Almost 64,000 expatriates living on the continent claimed winter fuel allowance last year but are such payments justified? Government advice on winter fuel payments. New research suggests that only a third of 11 to 17-year-olds who download ringtones, games and music videos have any idea how much they cost. Spike Hudson is a former heroin addict who had lived rough and been to prison. Now he is helping others like him to escape homelessness.