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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

431 replies

HauntedBungalow · 30/07/2024 20:38

When all I will get is the bare State Pension. Whereas other people who did not make these contributions and/or did not work will get Pension Credit plus all the other nice little add ons like Council Tax Support, free boilers and now Winter Fuel Allowance? AIBU to think I'm a mug for bothering to work all those years?

OP posts:
stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:47

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Abouttthat · 31/07/2024 15:47

Cattery · 31/07/2024 13:04

You made your choice, they made theirs.

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Oh well that's alright then 🙄

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:45

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Well I can surely understand that it’s a predictable consequence of her choosing to not working in her 20s, and then work so little on her 30s so yes it is to be expected. But who knows she may surprise me and actually enjoy it.

ruby1957 · 31/07/2024 15:45

HauntedBungalow · 30/07/2024 20:55

People used to be able to get pension credit when they just got state pension.

If you are talking about the 'basic' state pension that was what was offered before 2016 - it is much lower than the new state pension (for which many of us had to work 39/44 years.)
Many of the generation of workers you refer to had no access to private/workplace pensions as a lot of women worked part-time

FYI - only about 1.5 million of the 12 million pensioners currently receive pension credit. The rest are either on the 'new' improved state pension or the lower 'old' pension boosted by small annuities or SERPs (look it up).

The new state pension was deliberately equated roughly to the PC level to prevent more PC claimants.

Contrary to the belief prevalent on other threads about 'rich' pensioners - the average single female pensioner has a pre-tax income of circa £17k pa - I think that cohort deserve the £200 pa winter fuel allowance as many are now quite elderly.

XenoBitch · 31/07/2024 15:44

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Or she could just hate her job/boss. Plenty of people do.

stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:43

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stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:42

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Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:41

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My relationship to her is irrelevant as I’ve stated, this isn’t the relationship board.

I’m talking using someone I know as an example for the purpose of the topic thread. And then another poster asked me questions on it which I answered. Honestly don’t worry about whether I have judgement or not next time I see her.

My comment above your one still applies - there’s a problem with the system.

stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:37

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Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:37

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no actually a pp answered it upthread after I Asked the question 😆

Having a responsible older teen kid, and a partner who does casual work and being able to WFH a lot, she’s not needed to use childcare since pre-covid so she could’ve easily worked more hours before the younger turned 13.

As I’ve said upthread its not necessarily the person at fault as people do what’s best for themselves, but we need to look at the system.

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:34

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That’s completely irrelevant 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 she may well be an “enemy” or a chatty work colleague and I’m describing her as a “friend” for the purpose of an anonymous board. That is neither here nor there, the point is I’m using some facts of her situation as an example to discuss the topic at hand.

ruby1957 · 31/07/2024 15:34

DoreenonTill8 · 30/07/2024 20:45

This, and by the time I retire the state pension will only be for those who've never contributed. And our private work pensions will be taxed again no doubt! Do we stop having to pay ni after 35 years contributions?

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All your income is taxed at the prevailing rate regardless of whether it is the state pension or a private pension.

stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:34

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Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:32

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🙄 or it’s because one of her kids was under 13 until recently.

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:31

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Ah ok interesting..,well without being too outing her youngest child turned 13 fairly recently (in the past few months) and I’ve not spoken to her much this year so maybe she is working that now! It will be a shock to the system I’m sure since she never stops complaining about the 16 hours she does lol

stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:30

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XenoBitch · 31/07/2024 15:29

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:22

Yeah I just saw that in the article. She is in a low-ish paid job but it’s slightly above minimum wage.

The 18 hours thing, is based on minimum wage so it’s possible her 16 hours is still enough as it could be equivalent to 18 hours NMW.

anyway my original main point was she works part-time (by choice) be it 15, 16 or 18 hours and is topped up by benefits.

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If she is on those hours and still being left alone by the Job Centre then she could well be on PIP and has not disclosed it to you.

stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:27

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stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:26

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stickingatit · 31/07/2024 15:26

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Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:22

XenoBitch · 31/07/2024 15:20

It depends what you get paid. With UC, the DWP are concerned with what you earn, and not what hours you do.

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Yeah I just saw that in the article. She is in a low-ish paid job but it’s slightly above minimum wage.

The 18 hours thing, is based on minimum wage so it’s possible her 16 hours is still enough as it could be equivalent to 18 hours NMW.

anyway my original main point was she works part-time (by choice) be it 15, 16 or 18 hours and is topped up by benefits.

XenoBitch · 31/07/2024 15:20

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:13

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9rzvwrn30ko.amp

I have no recent experience of the benefits system as vast majority of people I know are on average or above average wages and some with children don’t even get child benefits, so I could be wrong here but it seems until recently you could get UC and work 15 hours and it’s not a problem?

It’s only recently gone up to 18 hours. I’ve not spoken to my friend since spring , maybe she’s working 18 hours now. If so, I can imagine she’ll moan and groan about that extra two hours 😆

Does anyone else know if this is correct or not?

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It depends what you get paid. With UC, the DWP are concerned with what you earn, and not what hours you do.

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:19

she will be required to substantially increase hours now the children post 13 and if she has not… it will be for a reason that you are not privy to

I don’t know. She’s a family friend I know pretty well since childhood and she’s pretty open about everything.

According to the article I’ve posted if you’re on UC it was only an issue if people worked less than 15 hours. And now it’s working less than 18 hours which will trigger being asked to work more.

TorroFerney · 31/07/2024 15:18

Boater · 30/07/2024 20:41

Yes because a life on pension credit is a lovely existence.

Exactly this. It’s a really odd way to look at stuff I think.

Wordysmith · 31/07/2024 15:13

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9rzvwrn30ko.amp

I have no recent experience of the benefits system as vast majority of people I know are on average or above average wages and some with children don’t even get child benefits, so I could be wrong here but it seems until recently you could get UC and work 15 hours and it’s not a problem?

It’s only recently gone up to 18 hours. I’ve not spoken to my friend since spring , maybe she’s working 18 hours now. If so, I can imagine she’ll moan and groan about that extra two hours 😆

Does anyone else know if this is correct or not?

Woman working in a store cupboard

Universal credit changes: Claimants must now seek 18 hours work - BBC News

Changes to welfare rules mean universal credit claimants must look for ways to earn more than before.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9rzvwrn30ko.amp