Pensioner Power

Non-enumerated means the EU is treated as one block - countries not individually listed. Fat lot of good that is. Another example of how to fiddle the statistics.

When I returned from my honeymoon to my work in a bank, I discovered that I had been put onto the Married Woman's NI. Not only that. I had also been taken out of the Bank's pension scheme . Later I worked part time at the University, where I was not salaried but instead paid £20 a week as "travelling expenses from the petty cash, This was done to me and other women to save the University their share of NI. Consequently when I reached retirement age I did not qualify for a full state pension as I did not have enough contributions. . Now, I am retired and on the "old" pension (so no big rise for me next spring. My late Husband had a reasonable self funded private pension, but this ended when he died.
I have followed the advice to downsize, selling our lovely family home and buying a wee retirement flat. This gave me a cash balance carefully invested for a modest return and Guess what - it is just enough to put me over the limit for pension credit.

I was always very careful to make sure I was never put on the married women's stamp. I can remember it always being a matter of debate whenever anyone at work got married as to whether they would stay on the full stamp or drop down to the married woman's stamp.

Where I lost out big time was on my occupational pension. In my 20s, when you tend to hop around a bit as you settle into a career, anyone (male of female) staying less than 5 years in a pension scheme had their contributions returned when they left, then it went to 2 years and now does not apply. then when I came back to work after having children, I worked part time for some years, and part time workers were excluded from pension schemes, again this has changed.

In total I lost 12 years of occupational pension by being excluded from a scheme or having contributions returned.

When I returned to work full time as it meant a big pay increase. I immediately started making additional voluntary paymenst (AVCs) and redirected part of every pay rise into my pension thereafter, which has enabled me to retire with a pension that places me well beyond pension credit.

Granny23 that resonates with me too.
No discussion or explanation at work about being put on to the Married Woman's stamp, we were told we needed to be paying that instead, the only thing being a reassurance when we queried was yes, we would still get our State Pension.

Have you enquired if you are entitled to a part of your late husband's State Pension? It might be worth enquiring.

ronib

If you are well enough to undertake voluntary work and are struggling financially, I would think about finding a part time job which pays. Of course there will be a huge variation in pay depending on skill set and demand but some folk just enjoy being at work.
Although of course, just helping out with grandchildren is the best way for me and I won’t let politics interfere with my life to that extent.

I would also advocate that to younger people who are working only 16 hours a week, then claim8ng benefits to top up their wages.
Just think if they got full time work, lessening dependance on UC, how much that would also help to fill in the "black hole". Which a freedom of information
request by the FT to see all the proof, has been denied by the treasury and Reeves.

keepingquiet

Where was the article? It sounds like a silly idea to me and will achieve nothing.

I think I read this article and it was suggesting setting up a Pensioners' Union. Mind you, it was the Daily Mail. I only buy it for the crosswords, your honour!

All these discussions on various threads show how important it is to be informed about pensions as early as possible. We’ve had discussions with our ACs, at early stages of their working lives, about how pensions might look in the future, Highly likely no SP. It’s hard for young families to pay a lot in, but as the well known supermarket says ‘every little bit helps’.

Sarnia

keepingquiet

Where was the article? It sounds like a silly idea to me and will achieve nothing.

I think I read this article and it was suggesting setting up a Pensioners' Union. Mind you, it was the Daily Mail. I only buy it for the crosswords, your honour!

Why does this not surprise me?

I buy the Daily Mail to read it. Its financial and medical sections are excellent and it doesn't hurt to be reminded of the way many people think politically when their views diverge so far from my own. I also read the i for the opposite view. I suppose I should read The Guardian rather than the i, it is more left wing , but so deadly dull and self righteous.