Cold Weather Payments In The UK Lads Check Your Area !!!!!!!!!

[John Callon]

Hi Tony,

How are things with you, all well I hope. As I said in my post above, we are not entitled to any winter heating allowance.
Regards
John

[Tony Wilding]

hello john, am going to phone them tomorrow, to see if i get it, am ok, usual arthritus pain, hope to escape from UK in the next 4 weeks, so my last winter here, too cold and too expensive here for me now, have downsized my car to a small diesel corsa, just about afford to run that, just rented an apartment in the phillipines, £19 a week, pay almost that per day here, with council tax i do, no heat or council tax bills there, warm climate better for my arthritus, anyway have friends there also, ex UK seaman, petrol around 60p a liter, food cheap, can live well and save half my pension there, found a nice girl there, so wont be alone anymore, hope all is well with you, got to sell all my model ships, too many now, best wishes, tony.

[John Callon]

Tony

Many thanks for your reply. I sincerely hope everything works out for you my friend in the Phillipines. I would say I know more than most on this website regarding your situation and I wish you all the best. You deserve it. I will never forget the invaluable advice and encouragment you gave me when I first started painting the model ships. Sorry to read that you have to sell some of your models. Would it not be possible to pack them all up and take them with you.
Do you have a model of the Aquitania for sale.
Regards,
John

[happy daze john in oz]

Obviously the UK gov does not realy care about those most in need from what I read. Here in Oz the states all have various concessions on heating and power. In Victoria the Liberal gov have extended the 10% concession on power for all pensioners to all year. It was winter months only but now all year so air conditioners can be used in summer.

[Tony Wilding]

hi john, yes have one u can have, will pm u, later, its a nice one all complete, a nice looking model, yes john my luck change at last, got a real good one now, have been communicating over 1 year, now time to be there, cant take UK any more, She has had it hard also, so now we both have a better life, just rented a apartment there, pay more here for 1 day in rent than 1 month there, nice warm climate, lovely beaches to swim in, and no more council tax or heating bills, u would not believe the poverty there, and yet they remain happy, when i speak to her sometimes about her conditions of living, the reply i get is, no choice, ! so we both have a better life. will get back to u about the model, have so many john, best i sell them, one is very rare , in sealed box, fRANCONIA, only 500 produced, i have 2, other one is not mint or boxed but nice, catch u later, tony.

[Ivan Cloherty]

hi john, yes have one u can have

Hi Tony

It will probably be heartbreaking for you to sell them, but if you put a list of companies of the ships you have, and approximate prices you need for models I feel sure that the boys would love to have some and give them a good home and would definately be pleased to help in any way they can. Just my thoughts so cannot speak for others but I don't know a seaman who wouldn't like a model of a ship he served upon if he could afford it

My particular interest would be PSNC "S" Class and Ropners

Good luck in your endeavours

Ivan

[Red Lead Ted]

If you are both OAPs mate look into this payment and if need be see a benefit advisor. This is a means tested benefit yet most member,s of the house of lords gets this it is a grant. Dont give up on it John you are as entitled if not more than most who get it best regards mate Good luck Terry.

[Jacyn Wade]

I am most intrigued! How cold does it have to be to get a 'cold weather payment'? How much do they give you? I can just imagine trying to get such a thing in Canada... the laughter would be deafening!!!

[Tony Morcom]

Hi Jacyn

It has to fall below zero 7 nights consecutively to receive the payment which is £25. You have to remember that we are not geared up in the UK for these really cold winters as of late. The houses weren't built for them and the heating systems are therefore very expensive to run. Anyone on a pension or on benefits dreads this time of year because it is so expensive. We live in a rented 1960s house end of terrace. At the moment its costing £2.41 per day electric and £3.50 per day gas. That's an average over the past 30 days where the heating has had to be on continuously. Hopefully we'll be using the heating less over the coming week as the temps are due to rise to +4 degrees minimum again. £42 per week just for gas and elect is a big chunk when you rely solely on benefits. Gas and Elect are due to start coming down in price soon as at the moment they are ridiculously high. You guys in Canada are more used to it and also the infrastructure is built to cope with it.

Take care

[Jacyn Wade]

Thanks for the explanation, Tony. I'm afraid my post made me sound a bit of a dolt - I do understand England doesn't get anywhere near as cold as it is in Canada in winter but I'm happy to hear that at least the cost of heating is acknowledged.

Here in Ontario, our electricity is quite expensive as well, but in recent years, they've added a 'debt retirement' charge to our bills, as well as the recently added HST (harmonized sales tax) of 15%, and they have no mercy when it comes to paying. If we get a little behind on a bill, next thing we know they're sending us a letter with a date for cutoff of services if they don't get paid, no matter how cold it is outside. This used to be illegal, at least in winter, but not anymore. They've also installed 'smart meters' and altered the electricity rates according to time of day, which doesn't work if one works from home, is retired, etc. If my husband has a particularly busy month of welding, for example, our electricity bill can be as high as $600 or more. It can be tough to decide who to pay some months, mortgage or electricity or food.

Well, I hope it warms up for you all soon. I hear Europe is having a very tough winter this year. Interestingly, we're having a very mild one. Cheers!