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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In thinking that I may never be allowed to retire.........

280 replies

whymumwhymum · 17/06/2011 21:43

Have worked in public sector for nearly 20 years now and just saw in the news today that they are planning on keeping the pensions for my age group and under back until we are 66 ffs.

That was not what I signed up for when I decided to pay into the scheme!

Thats nearly another 30 years and tbh I don't think i'll survive in this job that long, and thats not taking into account that by the time I'm 50 or older they will probably have pushed the age back further.

I don't feel particularly ' lucky' to be a public sector worker, i worked and studied damn hard for years to get my now reasonably (not by any means highly) paid job. I will never ever get a bonus even if i do twice the 'reasonable' work, will also never get overtime payments. I'll never have a company car or private health care or any other perks.

Many's the night I've lain awake worrying about the people i get paid to look after Sad.

The pension was the one thing that made it 'wothwhile' long term and i am losing faith that I will ever see it, in payments alone i calculat I will have paid in somehwre in the region of 100k over a working life of 45 years not accounting for inplation. Should have just saved the money or better still blown it on stuff I could actually enjoy before i'm six feet under!

OP posts:
Dozer · 18/06/2011 13:05

That is a killer fact lesley - literally!

MrsKravitz · 18/06/2011 13:09

Actually for sausages and marmalade and Msdowall I dont have a pension

and for sausagesandmarmalade if you read what I wrote, I said I moved from my young person's career to HE for longevity

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:19

Ahhh yes...B&Q will save us Smile

To all the critics of public sector workers saying they don't have a pension that they contribute to....then what are they relying on to keep them in old age...and as a cushion in case they require costly specialist care when they are old?

MrsKravitz · 18/06/2011 13:21

I work public sector and also worked for the NHS for years yet have no pension. I have a minimal superannuation fund (private) or nothing.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:25

'But expat, you may not be in a position to do that, eg if you are well one day and not the next, eg stroke, heart attack, hit by bus.'

Then my husband will do it. Or my sister. Or me to them. And no, I don't care if I go to prison for it. And they don't, either. And yes, we have all discussed this and are quite open about it.

Don't see it as macabre at all.

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:25

They might want an elderly workforce if they can use their labour in exchange for healthcare. You could be lying in a hospital bed making cold calls about new windows, a laptop on your bedside cabinet...Have they thought of that? There must be lots of work a bed-bound elderly person could do to support themselves and contribute to the economy or take the weight off other younger, fitter (but also poor) people. Surely if they want to kick disabled people off benefits they have to start looking at the very elderly, too. In the big society who but the rich should be allowed to retire?

Brilliant Floyjoy!!!

As for the desire to die of smoking/drinking causes....
No thanks...there's nothing sexy about lung cancer or cirrhosis of the liver....wouldn't want a slow agonising or painful death.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:26

You just watch, too, care work will become more and more private sector, as will everything else.

It's the way of the world. Best make provision for it as you can, because it's going to happen.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:28

'No thanks...there's nothing sexy about lung cancer or cirrhosis of the liver....wouldn't want a slow agonising or painful death.'

Unless we take our own lives, we none of us get a choice in the matter of going.

Most I've seen with lung cancer didn't last long and I didn't see any die in a slow and agonising fashion. It's got a low survival rate for a reason. Worked in hospice a number of years.

SlackSally · 18/06/2011 13:29

Sausageandmarmalade makes a good point, though.

All those who say they have no/very little pension are going to have to live somehow in old age. Other than Expat, and her probably unpopular plan, how do you all plan to support yourselves?

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:30

'Why is it so hard to just have some empathy?'

There's empathy and there's paying the piper. People are living longer. I've always known this was a poisoned chalice. And this is part of the poison. Living longer = working longer.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:31

exitinternational

allegrageller · 18/06/2011 13:32

I don't have a clue SlackSally and I am very worried, tbh. Hence my gallows humour/serious-ish speculation about smoking and drinking death.

I have a very rich xH I'm desperately trying to get a good settlement from. My kids at least will be provided for. As for me, I hope to God I die before I get old- seriously.

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:33

Mrs Kravitz...totally confused! But never mind.....

Wideawake - You've hit the nail on the head.
People seem to have very little empathy these days...seems to be so much more of a me,me, me society.
If you're sitting on the other side of the fence and the issues have no (perceived) impact on you...then some people just couldn't care less....UNTIL they are affected...when it becomes a different story!

allegrageller · 18/06/2011 13:36

exactly sausages.

I was really shocked to read that mdowdall for instance doesn't have a pension and expects- having the choice NOT to do so, I presume, to work until he drops. It seems crazy to me to be honest. And then to spout all that bizarre jealousy about the cushy public sector. I think there is a culture not only of 'me me me' but 'now now now'- who gives a shit if we are breaking up the fabric of our country, if it avoids a tax rise NOW...etc. Short termism kills.

I think expat's deadly realism is only a small part of the solution. We need to care more. We can't just expect to live as self-centred individuals forever. Worked for some of the babyboomers, won't work for us.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:36

'If you're sitting on the other side of the fence and the issues have no (perceived) impact on you...then some people just couldn't care less....UNTIL they are affected...when it becomes a different story!'

You could say that about people wanting to retire in their 50s or at 60 at much taxpayer expense as well, however.

expatinscotland · 18/06/2011 13:38

'We need to care more.'

But someone has to pay for it, and it's going to fall to our children and grandchildren, who by the looks of it can ill-afford it.

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:39

Most I've seen with lung cancer didn't last long and I didn't see any die in a slow and agonising fashion. It's got a low survival rate for a reason. Worked in hospice a number of years.

Really? they didn't suffer...there was no pain, no struggling to breathe, no suffering..

But onto another thing....people say there's no money...there IS money for war, for bailing out our european neighbours. Maybe this government needs to get it's priorities right before the country goes into meltdown!

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:45

Agree Allegra....completely!

I think some people just argue for the sake of it...I usually avoid commenting to those arguing for the sake of it..but sometimes I slip!

There will be an impact of a longer working workforce in so many ways....and that will adversely affect the very ones calling for the changes..and showing no sympathy towards public service employees(there's the irony).

allegrageller · 18/06/2011 13:48

indeed. There is always money for tax breaks for the likes of vodafone, wars for oil and to please the USA, etc ad nauseam. We have our priorities all wrong, but it looks likely to stay that way and indeed get worse.

I think the country may wake up to what it is doing in 20-30 years time when people are dying on the street adn there will no doubt be huge social unrest. That's if the oil doesn't run out by then in which case we have a whole new level of problems to deal with.

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:50

I wonder if the longer working age will adversely effect the young wanting to gain a foothold in the public sector.

Can't sack people on the basis of age (that's discrimination)...and you must make reasonable adjustments to accomodate any disabilities etc.

Forcing them to work till 66 and beyond (as will surely happen) is going to be detrimental in the long run. I also predict increased incidences of long term sickness absences.

sausagesandmarmelade · 18/06/2011 13:52

LOL Allegra.....

I think we are in danger of returning to Victoriana in years to come...

Right...must get on! Been an interesting discussion!! Wink

allegrageller · 18/06/2011 13:53

yeah sausages of course there will be more people on long term sick. I am sure we've all seen this in our careers- people over 60 get ill way more often, it's how humans are built. The compulsory increased pension age is a short termist solution which has not been thought through at all. It may well end up costing the taxpayer more overall.

I think the young already have appalling problems gaining a foothold anywhere as far as I can tell, and judging by the youth unemployment figures.

allegrageller · 18/06/2011 13:54

me too back to work!! That pension needs topping up :-D

Bettyblackeye · 18/06/2011 14:02

Op I'm so glad it's not just me who feels like this. I am a nurse and have been for the last 16 years, I feel fortunate to have a job and be in employment but there is no way on this planet I will physically be able to do this job until I'm 66! I struggle with terrible back ache now and I'm only in my 30s. We were joking the other day that we will be pensioners nursing pensioners but I think it may well become a reality. I recently had my pension forecast and could of gone at 60 the package was ok not what I would call fabulous and I would still need to save a lot between now and then to afford it.
I'm sick of hearing about public sector workers having an easy life. I would take any of you around with me for a day and let you see the things I have to deal with and the amount of pressure put on us due to budget cuts and then tell me I have it easy.

southmum · 18/06/2011 14:03

Wideawakenurse Sat 18-Jun-11 13:03:52

Actually, the thing I find hardest to swallow is people's attitudes.

Comments like "sitting on your arses" and "sitting with your feet up" >>towards public sector workers who are just peeved that they are not ??>>getting what was essentially promised to them, are rude and uncalled for.

In life we dont always get what we are promised, in work you most definitely do not get whats been promised. We all get goalposts changed, terms amended, etc etc. Its shit, but shit for all of us, so I'll say again, why should I pay more for a private sector worker to sit on their arse with their feet up enjoying life while I struggle to make ends meet?

FWIW I think its beyond rude and uncalled for to expect others to pay for your retirement (not 'yours' specifically obviously)