Retiring without working

[MewMew101]

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…

i think council tax reduction is 25%
not just paying 10%, you pay 75%

Some do get all their housing rent paid and council tax fully paid.
There are those who never worked and live in council housing will definitely be better off than those who did work all their lives.
All maintenance and repairs will also be covered.
They will get pension tax credit, which others won't.

The 25% reduction is for single householders i.e. just one person in the household.
I don't know about people who are entitled to Pension Credit.

I'm 63 and I am surprised that a woman very little older than me hasn't had a job since having children, who must be grown up long ago. My Mum is nearly 92 and virtually all her friends of a similar age had jobs after having children, as she did.

Those who worked on minimum wage all their lives will be worse off than anyone who didn't work and has the privilege of a council property.
Significantly better off.
And if they need care it will be free.
Others will have to pay for it if they have managed to acquire any assets whilst working.

Reminds me of a couple I used to know. He had never worked, never claimed benefits either TBF. Wife worked a series of cash in hand jobs; cleaning, pub work, babysitting. She claimed tax credits, CB.

He basically never existed after leaving school, apart from his marriage cert and kids birth certs. If he was ever unwell, he’d describe the symptoms to his wife, she’d go to the GP and pretend it was her! They would be in their 60s now and I often wonder what they’re living on and if anyone wonders where he’s been the last 40/50 years!

The ones who worked all their lives might have spent some money on rather nice holidays and decent cars all those years while they were working and also saved up some money for the rainy day (when that woman took away their WFP), so they might still be better off than those who didn't work, by way of state pension and private and work pensions. I do understand, though, why it seems unfair that some folk don't work but live quite well.
It's a thing called The Welfare State, thought about by Lord(?) Beveridge, implemented by a government in 1948, looking after people 'from the cradle to the grave'.

If he was ever unwell, he’d describe the symptoms to his wife, she’d go to the GP and pretend it was her!

Hope he never developed prostate problems! 😂

Yes, I and most of my friends were SAHMs for a few years while our children were small, but worked either part time or full time as the children got older. My mum, born in the 1920s, also worked once my sister and I were older.These days I look after my grandchildren while their parents work, as do many of my friends - we have contributed to the economy one way or another all our adult lives.

I used to say that too! 😁

@Gummybear23
No they don't
Before l moved and bought my house.. l lived in council housing. I have friends and old neighbours..
They still pay something.
If you have three bedrooms before you became a pensioner you paid bedroom tax.. for bedrooms you didn't use.
But when you become a pensioner ..you just pay for the one you use.
Re winter fuel.. it's stopped for anyone born after 1957.
Those born before who get credits will still get it.
There has been petitions.. it's all over the news.
I won't get a penny.. l become a pensioner in November and have had my letter and forecast.
I will get £221 per week.
I have to pay all my bills out of that.. heating will take up most of it.
I will get council tax reduction.
I still have to pay for dental treatment.
I get free prescriptions and a bus pass.. and that's it.
Google is your friend.. use it and learn.

I was born November 1958.

There are different kinds of contributions, at least there were. You could, probably still can, pay voluntary contributions.
My understanding of Child Benefit and Carers Allowance was that they reduced the number of required years a person would need to qualify for a state pension. I don't know if that's still the case.

Just to say, as they say on Mumsnet, the State Retirement Pension, whether we like it or not, whether I shriek about it or not, is a --- benefit. I'm on that benefit but there are a few things I don't get with it !

In many areas the bus pass age is increasing too. 66 currently where I live, going to 67 soon. The LA where my friend lives used to offer them the option of a Senior Railcard as buses are few and far between as lots of rural villages. That’s stopped now.

She's survived all these years without her own income, I am sure she'll be fine. She must be incredibly wealthy.

so being on child benefit means you dont have to work,
ie you dont have to pay your stamps.

ask her op. if she has paid all her stamps

How have they lived? Have they lived carefully and saved some money? Did he prefer for her to stay home and he would be the bread-winner in the way of an earlier generation?

I fully support the welfare system.
However, I think that those who have worked all their lives on say the minimum wage should be supported more in old age.
Working on a minimum wage I doubt there was enough money for nice things like holidays.
Then to.add insult to injury they are significant worse off.
This group should be supported so that they have atleast the same amount of benefits than those who never worked.

Why be jealous? At least you have agency over the money you have. The OP's aunt will just have to take whatever there is which may not be much.

She’s 60 and their mortgage was a very small one. They bought it in the 80s, I believe. They’re not wealthy. I assume she has been living off her husband’s wage for all these years. I think she gets PIP too

I am in my 40s and haven't worked for almost 18 years, but I study part time whilst raising a busy family. I have chronic health problems and two children classed as disabled (one in the CAMHS system currently).

It's not that unheard of.

He probably died of testicular cancer.

It is easy to judge but things were different for her generation. Women tended to be SAHM and weren't always as well educated as women today. I am sure her husband will have a pension and she could well have contributed to her own pension over the years.

In England everyone gets free prescriptions when they hit 60, even if they're still working. It's not just a benefit for those who don't/haven't worked.

You say you think she gets PIP. If so, she must have a serious health problem. In which case, might she have been too unwell to work? (I know PIP can be paid to those in work too, but it's possible this wasn't an option due to her health).