Expats attacked over fuel benefits

British expatriates have become the centre of a controversy regarding claims for winter fuel benefits.

Over 60,000 Britons living in European countries are able to receive winter-fuel payments, designed to help people to cope with increased heating bills in the cold months.

Expats are advised to check if they are among those eligible for the benefits, especially since most Brits abroad end up paying some form of tax to the UK government, either from any earnings they still have in the UK or upon their death, when their worldly estate will be taxed in the UK.

But the British media has not taken to kindly to the issue with several newspapers condemning the payments as "unnecessary benefits".

However, according to the Department for Work and Pensions, Brits living abroad accounted for less than one per cent of the total winter fuel payments made each year.

Posted by Eleanor Ward

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