State pension in britain

Nobody is suggesting that you should, Elderlyperson, but you are not lucky to have your own pension coming in - that is a line fed by those who want to keep people in their place and not allow them to ‘better themselves’ - you paid for it, so there is nobody to be grateful to.

I agree that it is better to have your own means of support, but it is a sad state of affairs when people like my MIL have to see her friends getting allowances galore because they get pension credit and she gets only the old state pension because she and my late FIL made provision for their old age.

I am not eligible for those extra benefits either but I feel so grateful that I have enough coming in that I am not eligible.

I would not swap my having an occupational pension for being eligible for those benefits.

*To an extent, it is already means-tested. For example, I can never be eligible for Pension Credit because my occupational pension plus state pension are more than the eligible amount. Of course that means that I can never be eligible for a free TV licence, free dental care or the top up fuel allowance, etc. There will be others in the same situation.

Can I also add that all benefits operate on the same principle. The vast majority of people who claim benefits at some point in their lives have contributed at one time.*
Yes, I know, and my feelings about means testing are the same across the board.

The trap that people are in because they saved for an occupational pension and that stops them from getting the benefits associated with pension credit is a perfect illustration of why I feel it is so unfair.

I have a few years to go before I get a state pension, so am living on a small occupational one and topping it up with savings. I find it galling that because I am not on benefits I don’t get reduced entry to places or courses that those on benefits do, despite the fact that my income is low.

I also think that it is invidious that whereas pensions are counted as benefits for administrative purposes, it is, as you say, only pension credit that is a passport to other payments. My MIL falls foul of this (she is nearly 100 and lives at home) as she has a small occupational pension, whereas her neighbour who never worked gets pension credit and all that goes with it. To me, it is the same principle as some but not others paying for care homes, and you know how I feel about that?

theworriedwell

Growstuff sorry if I wasn't clear, I do get the higher amount from the old system, I just meant it wasn't always true that people get more now under the new system.

Aha! I understand.

Growstuff sorry if I wasn't clear, I do get the higher amount from the old system, I just meant it wasn't always true that people get more now under the new system.

theworriedwell

silverlining48

We have probably the lowest state pension rates by far, in the western world. Twas ever thus, and those of us who retired before 2016 get even less. That is why ( in my ever so humble) the triple lock must be kept so we dont drift back to those hard times in the 70/80s when pensions were even lower.
Nipsmum, enjoy your 40 p. A packet of crisps maybe? Eat slowly.

My pension was higher under the old system, depends if you had much for SERPS or S2P

It doesn't affect me, but I'm fairly sure there are transition arrangements in place for those who would have received more under the old system.

When the government claims that eye-watering amounts are spent on benefits and people start jumping up and down, what is usually omitted is that the biggest share, by far, is spent on pensions and other benefits for the retired.

Doodledog

Fennel

Should the state pension be classed as benefit?
If so would we get more?

If is classed as a benefit, despite the fact that most of us have paid for it for decades (and yes, I know that the actual money we paid was used to fund others' pensions, but others are now paying the NI that should be used to pay ours).

The danger with that is that should an unscrupulous and uncaring government choose to do so they could means test it, so that anyone who has also paid into an occupational pension would not qualify, whereas it would be paid to those who contributed to neither.

To an extent, it is already means-tested. For example, I can never be eligible for Pension Credit because my occupational pension plus state pension are more than the eligible amount. Of course that means that I can never be eligible for a free TV licence, free dental care or the top up fuel allowance, etc. There will be others in the same situation.

Can I also add that all benefits operate on the same principle. The vast majority of people who claim benefits at some point in their lives have contributed at one time.

Callistemon

^I am wary that if it is called a benefit, the next thing is the benefit is means tested.^

It is called a benefit.

That was explained to me most clearly in the letter I received many years ago.

^The State Pension is described in legislation as a “benefit” in order to root it within the existing social security framework as a statutory scheme paid out of monies in the National Insurance Fund.^

Thank you for explaining.

silverlining48

We have probably the lowest state pension rates by far, in the western world. Twas ever thus, and those of us who retired before 2016 get even less. That is why ( in my ever so humble) the triple lock must be kept so we dont drift back to those hard times in the 70/80s when pensions were even lower.
Nipsmum, enjoy your 40 p. A packet of crisps maybe? Eat slowly.

My pension was higher under the old system, depends if you had much for SERPS or S2P

I am wary that if it is called a benefit, the next thing is the benefit is means tested.

It is called a benefit.

That was explained to me most clearly in the letter I received many years ago.

The State Pension is described in legislation as a “benefit” in order to root it within the existing social security framework as a statutory scheme paid out of monies in the National Insurance Fund.

It`s an insult really nipsmum.
Save it up for a year and you can go on a £20.80p spending spree.

Fennel

Should the state pension be classed as benefit?
If so would we get more?

No, it is not a benefit, we paid for it in National Insurance contributions (or got credits if sick, out of work, or, in some circumstances, a carer).

I am wary that if it is called a benefit, the next thing is the benefit is means tested.

If it were called a benefit if anything we would probably get less gradually, so cash value would not go down but, like the 25p at 80, would not increase or would increase very very slowly.

The reason for the 25p upon reaching age 80, is because in around 1948, either at the same time or about the same time that the NHS was introduced, Old Age Pension as it was then called had an additional 5 shillings per week (decimalised as 25p in 1971) paid upon reaching the age of 80.

At that time, that 5 shillings a week extra was a substantial boost to the pension, bearing in mind that £4 a week was a good wage, but although the pension has been increased over the years, the 5 shillings extra at 80 was not, it has stayed at the same level. Now that the £4 a week good wage is now around £400 a week due to wage rises including inflation, that 25p really should be about £25 a week, which would be a good addition.

Also, many more people reach the age of 80 now than did then, less smog, better food, the NHS, better medicines and surgery and so on.

I think it is correct that the until recently male state pension age of 65 was set at 65 because around 1905 or so when that age was chosen, it was copied from what Bismarck had used in Germany when he had started state pensions there. However, I think that Bismarck chose 65 because very few men survived to that age, it was a matter of providing a pension to the few that did.

I remember reading a letter in a magazine some years ago from a woman who wrote that successive governments had kept the pension scheme going and she wrote - and it has worked! I think she was 72 and enjoyed going out to ballroom styled tea dances in the afternoons.

It seems to me that the big problem with pension financing is that when they set out the benefits just after the war they based the age that people would live on data of people passing away at that time, but many of those people had lived in different conditions than people born many years later. And conditions have improved enormously since the late 1940s. Though alas not for everybody as there is great poverty for some people in this country.

Kim19

N, consider yourself lucky. I received 25p. Must check if it's gone up. Thanks. Now I'm really excited!

I'm sure DH only got 25p per week increase.
Should we complain?

It is classed as a benefit, Fennel, I complained about that many years ago and received a long explanation from the then Pensions Minister.

The bonuses and heating allowances are not incorporated into the pension so that they can take them away again if they wish, as they did with the TV licence.

In some countries the state pension is means tested.

Fennel

Should the state pension be classed as benefit?
If so would we get more?

If is classed as a benefit, despite the fact that most of us have paid for it for decades (and yes, I know that the actual money we paid was used to fund others' pensions, but others are now paying the NI that should be used to pay ours).

The danger with that is that should an unscrupulous and uncaring government choose to do so they could means test it, so that anyone who has also paid into an occupational pension would not qualify, whereas it would be paid to those who contributed to neither.

Should the state pension be classed as benefit?
If so would we get more?

40p per week? That doesn't even buy a cup of tea a day.

nipsmum, please do not blame the BBC with regard to having to pay for the Licence. The waiving of this Licence Fee to all pensioners was around for some years. It was a Tory Government that decided to stop it a few years back. At that time, the BBC was so disgusted that they offered to take this on and continue this.

However, over the last few years they have suffered so many cuts of their own from the government that they can no longer manage to continue this practice, which is why it has now been discontinued.

If our UK State Pension was in line with other similar countries, there would be no need to have these little ;'extras'. like WFA, etc. etc. The State Pension should be in line with Basic Wage and then no extras would be required.
B ut....Please put the blame regarding the loss of free TV licence firmly at the doors of those responsible - our Conservative Governments.

French and Spanish state pensions are more complicated than ours, and depend on the amount contributed.
Apologies for old EU data
January 2018
Spain£155-£535a week.
French pension is £130-£340 a week.

They have the holiday programme in France as well Urmstongran when we did B&B we had a couple who stayed with us on this scheme so they could visit family in the area. This was a few years ago now so don't know if it's still available.

Recently turned 80 years old. My State Pension amount received went up 25p per week. The Guaranteed Pension Credit I recieve went down 25p per week!!!!

In Spain, the state pension is around €900 a month. They now are eligible at 65y 10mths. But they get this too!

What is Imserso?

Imserso is the holiday scheme for pensioners sponsored by the Spanish Government. During the off-peak season, from October to June, cheaper holidays are made available to resident pensioners in Spain, whatever their nationality.

There are many different destinations available from mainland Spain to the Balearics, Canary Islands and Portugal. Your holiday can be from 8, 10 or 15 days long and includes full board at three and four star hotels. There are also 5 day cultural tours and rural tourism holidays available.

Who is eligible?

The programme is open to anyone who is a resident of Spain and:

over the age of 65
aged 55 or over and receiving a widow's pension
aged 60 or over and receiving a government invalidity pension or early retirement pension
You can take a companion too - they don't have to be a pensioner.

What does each holiday include?

Transport to and from the capital city of the province where you live (for example, Alicante) to the hotel
Full board in a double or single room (with supplement)
Group Travel Insurance
National Health medical attention in the hotel*
Entertainment programme*
Three or four star hotels that comply with government standards
* except for the cultural and scenic tours

How much will it cost?

Here are some examples of holidays offered in 2012/2013:

8 daysAndalucía198€ per person
8 daysPortugal208€ per person
10 daysCanary Islands379€ per person
15 daysAndalucía358€ per person
5 daysCultural tour235€ per person
An Imserso holiday is often cheaper than staying at home!

How can I apply?

All you have to do is complete an application form which includes the following information about you and your companion:

NIE number
Type of pension and monthly income
Preferred destinations
You will then receive an acceptance letter to say that you're eligible and giving you your key number. With this you can go to a participating travel agent and book your holiday or you can book on line.

?☀️??

SueD, and free travel on buses, trains and trams.

I agree with you Doodle and Barmey. In the 70s my German aunts were getting twice as much pension as my mum in the Uk. She had worked til she was 73 too. Aunts were horrified, mum was mortified, and nothing has changed.