Tuesday 20 December 2011

The winter fuel allowance.

This is weird world we are living in!  I mean seriously weird!  Yesterday I got a letter telling me that my £200 winter heating bonus was in my bank account. I don't check the numbers as often as I should  so I was amazed to find it had been there for a couple of weeks...
I know that my husband also has a winter fuel allowance so I assumed that a mistake had been made....we couldn't take two for one household!
I rang them up and explained the situation ending cheerfully with
"So I would like you to take it back please.....shall I write you a cheque? "
The young lady was clearly  nervous and started to ask me personal details as a check that I really was who I said I was.
After  I answered  everything correctly she then went off to talk to someone  .
"Well the good news is that it is yours, you are entailed to it and we can't take it back."
This actually stunned me.     What sort of a world are we living in where someone doesn't want their fuel allowance and can't  put it back in the state pot ?
Since then I have spoken to several well heeled people around the parish who have also tried to hand the money back to the state with the same results.
So, this morning I am going visiting.   I have four cheques for £50 pounds in my pocket.  I know who needs it most..  but this sort of   redistribution of wealth is not quite what the socialist manifesto was all about.
    I am not really keen on assuming the mantel of Lady Bountiful... but I can do it if I have to!

3 comments:

KeyReed said...

Not exactly 'The Secret Millionaire' but I'd like to see the faces of the people you visit.

Kathryn de Belle said...

I think the amount you each get, added together, is supposed to be the amount one person would get. The argument is that administratively it would cost more to means test, so everybody gets it. I see both sides. I should do with mine what you intend to do with yours..... Thanks for the idea.

Lay Anglicana said...

Like you, I don't really need the winter fuel allowance. I know there are many good causes to suggest as an alternative, but may I put forward to any other readers of your blog the Digital Nun and her plea for her Benedictine priory - see http://www.benedictinenuns.org.uk/Growth/Growth/appeal.html