Page 4 | Is living on the state pension really that bad?

cateringday · 2026-02-21T09:07:03+00:00

I mean, if you own your home then you’re getting around £250 a week just for bills and spends. i have a tiny pension and DH has none. I am always worrying about this but then realised that we will have no rent or mortgage to pay. im just wondering if it would be as awful as people make out? I hear stuff saying you need £300000 in pension pot to have a comfortable retirement, why would you need that much?

mydogisthebest · 22/02/2026 14:46

Pddn · 22/02/2026 14:25

Report him anonymously to DWP

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I have lost count of how many times I have reported him over the last 3 years and nothing whatsoever has happened.

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 14:31

mydogisthebest · 22/02/2026 13:50

Yes, as I said, he went to his GP and claimed he was depressed and had anxiety so could not leave his house. No real reason for a GP to doubt what a patient is saying and it's not something the GP can see or test for is it.

As someone who has suffered genuine anxiety and panic attacks out of my home it makes me furious. I did have time off work but then went back even though it was a real struggle.

Because he gets benefits and cash in hand for working he is actually fairly well off. Eats out quite a lot and last week took his girlfriend out for Valentines and paid £160 for a meal which he boasted about to me and DH

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Laughing at this If he went to his GP and said he couldn't leave the house then id not believe him if he was the GP

Pddn · 22/02/2026 14:25

mydogisthebest · 22/02/2026 13:50

Yes, as I said, he went to his GP and claimed he was depressed and had anxiety so could not leave his house. No real reason for a GP to doubt what a patient is saying and it's not something the GP can see or test for is it.

As someone who has suffered genuine anxiety and panic attacks out of my home it makes me furious. I did have time off work but then went back even though it was a real struggle.

Because he gets benefits and cash in hand for working he is actually fairly well off. Eats out quite a lot and last week took his girlfriend out for Valentines and paid £160 for a meal which he boasted about to me and DH

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Report him anonymously to DWP

ChefsKisser · 22/02/2026 13:54

To be honest anyone under the age of 45 needs to seriously consider that the state pension is likely to be very different/means tested/age much higher by the time we are older and act accordingly. The benefits bill financial implosion will be along at some point and myself and my husband and family are moving abroad later this year to avoid the future of the UK tbh. It looks bleak!

mydogisthebest · 22/02/2026 13:50

Pepperlee · 22/02/2026 10:07

I meant that some information from a medical professional must have to be provided to claim PIP. I doubt that it's granted simply on the applicant's say so.

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Yes, as I said, he went to his GP and claimed he was depressed and had anxiety so could not leave his house. No real reason for a GP to doubt what a patient is saying and it's not something the GP can see or test for is it.

As someone who has suffered genuine anxiety and panic attacks out of my home it makes me furious. I did have time off work but then went back even though it was a real struggle.

Because he gets benefits and cash in hand for working he is actually fairly well off. Eats out quite a lot and last week took his girlfriend out for Valentines and paid £160 for a meal which he boasted about to me and DH

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 13:01

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:47

Not enough class 2 contributions for the cancer as was off for too long 18 months previously.

And not eligible for UC.

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Not sure what any of it has to do with Anxiety though

Cashmereclothing · 22/02/2026 12:54

If you own your home and finances become tight you can always do equity release. Afterall you can't take it with you. Especially if you have already made sacrifices for your children.

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:47

Pickledonion1999 · 22/02/2026 12:39

There is Contributions based benefits or Universal credit for self employed people too sick to work as well as the disability benefits like PIP if eligible.

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Not enough class 2 contributions for the cancer as was off for too long 18 months previously.

And not eligible for UC.

BambinaCucina · 22/02/2026 12:40

You also have to remember that if you own your own home, you have the maintenance and upkeep of that to think about.

Any holidays/days out that you might like to take.

Potentially increased heating if you're in the house more/feel the cold.

Pickledonion1999 · 22/02/2026 12:39

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:16

Very sorry for your loss btw. I thought there was sickness/health related benefits. Guess you had to keep going as you're self employed.

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There is Contributions based benefits or Universal credit for self employed people too sick to work as well as the disability benefits like PIP if eligible.

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:16

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:15

Self employed.

I wouldn't call in commendable, merely just getting on with stuff despite shit happening

Edited

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Very sorry for your loss btw. I thought there was sickness/health related benefits. Guess you had to keep going as you're self employed.

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:15

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:14

Very commendable I thought you'd be able to claim for the time you were off work sick

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Self employed.

I wouldn't call in commendable, merely just getting on with stuff despite shit happening

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:14

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:13

No. Never occured to me to ask for any. Spent a lot of time after these incidences working non stop to survive

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Very commendable I thought you'd be able to claim for the time you were off work sick

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:14

Fends · 22/02/2026 12:10

Not if they’ve got similar problem solving skills to you 😅

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One of the reasons I told my children to work hard at school.....

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:13

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:12

Did you?

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No. Never occured to me to ask for any. Spent a lot of time after these incidences working non stop to survive

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:12

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:11

In the last 5 years I've had cervical cancer and unrelated sepsis that nearly killed me

Both parents died within 18 months of each other, stillborn GC, etc

So does this mean I can get money for it?

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Did you?

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:11

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:08

Person with cancer definitely needs the support as they are unwell

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In the last 5 years I've had cervical cancer and unrelated sepsis that nearly killed me

Both parents died within 18 months of each other, stillborn GC, etc

So does this mean I can get money for it?

Fends · 22/02/2026 12:10

Pddn · 21/02/2026 10:15

Even if someone starts off at NMW at an entry level, once they get the hang of things don't they move up to shift leader or manager of some sort?

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Not if they’ve got similar problem solving skills to you 😅

pinkstripeycat · 22/02/2026 12:10

My 78 year old mother owns her own home. She receives the Basic State Pension maximum which is £176.45/week. She worked from the age of 15.

Pddn · 22/02/2026 12:08

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:07

But not every with cancer etc has anxiety.

Wonder why some people get it and some font

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Person with cancer definitely needs the support as they are unwell

Thechaseison71 · 22/02/2026 12:07

Enigma54 · 22/02/2026 12:02

For many claimants, there is an actual reason for anxiety. Serious illness such as cancer and its treatments, can trigger anxiety for example.

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But not every with cancer etc has anxiety.

Wonder why some people get it and some font

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 22/02/2026 12:03

Cashmereclothing · 22/02/2026 11:32

Those claiming PIP for anxiety related conditions must consider themselves to be seriously ill. Maybe we should go back to institutionalising such people.

Watch PIP claimants rapidly decrease.....

Yes let's get back to the Victorian days, life was so much better then.

Cashmereclothing · 22/02/2026 12:03

Enigma54 · 22/02/2026 12:02

For many claimants, there is an actual reason for anxiety. Serious illness such as cancer and its treatments, can trigger anxiety for example.

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The suggested method weeds out the claimants trying it on.

Enigma54 · 22/02/2026 12:02

Cashmereclothing · 22/02/2026 11:32

Those claiming PIP for anxiety related conditions must consider themselves to be seriously ill. Maybe we should go back to institutionalising such people.

Watch PIP claimants rapidly decrease.....

For many claimants, there is an actual reason for anxiety. Serious illness such as cancer and its treatments, can trigger anxiety for example.

fairmaidofutopia · 22/02/2026 11:40

It’s the lump sums you need, new boiler, or even new fridge, clothes, passport, lumps that you need every now and again. One might be able to live day to day on the state pension but where does even a few hundred quid come from - unless you have a decent lump of savings …