Scared about lack of pension contributions. Is there anything I can do?

We have had a few lately started by someone who isn’t who they say they are.

IME it's not uncommon for women not to know their pension situation - maybe men too, but it was women I came across on the Back To 60 webpages. Some of the stories are heartbreaking.

It's easy for those who have had professional jobs or who keep abreast of the news and current affairs to assume that everyone else does likewise, but many people just don't. A significant number of women gave up jobs at 60, expecting to get a pension, and were then unable to get back into work when they realised their mistake.

I was aware that the pension age had risen, but genuinely have no idea of how I found out. I do know that I wasn't informed about the changes - I sent in a FOI request for all information held on me, and they did not send a letter to inform me of either change in the SPA.

I did read the financial pages in the days when we got newspapers, and I have always listened to programmes like Moneybox, so maybe I picked it up from there, but not everyone does, and it seems to me strange that anyone would assume just because they do things in a particular way that everyone else is stupid or ill-informed for not doing likewise.

I admit that it seems a bit odd not to look into all the ramifications before retiring - I knew to the penny what I would get and when -, but if someone has assumed that what they were told would happen would be honoured, and they'd seen their mothers and older sisters get a pension at 60, it's not stupid or incompetent that they'd believe it themselves, really.

Anyway, the OP hasn't said that she didn't know the SPA had risen - just that she hadn't attached importance to paying contributions. Not everyone does - it's not unusual for people not to pay in - particularly married women. The controversy seems to be the opinion that this is ok for some of the population to opt out, but when others do it they must be stupid.

My own comment related to an example, not to OP.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

I had noticed, yes .

I am not naive when it comes to trolls, but in this case I don't see what is to be gained - nobody is being targeted, and whilst the situation described may be unusual, it is not outrageously so. Maybe it is a troll thread, but it doesn't scream that to me.

Who has been starting threads in disguise? Feel free to PM if you don't want to say on the thread?

What I don’t understand is why some posters are so quick to pounce on others who simply offered practical advice on OP’s issues.
1) afraid of being homeless
No.once you are on the deeds of the house you will inherit it
2) afraid of being destitute
No, you have 15 years to address the issue of NI contributions and to “buy back years” (do you have life insurance to cover any outstanding mortgage?)
3) job earns less than the NI threshold and is/was temping or part time
Well, you have a choice, forgo the NI and lose out later or look for a better paid job
4) I like where I am
Well you have to weigh that up against financial considerations
5) not too well off on a monthly basis
As above 3) and 4) if your joint income is less than you feel comfortable with, perhaps another reason for a job which pays more so that you can contribute more meaningfully to the family income
6) expecting a windfall from an inheritance
Now would appear to be the time to invest that for your future-by buying back those extra years, for instance
Practical options to OP’s admission of fear of the future.

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Not everyone does - it's not unusual for people not to pay in - particularly married women

I think most people are more aware now and there is a wealth of information available on the internet.

Married women were persuaded to opt for the Married Women's Stamp years ago and were assured they would still receive a pension based on their husband's contributions.
Naïve? Perhaps, but it was reputable organisations which gave out this information, together with the paperwork ready for women to sign. I worked for the NHS; they did this.
It was misselling.
Presumably the employers saved by not having to pay a stamp for those employees as well.

It's quite a useful thread though ?

However, the OP does keep rejecting advice!

I'm not sure this thread needs to be active anymore

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OK, I wasn't going to come back to this thread. As far as I was concerned it was done. I'd had all the advice and information I needed to move forward, so I suggested that the thread no longer needed to be active. That's all.
This constant and persistent sniping about the fact that I might be a troll, or not who I say I am is getting wearing now.
There are so many things going on in my life right now, I really don't need this. I posted, for the first time ever, in Gransnet for advice on something that I was panicking about, and lots of people gave me kind advice. It's true that the admins/algorithms initially thought I might have been someone else who had been banned in the past, however, I spoke in private with them and we sorted things out. I am not this previously banned person and I am new to Gransnet although not new to message boards.
I am feeling bullied and 'got at' and this is not what I expected from a forum of mature over 50-year-old women, but here we are.
I was asking for advice, some of which I knew I needed to do but just because I don't want to, doesn't mean I won't. It's a lot to take in on top of all the other things going on in my life right now, such as grieving for a parent, and so I'll need some time to adjust and get my ducks in a row.

I'm sure that some will say that I 'write too well', to be new, or lacking in self-confidence about the jobs I can do, well there's nothing I can do about that. That's how I type.

Those who believe that I'm fake will always believe that, and there's nothing I can do to change that, but for those of you who believed in me and gave me good advice and support. Thank you.

Callistemon21

^Not everyone does - it's not unusual for people not to pay in - particularly married women^

I think most people are more aware now and there is a wealth of information available on the internet.

Married women were persuaded to opt for the Married Women's Stamp years ago and were assured they would still receive a pension based on their husband's contributions.
Naïve? Perhaps, but it was reputable organisations which gave out this information, together with the paperwork ready for women to sign. I worked for the NHS; they did this.
It was misselling.
Presumably the employers saved by not having to pay a stamp for those employees as well.

Exactly my point! It is not at all unusual for women to sleepwalk into pension poverty - I don't think that makes them stupid or incompetent by any means.

Thanks for coming back BlushingSheep, sorry you’re feeling got at & can understand why. Hope you get things sorted.

I realised well before the age the OP is, Doodledog but it's never too late to do something about it.

You just have to get on and do it.

Well, perhaps never is a bit of an exaggeration!

It's true that the admins/algorithms initially thought I might have been someone else who had been banned in the past, however, I spoke in private with them and we sorted things out. I am not this previously banned person

How very odd.
That's worrying, it could happen to any of us, I suppose.

Delila

Thanks for coming back BlushingSheep, sorry you’re feeling got at & can understand why. Hope you get things sorted.

And if you need more advice, our friendly team are at the ready.

We're experts on everything ?

Enquire Within Upon Everything
First published in 1856

MissAdventure

My Dad had that book! I don't know if it was any use ?

Callistemon21

MissAdventure

My Dad had that book! I don't know if it was any use ?

But I bet it didn't advise against the Married Women's Stamp!

Do you think every hone had one of those books?
I'm sure ours might have.

MissAdventure

Do you think every hone had one of those books?
I'm sure ours might have.

Probably published by Readers' Digest

I used to love a good readers digest.

They had books giving sound advice on everything. Do they still publish now, or has Google done for them?

I've no idea.

I only read them in the doctors, and can't get an appointment these days.