The British Chancellor, George Osbourne has reviewed the "Winter Fuel Allowance" for expat pensioners living abroad. He has revealed plans which would restrict those British pensioners living abroad from receiving what is dubbed the "sunshine benefit" by introducing a temperature test - meaning that more than 100,000 pensioners would lose their right to claim it.

The crackdown, which would come into force after the next general election will affect those expats who have come to live out their twilight years in sunnier climes. The latest official figures show that nearly 35,000 pensioners living in Spain receive the payment - 200GBP for those over the age of 60 and 300GBP for those over the age of 80, costing the UK Government 5.8 million pounds a year.

Is this fair... depends. For those that have chosen to leave the UK having spent all their working lives contributing into the Social Security system, the answer would be no. Why should they be penalised, yet some that have never put a single penny into the system continue to drain the Government coffers. For the many that decide to move to Spain how will a temperature test work? It is very much dependant on where you live.... if you go just slightly inland then it gets extremely cold and snow is not unusual. It will certainly affect thousands of pensioners already here and make others think carefully about whether to make the move.

Javea beach in May this year

Utility charges are already far higher in Spain than in the UK as the full 21% IVA is payable on gas and electricity - in the UK they have a special reduced VAT rate of only 5%. Although warmer in the Summer months the Winter does get very cold in Spain. I imagine that the British Consulate and DWP will be inundated with questions from worried ex-pats, even though this new ruling does not come into effect until 2015. My opinion on the subject - they should target those that are really draining the system such as asylum seekers who turn up in the UK cap in hand demanding a house and money for them and their extended family!

In response to the announcement, Pamela Dawson Tasker of the Royal British Legion Benidorm branch made the following statement:
The announcement of plans to withdraw WFA from ex-patriates is in my view probably aimed at vote catching as so many Brits do not understand that we are not millionaires because we live in Spain. Most of us find it costs us less to live here than in the UK and because it is better for our health.
I strongly believe that when Brit pensioners retire after a working lifetime, having paid all their dues, they should be entitled to retire wherever they wish without losing their entitlements. It is OK it seems to retire to Blackpool, Bournmouth or Brighton but not Benidorm or Barcelona. Heaven help us that we should actually enjoy out retirement!
I wonder if any MP´s have spent any winter months in Spain? They should know that it can be extremely cold and with the high cost of electricity, we pensioners, as a rule, cannot afford central heating and may like me be found huddled over an estufa in the evening or going to bed early.
The government could concentrate on those immigrants and work shy in the UK receiving benefits to which they are not entitled, that would save more money than taking away the WFA.