Women's pensions.

[Doon frae Troon]

Both my wife and myself bought extra years on our state pensions to enable us to claim full state pensions.
We also have our work pensions 25 years for me and about 10 for her.
Real no brainer to buy extra year state pensions but I know many who did not even know about them.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

There are many, like my wife who had a break to raise our child, went to work in a school on fairly low income and had no pension provision but I'm sure that a few may have had top City jobs with good pensions. I guess we should be indifferent to your plight too?

No, I appreciate the most women of that era were stay at home mums, looking after the house. I just gave an honest reply, that while I agree the change of date has been hurried they are part of the "golden age" of pensions that very few born after the 60's will see or get.
Ultimately, the pension scandal has been kicked down the road by every single government I can remember.

 

[Hobbit]

No government wants you to retire.
I have sympathy for these women caught out by this, but I would also suggest they and their males counterparts are probably the last who would also get a final salary pension.
As someone who made provision when I was 20 with a private pension as there was no work scheme, I was greatly impressed when Mr Brown decided he would raid all the pension companies so my pension dropped by 30% overnight, meaning instead of being able to retire between 55 and 60 as planned I now have to go until 67 (or whatever age they move me to).
As I said, I have sympathy but Im afraid also an element of indifference sadly.

Isn't the indifference in society as a whole a major issue? "I don't care about" is the reason so many things drift away to oblivion. I care about what happens to the old, the disadvantaged, the young, education and so on and so on. If everyone just chose their own sphere where would be the drive and energy to change those things that are wrong come from? There are people out there that can't fight for themselves, in so many different spheres, who do you suggest cares about them?

 

[USER1999]

Child bride.

 

[chrisd]

Isn't the indifference in society as a whole a major issue? "I don't care about" is the reason so many things drift away to oblivion. I care about what happens to the old, the disadvantaged, the young, education and so on and so on. If everyone just chose their own sphere where would be the drive and energy to change those things that are wrong come from? There are people out there that can't fight for themselves, in so many different spheres, who do you suggest cares about them?

100% agree Brian

 

[Tashyboy]

How much notice did the women have that the date was changing ?

the timescale of it all is on the link bob

 

[jim8flog]

There are many, like my wife who had a break to raise our child, went to work in a school on fairly low income and had no pension provision but I'm sure that a few may have had top City jobs with good pensions. I guess we should be indifferent to your plight too?

Whilst your wife was bringing up the children she would have had her state pension rights protected.

Child Benefit and your State Pension

If your child is under 12 and you’re not working or do not earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions, Child Benefit can give you National Insurance credits.
These credits count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record.

 

[chrisd]

Whilst your wife was bringing up the children she would have had her state pension rights protected.

Child Benefit and your State Pension

If your child is under 12 and you’re not working or do not earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions, Child Benefit can give you National Insurance credits.
These credits count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record.

But she didnt continue to work for 5 years whilst she looked after hIm, so didn't have the opportunity to pay into a private pension

 

[jim8flog]

The Pensions Act 1995 provided for the State Pension age (SPA) for women to increase from 60 to 65 over the period April 2010 to 2020.

I personally have little sympathy for the women affected simply because the changes to the state scheme were heavily published during the period both before and after the act came in to force but like so many people when it comes to pension matters it appears that most buried there heads in the sand until they reach pension age.

15 to 25 years is a long time to have done something about how it was going to affect you.

 

[jim8flog]

But she didnt continue to work for 5 years whilst she looked after hIm, so didn't have the opportunity to pay into a private pension

But what is under discussion is the state pension age and the need for ladies to continue to work until they reach that age (same as it is for men).

 

[jim8flog]

What is not realised by many is the amount a person receives in State Pension has seen a major increase as a result of these changes. If I had been born a year earlier my State Pension would be about two thirds of what I now receive.

 

[chrisd]

What is not realised by many is the amount a person receives in State Pension has seen a major increase as a result of these changes. If I had been born a year earlier my State Pension would be about two thirds of what I now receive.

Isn't the increased pension amount simply part of the Universal Credit System which, apart from being cheaper to administer compared to the old system, gave everyone a higher state pension but disallowed claims for any other benefits

 

[SocketRocket]

Isn't the increased pension amount simply part of the Universal Credit System which, apart from being cheaper to administer compared to the old system, gave everyone a higher state pension but disallowed claims for any other benefits

They brought in a higher basic state pension with less qualifying years. It means there is a two teer state pension depending on your birth date, some people missed out on a big increase if their birthday was a day out. Its nothing to do with universal credit, it was an increase to the state pension but not for existing pensioners. Rubbish really.

 

[williamalex1]

Both my wife and myself bought extra years on our state pensions to enable us to claim full state pensions.
We also have our work pensions 25 years for me and about 10 for her.
Real no brainer to buy extra year state pensions but I know many who did not even know about them.

Were you going to be short of the minimum 35 year contributions required ?

 

[harpo_72]

So after all of this will it change the way you vote?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Were you going to be short of the minimum 35 year contributions required ?

I think I paid for 2 years my wife for 3. { I had an extra years early retirement package from my works pension in case you are wondering about the maths }

 

[Grant85]

a few arguments about this.

Primarilly - woman and mens pensions should be equalised - correct. Can have the argument about when it should be, but as people live longer then it stands to reason that this is going to keep sliding later.

Secondly, woman who were affected were not given adequate time to make provisions. I think on the whole this is correct. The main issue is when they were notified - the legislation may well have come into effect in 1995, but were those affected advised directly about the changes? It seems that this was not formally done until people were approaching pension age - or they happened to enquire themselves.

To say they 'knew' about this in 1995 is ludicrous. If a high profile government campaign had been rolled out, or even just a letter to every household affected - then fair enough. But this didn't happen.

 

[chrisd]

So after all of this will it change the way you vote?

No

 

[harpo_72]

No

So in the end there are greater benefits to be had?

 

[chrisd]

Absolutely ………. a non bankrupt country