Pensions age to rise sooner

My health has hugely deteriorated in the 5 years since I was 60. I am in pain and my mobility is poor. There is absolutely no way that I could have continued in work. I am so glad that the pension was there for me and that I can survive without being at work.

But, pain aside, I make huge contributions to my community - this afternoon I have been running the village library, and I do lots of other things besides. But I am able to pick those things that I am able to do rather than struggle in work that I cannot manage. If I had still been in work, I would have been forced to take a lot of sick leave, resulting in problems for my employer, who would have done better to have me off the books and employ someone fitter.

I wish very much that I was fit for full time work, but I am not - there will be many like me.

Whether one receives a state pension and/ or a pension paid for by a company, please do not lose sight of the fact that we have all paid in our money ( in one way or another) in order to receive that pension. X

It's tinkering. Until – or maybe unless – there is complete restructuring of the economy many people will be unable to save anything for their old age however much they want to and will, therefore be forced to work forever or live on an inadequate state pension. The savings habit of previous generations has gone pretty much out the window anyway, so it will take time for it to be re-established, which it really does need to be. I don't think this can – or should – be done by forcing people to take out insurance additional to NI. I suspect that tax increases will be essential to start putting this right – there's a vote loser.

None of this is helped by tuition fees – thank you Scottish and Irish MPs for getting Tony Blair's law through in England (and Wales?). Nowadays you leave university and try to start on a career path that no longer exists in many cases with a massive debt. Houses and flats are beyond your reach and you are just approaching the age when you want to marry or live with a partner and start a family. Savings are not high priority, especially when you are still young enough to believe that you will never get old.

And don't start me on bloody credit cards…

The big mistake governments make is lumping everyone together as if we are all the same after 60. Some are fit, some are not: some have jobs you can continue into old age, many, especially in physical jobs, do not.

Why not just make it easy for people to work as long as they want, after age 65, if they have a job? At nearly 70 I know I would die early if I was still having to work full time; the strain of travel and deadlines and pressure could give me a stroke or a heart attack. It is enough to have to look after my frail husband with his multiple health problems.

Governments seem to resent the fact that we live longer, instead of conveniently dying from a lifetime of overwork, a year or two after retirement.

They seem oblivious to all the volunteer work and childminding retired folks do. And there's the hidden benefits of having us around: retired people seem to stabilise a neighbourhood; they are often at home a lot, and provide that normality that makes a suburb feel safe. Their pensions do not vanish into a black hole; they are spent in the community, keeping the economy rolling.

What is WRONG with these people in government? Have they ceased to be members of the human race?

absent under the new student loans scheme the repayments will be made via the tax system once you start to earn £20k. It is a much, much better deal for young people than the previous student loan arrangement. (one of the few things the coalition have got right IMO)
These changes are not going to apply to our generation- it will apply to those who are young now.
Also, though it grieves me to say it, they are doing the right thing on this too. It is not a case that 75 is the new 65. It is looking more like 85 is the new 65.
Nelson Mandela took on quite a big job when other people consider themselves to be "pensioners".
Benefits needed for those who can't work but not for those who are fit as fleas - so tailor the benefits to that.

janea - I was not implying anything about lower pensions for couples I was stating a fact that a couple of pensioners household get TWO state pensions (one each - that is not difficult to understand) and they also get two lots of tax free allowance - therefore unlike a single pensioner who is probably struggling somewhat on a single state pension plus a small workplace or personal pension and have only one tax allowance so they end up[ paying tax on income above £10,500 and so their household income (which is likely to be less than £15k) has to go further.
the penalty of being a single income household - that is all I am saying.

You make a good point mollie65 it does not cost double the amount to run a home with two people living in it than it does with one.

I feel quite strongly about the announcement of the "married persons tax allowance" announced by the chancellor yesterday. Why should you have a tax break just because you are married? There are many single people and co-habitating couples struggling on low wages so what's so special about being married?

I'm 68 next month and at 65 I asked to stay on in my job as I didn't want to retire. I'm still working full time and commuting into London everyday. I certainly plan on continuing to do this for at least another year or so.

Mollie,why should a couple not receive two pensions they have paid individual NI contributions while they have been working

Just listening to the news, and lo and behold, MP's are going to be awarded an £11000 pay rise. Not bad that, just make all those pesky pensioners work until they drop, and then it's off to the subsidised bars and restaurants in Westminster. When will people stop saying that pensioners have it too easy. Next September, I retire after 50 years in road haulage, I wouldn't want anyone working after 65 in that industry, we should be allowed to retire, and then if we fancy doing some work, that's our choice. This country has 2.5 million unemployed, make people retire, if they want, and that should free up work space for the unemployed. Sorry about the rant.

berdie 'Just listening to the news, and lo and behold, MP's are going to be awarded an £11000 pay rise' Whaaaaat? Insensitive!

Disgusting!

Sorry 11% pay rise.

Do you agree with me that it would be a good idea to limit the MPs' annual increase to the same %age as the pensioners' increase? Then stand back and watch what happens to the pension.

That could well be the solution,I noticed the group that considers MP's pay has said they will get it even if they say no to a pay rise. It would be nice to have the choice.

Alternatively their pay could rise by the same percentage as does the minimum wage for adults!

Minimum wage, Living wage, whats the difference, they still aren't bothered about us or anyone else.

Anno - no, same as public sector workers- that would be much fairer!

Yes, whatever!