Christmas Bonus

[Kia Picanto]

I think it's high time the £10 Christmas 'bonus' stopped. (Oooh, I can hear the gasps of disapproval already haha). Let me explain why I think this. Introduced in 1972, it was seen as a generous amount, to help with the cost of Christmas, or to pay for extra heating costs. Because of inflation, £10 would hardly buy a turkey these days. It's a 'standalone' payment, so is administered separately from the State Pension/qualifying benefits. I remember my Mum being very grateful when she qualified for it. For her, buying a chicken breast was a luxury - she was widowed at 51. In later years, she used to tell us she was 'loaded' - and judging by how much she spent on QVC(other shopping channels are available!), she was certainly ok financially. (After she died in 2012, I found so many boxes of unopened L'Occitane, Molton Brown etc posh toiletries, that I didn't need to buy any for 4 years!)

Fast forward to today - 2 x £10 Christmas Bonus was paid into our b/ac. Our Winter Fuel Payment was paid in a couple of days ago (£200 TYVM HMG). The latter is very useful and welcome, but the former isn't. I'll make a donation to our local food bank in lieu of it, but I think I'll write to my MP to suggest it's reached its sell by date. Who knows, the Gov't might need to also withdraw the WFP, to help the UK recover after Covid - dishy Rishi is going to tax us all to bits anyway. I totally accept that poorer pensioners, and those on certain benefits, need this helping hand over the winter, but also know many - retired Public Sector workers, Civil Servants etc, on decent Occ Pensions, who could manage without it. Anyone agree with me? (BTW, I know the WFP is no longer paid in Cyprus)

[Dominic]

Good points. If I was running the place I would put all the bonus money into the fuel allowance pot, so that the neediest would have a bit more comfort, and the more well off would have a warm glow from doing the right thing.

[Firefly]

KP

I totally agree with you, £10 per head would be better spent elsewhere, a meal for the homeless maybe.

Re WFA, I'm still waiting for mine, and it's freezing here.

Jackie