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Original poster

Retiring without working

118 replies

MewMew101 · 27/08/2024 07:18

My Aunt is approaching retirement age, but she has never worked a day in her life. How would she be able to pay her bills when she does reach retirement age etc.

I’m assuming won’t have enough NI contributions to even get the minimum amount of state pension, since she has never worked? Let alone a workplace pension…

This is something that is baffling me! I would be terrified if I was in her position…

OP posts:
MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 27/08/2024 09:58

Those that have never worked will be significantly better off than those who worked everyday of their life in minimum wage jobs. You can thank Labour for that

dreamingofsun · 27/08/2024 10:08

Agree with teh others who say being on pension credit seems a much more lucrative position than being a poorer pensioner who has saved/paid their NI and has a small pension. I have a relative who has had two stairlifts, central heating, double glazing, dentist, opticians, all paid for. Plus no council tax to pay.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:13

if she had children she would have stamps

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HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:13

did she claim unemployment benefit?

taxguru · 27/08/2024 10:17

My MIL never worked after her first child at the age of 21. From then on she lived off her husband who worked his arse off and died before he hit retirement age. She never even tried to get a job, just happy to sponge off her husband and the state.

The lazy mare then had a huge retirement party when she hit state retirement age! How can you have a "retirement" party when you've never actually worked for 40 years! And yes, she's one of "those" who is constantly complaining about young people being lazy, how the country is going to hell in a handcart, etc.

She's now living on more than she did before due to state pension, pension credit, rent paid, WFA, no council tax, free prescriptions, etc etc.

As others have said, working is a mug's game these days.

AgnesX · 27/08/2024 10:21

IKnowAristotle · 27/08/2024 09:30

I'm not sure this is anything to do with the benefit system, more the economic circumstances (and attitudes) throughout the "boomer" generation which allows comfortable retirements with little effort.

Most women of my mum's age either didn't work or worked very part time. All retired in their late 50s/early 60s.

It's not so much the boomer generation, we now have generations - at least 2 of them - where people have lived in benefits for pretty well their entire lives and will continue to until they die.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:24

so how old is she?
66?
very odd not to work at all

IKnowAristotle · 27/08/2024 10:29

@AgnesX I don't know anyone in younger generations who is able to live well off benefits.

Also, this doesn't appear to be the situation OP describes. She's talking about a housewife who has reached retirement age.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:30

would her husband have paid her national insurance stamps?

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:31

if they had a mortgage on his pay alone he must be well paid perhaps.

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/08/2024 10:34

If she’s married and her husband has full state pension entitlement, a private pension and they have some savings, that’s what they’ll live on. She won’t be eligible for pension credit or associated benefits as they’re based on household income. If she were single with no other form of income, she would be - but frankly, ensuring that I don’t have to step over destitute and starving old people on the streets as I go home from the opera is well worth the perceived “unfairness” of the state providing a retirement income to older people who’ve never worked.

Houseplanter · 27/08/2024 10:37

What is she retiring from exactly? Sounds like life carries on...

UrbanFan · 27/08/2024 10:37

If she has paid her NI stamp then she will get a state pension. No doubt the tax payers of the UK will support her even though she's not worked a day in her life.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/08/2024 10:55

@MewMew101 sorry but she has spent her life on the dole!!! I wouldnt worry about her. those people know exactly what they are entitled to and wont miss a thing!!!!!

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/08/2024 10:56

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/08/2024 10:55

@MewMew101 sorry but she has spent her life on the dole!!! I wouldnt worry about her. those people know exactly what they are entitled to and wont miss a thing!!!!!

Edited

OP has said her aunt is married and her husband works full time - she was a housewife and/or SAHM, not on the dole.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:57

you cant be on the dole for life
it is job seekers
and a job would have been found

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 10:57

when she says retired
presumably she means she is now a pensioner?

frozendaisy · 27/08/2024 11:03

Does it matter OP?

If she ends up skint then her kids will have to sort it out.

Indianajet · 27/08/2024 11:12

Such rude comments about 'boomers' - I suppose I am one at 69. My house is paid for and I have my own state pension plus a portion of my late husband's private pension, so I am not entitled to any other help but have enough to live on. We achieved this by really hard work - my husband full time and me part time while bringing up our family.

MtClair · 27/08/2024 11:12

If she ends up skint then her kids will have to sort it out.

Why?
Her kinds might not want to have anything to do with her.
They might not have the money.
She might not have had children or they dead.

Unlike in other countries, she isn’t her dcs responsibility.

OnePeachCrow · 27/08/2024 11:13

Gummybear23 · 27/08/2024 07:20

She probably be better off than most.
Pension tax credit
Winter fuel allowance
Rent paid
No council tax to pay.

Not true. Even if you are on full benefits you have to pay a percentage of your council tax, usually about 10% depending on the council. This has been the rule for about 10 years.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 11:13

@Indianajet
would you agree never to have worked is unusual for this age group ?

MtClair · 27/08/2024 11:16

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 27/08/2024 10:55

@MewMew101 sorry but she has spent her life on the dole!!! I wouldnt worry about her. those people know exactly what they are entitled to and wont miss a thing!!!!!

Edited

Ever heard of stay at home parent? Or a housewife?
Many women, esp of that generation, didn’t work. Wages were such that people could actually afford to live on one wage!!
Or even if they did/wanted to work, anyone else needs were coming first so they were more likely step put of work than to carry on.

HelenWheels · 27/08/2024 11:19

many woman @MtClair of 66?
i doubt it.
perhaps older but i guess her husband earned plenty

Moier · 27/08/2024 11:19

@Gummybear23
Where have you been??
And others who mention the fuel allowance..
There isn't going to be a fuel allowance.. those born after 1957 won't get anything.. even if you get pension credits.
Also you get an housing and council tax reduction..
You don't get it all paid.
Gosh wish some of you would educate yourself on these things.
Stammer the theif has taken all this away for the pensioners..
I am okay money wise.. but my old school friends who were all born after 1957 and worked their arses off are getting bugger all.. if they get a private pension.. it's money they put in and worked for. It's not fecking free.