for the winter fuel payment in the UK, could still get it here. Whereas the ones who turned pension age after they'd moved here (like me) couldn't claim it! I wonder how easy it will be to claim it now and....could I get it backdated??!! x

Go for it Sally, you certainly need it with our winters. You are right, it is not fair, and as I pointed out, it's loose change percentage wise for the government.

The 'Winter Fuel' payment is a universal payment paid whatever the weather to people drawing the State Pension. The 'Cold Weather' payment is paid only when the temperature drops below a certain level for so many consecutive days - but this payment is means tested. I don't know the finer details of the Cold Weather payment as I don't qualify (my pension exceeds the lower income limit by £5.00!)

Sue

P.S. Information will be detailed on the Direct Gov website.......http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/Benefits/BenefitsInRetirement/DG_198331

I wonder if they will send us the paper work !!!!! to claim

When we moved here in 99, my husband was 62, we found out about WFP and were able to claim back Two years. Its a nice bunce November every year.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, But one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

A Billion Pounds ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes at the rate our government is spending it.

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548,000,000,000 In
696,000,000,000 Out

I love the 73,000,000,000 spent on "Other". What "Other" is that then?
They worry about a measly 40,000,000 (about 5%). The mind just boggles.

Scrap "Trident" that would save Billions

If you want to claim Winter Fuel Allowance, or find out if you are eligible for it to be back dated go to:
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and find out.

Thank you Ken the info !

Thanks for the information. I have just spoken with the International Pensions Office (where the original web site re-directed me to) and they are going to send me the forms when they are available later in the month. I know that doesn't mean I will get it but when I last tried several years ago they immediately said I wasn't elegible as I had left the UK before retirement so it is an improvement on that. Perhaps one step closer to maybe getting it.

I emailed the International Pensions Service and was told the same thing, CRU. Don't download the form on the original link as it is now obviously out of date. Good news, I hope! x