UK Government remind you 1€ to apply for Winter Fuel
The News/views Magazine ABOUT and FOR Jávea - you can hold in your hand F
Nº 34
Feb/March 2016
Allowance by 16th March
Even though you have to know to apply for UK Winter Fuel Allowance every year, and the scare-papers have said it won’t be paid in Spain, Peter Burrage www.ukgovabusesexpats.co.uk says everyone should apply, and even if initially refused, they should Appeal to the Tribunal.
Those in the UK (whether in the suburbs or Parliament) have a totally unrealistic view of Spain and the Brits who live here. They think of sun and sea, disregarding that it gets as cold in Spain as in England in the winter, and most Spanish homes are without insulation against either hot or cold. Temperature can drop close to freezing in homes mostly occupied by pensioners. Most don’t live in big villas like celebrities or MPs with second homes. Gas or electric central heating is a rarity. Houses are constructed with hollow bricks, allowing heat to escape through the walls to the outside, so central heating would be pointless, Some use a butane gas push-around heater, which creates condensation and black mould on walls. WFA is not a benefit by a right based upon social security payments made whilst working in the UK and is payable to expats living abroad if they live in a country where the average winter temperature is lower than 5.6ºC, the highest temperature in the UK. That decision violates the principles enshrined in the social security coordinating Regulating EC883/2004, which was settled by case law of the Court of Justice. If the DWP were to limit payment based on temperature in individual areas, they would have to include pensioners in
different UK areas each year. It would become another ‘Postcode Lottery’. The cold winters were a complete surprise to most who purchased property in Spain during Summer holiday visits, where houses are built the same way as they’ve always been built - with a few exceptions - for Spaniards. Having heard two years ago that the WFA would no longer be paid in Spain, most saw no point in applying, but are now urged to do so, and Appeal if their application is initially rejected. Claims for the 2015/2016 Winter MUST be made BEFORE 31st March 2016. WFA is determined afresh each year and must consider the current temperature criteria. You can expect to be wrongly advised by the DWP that you are not entitled to receive it, but you must insist on your Right to Appeal to the 1st tier of HM Courts and Tribunal Service. Don’t deal with the DWP by phone and use Certificado post for your communications with them. You are entitled to Appeal, but to ask for an adjournment so you can include the outcome of the EU Commissions findings on the subject. We acknowledge advice from the website of David Burrage and Peter Woodall at British ExPats Association (Spain) www.ukgovabusesexpats.co.uk
in the preparation of this article. Copies of the claim form can be downloaded at: www.tinyurl.com/ WFAjavea or obtained from Oasis Help Centre in Jávea Port, next to La Caixa bank. Continued on page 8
BRINGING YOU THE FOODS
BIGGER
The store looks
The stock is more
EXTENSIVE
And the frozen food is
EASIER TO FIND
Old habits die hard Costa Mums still prefer www.overseas.es
Avda. del Pla/Calle Pescara, 5 - JAVEA 03730, Tel: 96 646 1848
Jávea store opening hours: Monday - Saturday, 8:30am - 9:00pm