What's your MOOD today

[Horus]

Glad that it all went off OK for you all and of course commiserations all round.

[Grandad]

APPREHENSIVE Just waiting for a telcon with my doctor to discuss results of my recent echo cardiogram. But if there were any concerns he would have asked me to go and see him.....I hope.

[Horus]

Slightly ANNOYED, I ordered some switches that I needed in a hurry from Amazon on ‘Prime’ only to receive an email yesterday when they should have been here to say they may arrive today or even tomorrow by Royal Mail.

[Grandad]

APPREHENSIVE Just waiting for a telcon with my doctor to discuss results of my recent echo cardiogram. But if there were any concerns he would have asked me to go and see him.....I hope.

Just had a discussion with the doc and the report was identical to last year so no change of management of my heart condition at this stage. Although I can't do anything physical now, at least things are stable and in some respects that is a good thing.
My mood has raised to OPTIMISTIC

[Horus]

Happy, my switches have just arrived

[Mad Dilys]

Energetic!

Doing mind numbing jobs I've avoided for too long. So writing this while I've got my eye on the other Old laptop while I install a new security system and do a complete scan. It's taken about 3 hours so far. Even as I type it's finished - no action needed and 259043 files scanned, mindboggling really.

I also deleted 430 items that had been transferred from my phone when I tried to get a photo from my phone. Strange, because I downloaded some a week ago and there was nothing untoward. Anyway job well done.

I also remembered to tape over the camera lens on each device. My daughter is always nagging me about having it open.

[Grandad]

CONTENT No worries and that nice Mr Philip Hammond has just deposited £150 in my bank account, Mrs G always gets her share a few days later. SO pleased this Government continues to help the old folk to keep warm in winter.

[Mad Dilys]

Happy. Good sleep, warm house and going out this afternoon.

[Ruby Slippers]

CONTENT No worries and that nice Mr Philip Hammond has just deposited £150 in my bank account, Mrs G always gets her share a few days later. SO pleased this Government continues to help the old folk to keep warm in winter.

I thought it was £100 each Grandad?

[Horus]

CONTENT No worries and that nice Mr Philip Hammond has just deposited £150 in my bank account, Mrs G always gets her share a few days later. SO pleased this Government continues to help the old folk to keep warm in winter.

Nearly forgot about that being due mind you Grandad you will get that bit extra now I suppose. Because there is only myself now they do send me the £200 in one go, but when you consider the rise in fuel prices over the last 10 years since it was introduced, then its value is declining each year

[Horus]

RS it goes up above a certain age

[Grandad]

RS, I just checked because I could'nt remember the rules. There is a scale of payments depending on age and one or two people living together but the main line for this year is:
Anyone in the house born between 25 September 1937 and 5 August 1953 £200
Born before 24 September 1937 £300.
I paid my wifes NI top up for the few years before she qualified for retirememnt pension, we have our pensions paid separately, not as a couple, and therefore she gets half the winter fuel allowance of £150.

Interesting that you cannot claim this allowance if you live in Spain and some other countries as ex pats because their climate is considered milder than the UK, BUT I distinctly remember ex pat friends in Luxor getting it??? One friend in particular contacted Social Services to say he didn't need it and would they stop it. The reply was, just accept it because it is too complicated to cancel it???

[Horus]

Born between 25 September 1937 and 5 August 1953 you get the figure in the 1st column
Born on or before 24 September 1937 you get the figure in brackets

Your Circumstances
You qualify and live alone (or none of the people you live with qualify) £200 (£300)

You qualify and live with someone under 80 who also qualifies £100 (£200)

You qualify and live with someone 80 or over who also qualifies £100 (£150)

You qualify, live in a care home and don’t get certain benefits £100 (£150)

Basically any one household receives £200 total or £300 if age qualifies you.

[Ruby Slippers]

I stand corrected! Thanks for the info gentlemen.

[Grandad]

So in my case we qualify under the third line of Horus's full explanation from the .Gov website. I chose to just quote what applied to us because that is what RS had referred to.

[Horus]

I have in fact experienced several variations, when Mrs H was alive we would receive one payment each of £100 totaling £200 per household, since her passing I receive the £200 as one payment. In my mothers case it was the one payment of £300 because she was living alone but over the age limit. If one person in the household of a couple is retired then they will receive the full £200, once the second person retires they will each receive only £100.

[Grandad]

once the second person retires they will each receive only £100.

Unless the couple chose to receive their state pension jointly in which case the total amount is paid to the account to which the state pension is paid. In our case we have separate state pensions and separate bank accounts so we are paid half each directly.

All very confusing really with different age cut off points and different numbers of people, and their qualification, in the same household. They don't have to be related. Most state benefits can be complicated, that is why they have tried to simplify things with the Universal Credit; but that is still not sorted.

[Horus]

Unless the couple chose to receive their state pension jointly in which case the total amount is paid to the account to which the state pension is paid.

Same difference Grandad, two pensions paid into the same bank account means that two Winter fuel payments are paid in that same bank account which of course equal the total payment that each individual would receive in their own right if paid separately . Paying benefits jointly is just a convenience for the couple and the state.

[LovelyLadyLux]

To jump in here - You're getting a rebate back on heating costs? (Wish we had that here)

Feeling great today. Bit tired and I'm not sure why but just feeling me.

[Mad Dilys]

Upbeat - though weary. My mind has been very busy the last few days especially at night. BUT..................... I have committed myself to starting off my collection - note that - of Amaryllis today AND as a priority sorting out posting pictures on here as a priority.

Well, that's the theory anyway.