AIBU to think that I shouldn't have bothered working and paying into National Insurance for the 35 years I have done so?

A close family member lives modestly on benefits. She does not have amazing holidays or flashy cars but she is also not too ill to work. I would never report her as I love her and it is not her fault that the system is so flawed but she is not ashamed of the fact that she plays the system.

She is not ashamed because many of her friends do the same. It's so naive to think that because we would never do this, that other people would not think twice.

I’m not sure how much I have paid in NI contributions over the years, but I know that I was only able to pay them by actually earning an income. As a result of that I have been able to buy my own house, have some nice holidays over the years, own cars that are no older than 3 years, pay for both my DDs weddings and university costs and generally enjoy the things in my life that unemployed people dont.
I’m ok with that. My DF received pension credits. He lived in a poky rented flat for the last 10 years of his life. It wasn’t great.

Hi, I know several single parents who work no more than 16 hours pw because it will impact on their benefit entitlement. They report it not being worth it as their benefits will be affected and it isn't worth it as they would be worse off. Some of those people have chosen to have children on benefits, whilst also declaring that they are single. In contrast, some single parents cannot afford to work PT as they have too many outgoings ( I'M included in these). I really struggled financially when my son was little and received no benefits. Again, this demonstrates the diversity of people

It was mandatory in 2017 dependant on company size.

You can't get a free boiler just because you are over 60.

This is so naive. You do realise people lie ?

Unpopular opinion but many, many people know how to play the system. Maybe it's just a coincidence that in some neighbourhoods there are huge numbers of people too ill to work. Must be contagious.

I have sadly thought the same recently. Worked 25 years paying into an nhs pension. Hasn't been easy as a single parent.
I rent which isn't ideal.
I have seen people recently who get state pension plus good work pension have to pay full rent and council tax yet those with just state pension get housing benefit, council tax help plus pension credit. Maybe I am missing something!

Maybe I should stop nagging my 27 year old daughter to start a pension.

@SiobhanTheGoblin Quality of life is not all about money. You've been able to socialise, have a routine and contribute to society in that time. I would try and reframe this in your mind as punching down on other people won't change anything.
Says who? People who've never had to worry about money as they know someone else picks up the tab? And honestly the guilt tripping 'punching down' trope doesn't work anymore. As you can tell by some on this thread getting told how privileged we are to work our arses off, have no quality time with our family yet watch lazy arses do nothing for generations? No ones buying it anymore.

I've got 42 years of full credits and still 10 years to go until state pension age. I only had 10 months off total for maternity leave (2 kids) so none of those years is even for home responsibility credit.

It is what it is, not even that confident I'll get my state pension when it's time.

Asking genuinely, worked since I was 13, had 1.5 years off due to mental breakdown, now 41, earning 35k. Have been steadily paying into workbased pension for the last five years (ish). Run myself ragged, 4 kids, 2 grown up, 2 in primary. I work really hard to propel us out of poverty. Am I doing this wrong? Aiming for payrise after payrise?

I don't want to seem goady, I just see working hard as the only way out of extortionate private rent and, well, poverty?

Labour want to redistribute wealth from the very rich to the very poor and less well off

Kind of like Robin Hood

If you would rather the Tory approach of taking from the poor to give to the rich - your can but don't expect any respect from me

I don't want children in poverty struggling to get a decent meal , their life chances blighted by their parents lack of wealth - shame on you if you don't care for them

No, Labour want to redistribute wealth to those who need it. They also have to try and reduce the social budget.

Oh yeah great! Another stick to beat less fortunate/less lucky/less privileged people with!

Sick of seeing threads like this now.

Many people have not been as fortunate in life as you and some others @HauntedBungalow ! Your post comes across as very judgemental!

!

what are you calling socialism? We live in a capitalist society, as shown by your two sadly failed pension plans. Taxation isn’t socialist, we’ve had taxation since the Napoleonic wars. Socialism seeks to create equality of opportunities and believes that society’s basic needs, such as health, education and housing should be available to all. As far as I understand your point, you aren’t against benefits and support for the less well off: your complaint is that you are not eligible for those benefits, with which I sympathise. I should be happy to pay higher taxes to pay for benefits for those who need it, including you, of course.

Yes, it is very tough for hard working working class families. Sometimes I wonder is it worth sacrifice so much just to do the 'right thing' by putting money our pensions. May be we should just spend it all on holidays.

SPOT ON

Why should people have to pay into a private pension as well as a state pension just to get the same as someone who's never worked?

because you either believe in a safety net or you don’t.

Spot on, I agree with you completely. Worked FT as a single parent, living off overdraft most of my life. Loan for new boiler, received no benefits at all. Had to work OT to keep boat afloat. Couldn't go to all of son's sports days etc due to working. Yet, those who choose not to work get it all sorted for them and can attend every school event. Shockingly unfair.

We are talking about how Labour will raise taxes on savings and inheritance.

Labour want to re-distribute wealth to people who don't work. They started this yesterday by means testing the fuel allowance. They have ingnored the people who are only just above the pension credit income limit. These are the people who are likely to have worked in low paid jobs.

I agree, the whole thing is thouroughly depressing. I work my arse off for very little, will never own a house yet pay around £250 pcm into my NHS pension, wtf am I bothering? My quality of life is totally shit and I could really use the money now. I will be screwed if and when I am ever able to retire and am suffering now for what?

If you are paying in £250 a month the NHS must be contributing a fair bit as their contribution is 23%. That will help in later life.

Yeah, your life is bad because of people below you with even less.

Jeezo, some take.

I will never own my house, so no, the way things stand I would be better off without the private pension as I will have to pay rent...