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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

you can't complain about not having enough money as a pensioner if your able to work

180 replies

madhurjazz · 09/09/2016 08:12

Just that really, certain person I know complains about not having enough but they have no health conditions and have enough to get by. No reason why they couldn't work.

Aibu to just say get a job and late 60s isnt really that old thee days?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/09/2016 09:11

'What about the folk in their 20s 30s 40s etc who live off benefits and have no intention of working.'

What have people on benefits have to do with this OP? Hmm

mydietstartsmonday · 09/09/2016 09:12

It is bloody hard for the older generation to get a job. Our society is ageist, if you are over 50 it is tough to get the same position if you were made redundant. Part time work is hard to come by and often involves shift work. So quite tough if you are not used to it.

madein1995 · 09/09/2016 09:12

Also I doubt the pension alone will pay for holidays and expensive meals by itself op. Hardly as if government being particularly generous. We should look after our older generation of course we should. cant beliebe you think they should just work. not enough non physical jobs to go round.

FeralBeryl · 09/09/2016 09:13

Jesus I'm fucked at 40! Can't imagine keeping this up for another 30 years Angry
Seriously though - I notice aches and pains that weren't there 10years ago. I'll be in a heap at 60....
YABU she's presumably worked all her life.
Things happen, plans fail, people change.

MatildaTheCat · 09/09/2016 09:13

Moaning is just part of the human condition. If your friend had more money she would be moaning about the nhs and you could start a thread about that.

Some people do reach retirement with no extra funds, not always as simple as 'should have saved harder or should go and get a job.'

scaryteacher · 09/09/2016 09:17

Squidgy The maximum people are getting is about £119.8 on the old system. the new system is very complex, and if you have been in a contracted out occupational scheme, then money is docked from the new pension. Dh has paid in NI for all of his career, and quite a lot of it, and his forecast is £119.60 per week. For those on less generous occupational schemes than his, that cut can have profound effects.

I have 27 years contributions, and have just paid to top up a few months to get another year. I will get about £107 a week from my state pension, in 2033. I need to do the maths to see if it is worth topping up to 35 years or not, given that some of my pension is restricted as I was contracted out for some of the time.

SquidgyRedBall · 09/09/2016 09:23

Scaryteacher. Yes there is the contracted out issues but while contracted out someone would have paid less NI so can't have it both ways.

If you still have years to go until your state pension age you (and you are working or receiving some benefits) then you can still top up your state pension up to the £155.65. The new state pension calculation is quite complex I agree (and no one seems to know exactly how it's done haha)

mygorgeousmilo · 09/09/2016 09:31

*you're

And yes, YABVU

TattyCat · 09/09/2016 09:42

Come back when you're 65 and let's see if you're of the same opinion...

elastamum · 09/09/2016 09:46

Well I am in my 50's and I am absolutely knackered by the end of most weeks - so I cant imagine being able to do what I do for another 20 years.

I do an intellectually demanding job with a lot of international travel - which means some of my days stretch to 14-17 hours. I could do it when I was young but now pretty much at the end of every week I wonder how long I can carry on. Unfortunately, I know that if I give it up I will struggle to find another job at my age - so I just grit my teeth and keep going - but its not easy Sad

So I think YABU - the idea that you can just walk into a suitable job in your 70s is pure fantasy

brasty · 09/09/2016 09:46

Have you tried to get a job at this age? Jobs that will take on people in their late 60s are like the equivalent of term time only jobs.

HeyNannyNanny · 09/09/2016 09:54

I'm gonna be with the minority here and say YANBU OP

There seems to be an inbuilt sense of entitlement when it comes to pensions and old age, lots of people saying "why should I have to work when I'm old?".
Confused why shouldn't people have to work when they're older?

The state pension was bought into place in 1909 with the intention to prevent poverty in old age. You qualified at age 70 - the average life expectancy was 47!

In 1925 it covered from age 65, where our concept of "retirement age" comes from. Except in 1925 thelife expectancy was 60.

The system was not designed to give people a long holiday period after their working years, it was designed to keep the very old from starving.

Now people are getting their knickers in a twist about the age being raised to 67+ when the life expectancy has increased to 80+

The pension, designed to support the poorest who lived beyond life expectancy is now expected to keep everyone afloat for 13 years + after they've stopped contributing.

I understand that we all pay into a pot to cover ourselves in old age but we need to be realistic.
42% of government welfare is spent on pensions.

If you want to have 10, 15, 20 years to be work-free you need to plan and work towards it yourself, not expect the government to fork out for it

hungryhippo90 · 09/09/2016 09:55

It's really sad that there are people in this country who are old enough to be living on a pension, and are unable to have a decent standard of living.
If she is of retirement age, she shouldn't have to work if she doesn't want to. If it's accepted she is old enough to be reliant on the state then the state should support her sufficiently, after all, she would have paid in for 30+ years.

My father in law, cannot read or write, he made himself a career in the construction industry, he is 69 years of age, his knees are fucked, he has heart problems, and both of his arms have seen far better days. He's in such a state that he only gets paid £40 a day. But he has no choice but to carry on, because he and MIL need to live...they both work, he gets s basic pension I believe, his wages, her wages and he drives around in a 15 year old car, they haven't had a holiday in 10 years, and don't have any flash things. I find that so sad.

ilovesooty · 09/09/2016 10:31

I thought more than a couple would agree

How disappointing for you. My commiserations.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/09/2016 10:34

As you are obviously a little dense and/or ageist, could I please point out that it is 'you're able to work' - HTH Smile

corythatwas · 09/09/2016 10:39

My FIL did manage to work well above retirement age, but only by taking 10 years off his age in interview. He got the sack when they found out, though the boss was sympathetic and thought it was a nice try.

I certainly hope to be able to work into my 70s- but in reality I know there will be a lot of pressure on me to retire and leave place for younger recruits. But maybe you will put in a word for me with management, OP?

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/09/2016 10:44

I hope I don't moan about being short of money, but I did work for many years and paid into a pension, which I now receive. I also had a lump sum, which would have been ideal as savings, but I helped out family.

I am thinking about trying to get a job, but honestly I don't have the energy for standing on my feet all day.

LurkingHusband · 09/09/2016 10:44

I've read this thread, and now I really can't understand something.

Why on earth would Iain Duncan Smith choose the username "madhurjazz" ?

Perhaps when he's passed on, and they are clearing his estate, they will find a chair with "madhurjazz" inlaid into the backrest ?

ilovesooty · 09/09/2016 10:45

Foxy I don't think you have to justify yourself to the likes of the OP.

GeneralBobbit · 09/09/2016 10:45

Cory

Thats age discrimination! Did he do anything about it, it's illegal.

ilovesooty · 09/09/2016 10:57

It isn't IDS. Horrible as he is I think he's a bit brighter than the OP who's been on the verge of rolling out this particular hobby horse of hers for some time.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/09/2016 11:03

OP - does that apply to SAHMs whose children are teens too so don't need childcare? Or people with young children who complain they are skint? Or are you 'just' ageist rather than completely fucking ignorant? Plenty of people could work more or whatever but moan about being skint - it's just what people do!

hungryhippo90 · 09/09/2016 11:04

I'm not sure how pensions work, is that £119 per person or married couple, its not really anything is it? I'm sure people can exist on that, but nothing else?!

I'm just thinking, those who are certainly my age/situation are unlikely to ever manage to have savings. Scares the life out of me that such a low income will require so much supplementation, and for people like us, it just isn't possible.

MrsJayy · 09/09/2016 11:37

Per person

kaitlinktm · 09/09/2016 11:39

I worked full-time until 2 years ago. I was completely knackered every night - simply couldn't have a social life. At 59 I was made redundant. Luckily for me I could take my workplace pension early - although it meant I lost about 5% of it. I can't get my state pension until I am 66.

I tried to get work - and I did get two afternoons a week, which, with my pension I can manage on. But at the end of those afternoons I am on my knees! I definitely could not do retail where I have to stand up all day - back and knees would be killing me by then. I look all right but my energy levels are much lower than they were even 5 years ago.

You simply don't know how you are going to be feeling even a few years into the future, so best not to judge.