I'm 80 yrs old now of last week, my state pension is to increase Yippee

Its a joke!

Looking at other threads , I might even start an escape fund with all this largesse.

The taxman took my 25p.w. so I can’t suggest what to spend it on.
I shall be paying tax on my state pension next April as any increase will take me over the personal allowance, it means I will pay more tax on my company pensions.

jeanie22 every pension varies and depends on huge number of variables. For how long did you pay the full stamp? Paying the the married womans stamp meant that you were making no contribution to your pension so your pension would be entirely dependent on your husband's pension.

How large your state pension is also depends on how much money you paid into it. there were also schemes at various times where people had to pay extra if their income was above a certain level. For example I get extra pension from my contributions to the (compulsory) Graduated Pension scheme that ran in the1960s-70s. then there are SERPS, if you were also in a company scheme.

Althoug the basic state pension (old scheme) is £169.50. It is possible to be receiving up to about £300 a week from it and I know several people whose state pension is around £250 a week.

It is possible that your friend's husband was one of these people with the high state pension payment and your friend's widows pension, based on this will also be high.

Here is a link to a site that does its best to explain a very complicated system www.lcp.com/en/our-impact/inherited-state-pensions-for-widows-and-widowers#stamp but to find out how your pension is worked out look at the letter the government send you each year when the pension goes up. This will show you what contributions you and/or your DH paid that contribute to your pension.

It is not any easy document to understand so you could take it to your local Age UK or Citizens Advice bureau and they will be abl to interprete it for you and check whether you should be receiving more.

Me too, from next week. What with the £10 Christmas bonus I’m feeling quite financially secure .

I remember posting exactly this exciting problem over 3 years ago and received many ideas. As the cost of everything has gone up the choice has diminished. I don’t even think the suggestion of a bag of humbugs is possible. Best drop it in a charity box or save it up and in a years time £3 will be available. Hmmm! Now that’s real excitement.

Ohhh Allira, I'm so looking forward to the pure extravagance of being a wild, free-spending rich pensioner!
I may go mad & buy myself a nice bag of humbugs & a lovely bit of humble pie & a slightly damaged begging bowl in readyness for the fateful day of my luxurious, carefree retirement,! 😀

That’s doesn’t sound like the correct amount for your pension
Jennie I d seek some advice

Um, I'll put my thinking cap on.

No, sorry!
Not a yogurt, a stamp, even a wee.

Apparently handwarmers for 25p, sold in Tesco, but that was back in March.

My history is I started work in 1959 until I left work in 2006. Had some months off when I had the children.
Paid the married women's NI for many years then changed to the higher NI as well as paying in £3000 which I was asked for to increase my pension.
I receive £107 a week.
I don't understand any of this because a lady I know who never worked from age 18 yrs as claimed her pension against her husbands NI and has a pension more than me.
Have a great Christmas everyone
Jean

You could afford about one third of a second class stamp if someone else could make up the other two thirds.

well 20p will get you into the ladies loo and you'll have 5p change. ha ha. disgraceful really isn't it.

I m like you Pably three months and the excitement is building to fever point

jeanie, I'm puzzling too. I'll get my 25p in a couple of months and with the cost of living going up, might manage a chewing gum ball??