State Pension

The state pension denied at 60 from 2013 to women is now found and is being called a surplus in the full and ring fenced National Insurance Fund.

Whether a former Labour deputy prime minister has been misquoted or not in The Daily Mirror, the article stated that this Labour party member believed that the National Insurance Fund could only be used to fund the NHS (which it does but only in small part) and unemployment benefit.
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/george-osborne-should-use-30bn-4762414

There was no mention of the state pension, that relies on your National Insurance contribution years in work at 12 per cent deductions a year plus your boss's contribution (both compulsory), or on NI credits when on benefit or for child or elder care.

The flat rate pension will vastly reduce the state pension
to women born from 1953 and men born from 1951
after a couple losing 7 years payout,
and then leaves huge numbers of men and women
with NIL STATE PENSION FOR LIFE, by the end of any pension for poorest workers and no housewife, divorcee or widow's pension based on husband's NI contribution / credit history.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/state-pension-at-60-now

The full NI Fund proves that the denied state pension payout at 60 to women (and 65 to men) should never have been put under welfare reform and has saved not one penny under austerity.

The full state pension is sitting pretty today in the National Insurance Fund, that has been full for decades not needing a top up from tax, and the government is calling it a surplus, so denying women the state pension payout, which can be received even if manage to remain in work.

Half of the over 50s / over 60s are within the working poor, on wages so low that cannot afford to eat and heat.

The majority reason this age group not in work is due to disability / chronic sickness and those benefits being lost more and more.

By raised retirement age women born from 1953 and men born from 1951 are liable to the million benefit sanctions that have led to a near equal referrals to food banks.

Even someone turning 80 in 2016 will not get the tiny top up to the even tinier part basic state pension. And Pension Credit ends for the new claimants from 2016.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/state-pension-at-60-now

Whilst women MPs keep their works pension payout at 60 (and men MPs at 65) and all MPs get, again on the taxpayer, an 11 per cent pay rise that is about the same as the lost state pension payout, that is vital food and fuel money for a great many pensioners denied both state pension and works pension by the raised retirement age.

I signed Anne Keen's petition on 38 Degrees about the lost payout at 60 of women's state pension, but then began by further petition about the total loss of any state pension for life that is coming with the flat rate pension.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/state-pension-at-60-now

The more people sign both petitions, the more likely the next government will stop calling the NI Fund in surplus and pay the paid for state pension to us.

It is interesting to note that the State Pension Review (Sept.2014) states:-that “Any future changes to State Pension age will, as now, require primary legislation and will be subject to the full scrutiny of Parliament. The review will seek to give individuals affected by changes to their State Pension age at least 10 years’ notice”.

Hundreds of thousands of women, born in the 1950's, were given less than 18 months notice. A clear case of discrimination.

The petition is now at 27,645 you.38degrees.org.uk/p/statepensionlaw

Please sign and continue to share. Thanks
Anne

I should have received my state pension when I was 60 last year but now have to wait until 2017 before I receive my pension, my entitlement Something I have contributed to since I was 15!

The changes to the State Pension Law are have a devastating effect upon hundreds of thousands of us.

The fact that MP's, Judges and Civil Servants, who are within 10 years of normal retirement age, have been given transitional protection only rubs salt in the wounds.

If you disapprove of the changes please sign and share this e-petition http://you.38degrees.org.uk/p/statepensionlaw

Adding your own comment really encourages people to sign.

Thanks.

Tegan I wish you all the very best for your planned retirement.
I can join you next July but we will wait and see, a lot can happen in a year

Well, I sort of wanted something really big and dramatic to tip me over the edge, but it's been more of a steady trickle really, and I can't face another winter there. I had a friend who agonised over whether to retire and I didn't undertstand at the time, but I'm beginning to understand now. It's difficult giving up a job where I could, if need be, work a lot of extra hours and earn more money if I needed it for any reason, but once I've gone there's no going back. But I'm already planning what I'm going to do and my trips to the gym are helping.

Tegan Very best wishes on your impending retirement, I am envious!
I too claim my state pension from September (I already draw my own) but I think I will work on at least until my original planned retirement next April, if not beyond, now that I am alone. I have no one to retire for now and still feel fit enough and able enough to work so I may just do that.
I was unaware how the state pension is paid but am now a little more informed. I claimed my age exemption certificate and handed that in in order not to be deducted national insurance contributions after age 65 (I am male) and asked that my pension be paid rather than deferred, (I just don't trust this administration not to cap it if it is not in payment, for me that would mean a significant loss). Absent mentions having her pension paid into New Zealand but as much as I am ignorant of current rules would that not mean that the pension is then not index linked whereas if paid into a UK bank it would be index linked to the CPI annually. Perhaps we have some knowledgable people here who could enlighten us. I hope so!

Tegan keep your cool and have a blow out when you go

Wow! Can't wait

How long do we have to wait for the sordid details Tegan?. I am sure you have done the right thing if you feel better having done "the deed". Hope retirement is all you want it to be.

You stood up for yourself, Tegan - that's the main thing!

It was 'polite verbal'! It could have been much, much worse......

Oh, Tegan, you haven't been verbal have you

Really, well done,

You read it first on GN! Coming soon Tegan's Story ...

The State Pension is to stop me starving, Frank . Have done the deed at work [well, not in writing yet but has been verbal]. Will wax lyrical about what finally tipped me over the edge after I've left .

Ana

I thought the State Pension was for your grand children's savings.

Frank

Tegan - Best wishes for a wonderful retirement. My only words of advice are to get all your jobs done BEFORE you retire as you certainly won't have time after !

Blimey, some people have to live off that paltry sum...

I am having a right old time trying to get my state pension paid into my New Zealand bank account. I left the UK at the beginning of May, having contacted the DW&P a month earlier, but the pension is still being paid into my UK bank account. I finally got some sense out of a charming Welsh man on the telephone in a Belfast call centre but he cannot give me a time scale as "most of the staff are off at the moment during the long school holidays". Fortunately, I am not desperate for the paltry sum but I might have been and I could certainly make use of it.

Ana

I think the pension should have been paid for all the time he was alive even though the cash did not change hands till after Dad's death.

Frank

Tegan

When I claimed my wife's occupational pension I sent in her short birth certificate, our marriage certificate, her death certificate, and a photocopy of my passport.
About 3 days before the pension was payable they requested a full birth certificate for both her and myself.
I did ask why a full birth certificate was required and they said they had just changed their policy and required it if I wanted the pension paid.
The pension was delayed for a month and I had to pay for the certificates.

Frank

Very strange! No wonder the country's finances are in a mess...

I think the state pension must be paid in arrears as I received 14 days pension in respect of my father after he died.
What was a little strange however it was paid until 3 days after his death as they pay it until the end of the week.

Frank

28days in arrears!

Now to apply for my bus pass. At least I seem to have reached the magic age without them stopping it [thus far!]. It all seems a bit surreal this retiring stuff .

Think I had to send in a copy of my (second) marriage certificate, actually...