I am incandescent with excitement!!!!!

some people do not have any other pension income, but have scrimped and saved all their lives and are effectively living off dwindling savings.

Yes, that as well.

From the frivolous to the deeply serious in 3 pages, about par for the course.

DH has pointed out that our local pizza place in France has a 13euro Express menu, and we might just be able to afford that this year, or until prices go up.

Two courses: lasagne/ham and chips/basic pizza followed by a choice of dessert: mousse au chocolat, creme brulee, pannacotta, ice cream, plus a drink: soft, or a glass of cider or wine. I would add that the lasgne is excellent much better than anything I have had in the UK, for a considerable higher price.

But we will need to spend a years extra 25p in advance. Will the bank make us a loan? If we leave it too long prices will go up and will be out of our price bracket.

£26 a year between the two of you. I can understand your excitement. I'd save it up for a year and buy a large box of lovely chocolates. And you can sit and enjoy them and think how wonderful the DWP is. 😁

I worked in pensions for a time in 1972 and it was 25p then! I believe it dated back to the late 50s. Why do they bother?

Can't wait until November when I will receive mine. Already planning how to spend it!!!

I think it’s insulting!!!

I have no occupational pension and only a small state pension because I opted for the married women's stamp (a smaller NI contribution) when I worked for just a few years in the 1960s before starting a family. No one told me I'd end up with a very small pension when I reached retirement age. I've got 2 months to go to my 80th. Can't wait to see if/how the 25p gets fractionalised in line with my current pittance. I'm not complaining as, thank goodness, DH has a good occupational pension + full state pension.

Lizzie44 You should get the full 25p. It is not adjusted to the size of your pension.

Oh, my cup runneth over. Thank you Monica.

Thanks for the heads up on this fortune we can look forward to! I'm nowhere near eligible yet, so will have time to make plans for spending it, and consulting a financial advisor regarding investments I could make with it.

Quizzer

I worked in pensions for a time in 1972 and it was 25p then! I believe it dated back to the late 50s. Why do they bother?

no it came in with the People's Budget of 1909.
which led to the constitutional crises when the lords refused to approve it.
that is why it will not be abolished, it is so caught up with modern notions of parliamentary democracy.
initially for over 70s, first paid in 1911, due to being delayed by the lords, who had to be stuffed with liberals to get it through.
the five shillings then would be worth about £25 now, but of course it has since been dwarfed by the state retirement pension brought in by the post war welfare state.
and recipients' age raised to 80.

I paid something called Graduated Pension Contributions many years ago - it seemed a lot to pay out of my monthly salary but I thought it would be worth it.

No, it's not, it's a pittance!! But it is more than 25p extra a week 😀

I do not dismiss these extra payments so lightly. I did not pay enough contributions to get the full pension, but after all the extras are added in, my weekly state pension is actually above the basic state pension level.

M0nica

I do not dismiss these extra payments so lightly. I did not pay enough contributions to get the full pension, but after all the extras are added in, my weekly state pension is actually above the basic state pension level.

The old one, presumably, like mine.
The new one is £40 per week more for fewer years of contributions!

£47.05 more per week, I think, for fewer qualifying years.

Whoopee!

When I got my letter, I really thought it was a joke! I am saving mine and can’t decide whether, in a couple more years time, to put sone fuel in the car or pay something off my huge utility bills!!!!

Back in the late 70's (I seem to remember) I had a letter about an accumulated amount that was to be added to my pension when I received it, due to the abolition of something I'd been paying into - can't remember what. The thing I do remember was that the amount was two and a half pence - sixpence in old money! I can't remember if that was per annum or more frequently. At the time retirement was so far away and the amount seemed pretty insignificant. It was to be increased in line with inflation. Now I'm a pensioner of 3 years standing I sincerely hope I'm receiving that generous addition to my pension. Sadly I don't think there is any way I can check, but I guess it would be worth rather more now! Perhaps the notification is still somewhere in my tax papers etc. Perhaps I should look for it and challenge the DWP about it. I could be rich!

Please don't make statements like "I am sure people can manage without £10.00 at Christmas". There is a middle layer of retired people who were foolish enough to spend years paying into a modest pension. The amount they receive is modest but just enough to preclude them from anything except the most basic state pension. They do not have index linked pensions, they are too frightened to turn their heating on except in the absolute depths of winter and they get up early before 6am to make sure they are both showered and they run their washing machine and dishwasher on economy7. They are very proud people and set a lot of store in keeping up standards. They only use the tumble drier once a week to dry their towels as scratchy towels are too abrasive on elderly skin. So for people on benefits and for the wealthier pensioners amongst us £10.00 may be nothing but the people caught in between these two bands will find this money a godsend.

It should all be itemised on the notification you receive with the annul increase eg 'your Graduated Pension has gone up by 12p per week'!
Contracted In, Contracted Out, bits and bobs added on, taken away again ......

That post was to jocork