...thanks to 'ridiculous' EU ruling

The number of pensioners around Europe claiming the winter fuel allowance has surged by 70 per cent, new figures reveal. Over 115,000 expats and pensioners claimed £21.4million in payouts, after new rules kicked in entitling anyone who can prove ‘sufficient links’ to Britain to claim - even if they were not entitled to it when they lived in Britain. Pensioners living in Spain claimed £8.8million, while those living in France were granted £5.1million. The amount claimed by people living in Luxembourg almost tripled from £5,000 to £14,000 and those in Cyprus from £926,000 to £1,441,000 alone......Read more here