Public sector pension contribs - reactions?

aliceliddel: the tax reliefs are the same for all (but can be presented to look bigger if you're paying 40%)

ivykay44: all reliefs have ever-tightening limits on them, and there are new rules about taxation on actual/notional size of pot. In the public sector, the additional "hit" for higher earners will be significant.

"I'm frankly appalled that private sector workers have accepted situations where their pension pots have been raided"

They had to - it was one of Gordon Brown's early acts as Chancellor to change the taxation rules in one of the biggest heists ever - it cost (and continues to cost) the pension funds dearly.

If I heard the example on the news rightly, the proposed increases to certain NHS pensions will be higher than for a teacher on the same income. Does anyone have any good links for the basic facts of the proposals?

Am I right in thinking top top top incomes get tax relief on pensions? Why no mass whingerating about that, then?

(sorry ng but you don't half say some daft things)

The top earners will get tax relief so they are not really hit harder

My pension is predicted to be 7k a year if I retire at 65 after 33 years of working for the NHS. I can't see me enjoying long cruises, etc on that.

Firstly I'm annoyed that as I joined the NHS in 2008 I don't have a final salary scheme but I'm sure my contributions will be hoiked up along with the pre-2008 staff. So I'm been shafted from both ends as it were.

Also the extra money isn't going to be going into the NHS pension fund as its not needed. I've read in several places that the NHS pension fund is in credit and does not need propping up. There is enough money to pay the pensions. So its this just a stealth tax to pay for more wars in Libya, etc?

niceguy2 - I am thoroughly sick of the private sector bleating 'they've got more than us' - and then using this as an argument to hammer everyone down to the same unacceptably low level. It's NOT a race to the bottom - but you obviously want it to be! As a public sector worker who will be lucky to retire with a £5k a yr pension in 2035 I'm frankly appalled that private sector workers have accepted situations where their pension pots have been raided and their pension schemes either altered to employee detriment or abolished altogether. I'll fight for your rights. Sad that you're not prepared to reciprocate. Nor - seemingly - are you prepared to defend your own private sector terms and conditions. Private companies have gotten away with bully boy tactics partially because their employees have allowed them to. You've always had the right to take action to prevent your terms and conditions being eroded. Why don't you exercise that right?

Please do not uncritically accept the propaganda concerning public sector pensions and their alleged 'generosity'. They are merely generous in comparison to the private sector - and I refer you to my first para.

The arguments advanced by the government in justification of the changes to the public sector schemes do not bear scrutiny. The changes are a tax upon the public sector (again) by this government who are, in any event, ideologically opposed to anything 'public'.

Go do some research. I'd suggest the TUC website - or any of the trade union (eg UNISON, UNITE, GMB) sites. Then examine the figures. You'll get them via the parliament website - look at the briefings papers etc.

Personally I think it's more than fair for what is at the end of the day still a very very generous pension.

I suspect anyone who is in the private sector who suffered the loss of their own final salary schemes would have given their back teeth to pay that tiny bit more to keep it.

Yes it seems to hit high earners more and that bit isn't fair as such but then you could argue a 40%/50% rate of tax is also unfair to high earners but that's the norm.

Well, for me its an extra £36 vanishing each month, on top of no payrise to cover the cost of living. And my bills keep going up. And from next August I'm likely to have a £4000 pay cut as well. We're not "fat cats", just ordinary people struggling like anyone else.