Call for winter fuel payments to be means tested criticised by Kent-based Saga
by political editor Paul Francis
A call for winter fuel payments to pensioners to be means tested
would
be a disaster, according to the chief of the Kent-based company
Saga.
Former Liberal Democrat care minister Paul Burstow says the
money saved
by means testing could be used to help fund a fairer care system
and
help implement the reforms outlined in the Dilnot report.
But Dr Ros Altmann, director general of the Folkestone-based
Saga, which
specialises in services for those over the age of 50, denounced
the
idea.
She said: "It is true that reforming social care is urgent, but
taking away winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners who
are already struggling
with their heating bills is not the a solution."
She added:
"The reason we have all these fuel payments is because our
basic state pension is so low - one of the lowest in the
developed
world.
"Of course, in theory, it makes little sense to pay money
to
wealthy pensioners who do not really need it, but then will the
next
step be to say that these pensioners don't need the rest of their
state
pension either?
"Taxing these payments would raise some money, but means
testing would be a disaster."
Means testing was complex, inefficient and costly to adminster,
she
said.
However, Mr Burstow argued limiting winter fuel payments was one
way of
introducing a cap on the amount of money elderly people paid for
their
care.
"Social care isn't free, but it could be a lot fairer for those
who have
worked hard all their lives.
"By concentrating the winter fuel payment on those eligible for
pension credit, we can pay for a cap on care costs."
The coalition has said it intends to retain universal benefits
under its
programme for government but there has been speculation they may
be
reviewed after 2015.
03/01/13
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