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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I will probably get flamed for this but ...

178 replies

glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 10:58

When anyone talks about pensioners they say that the person has worked all their life, deserve their pension, free bus pass etc. Do you think it is possible in the near future that there are going to be a whole bunch of pensioners who have never worked a day in their life? I certainly know a few who have never paid into the system but will get the same pension as me. And no, I'm not talking about disabled people or people with chronic illnesses or carers.

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 22/12/2019 12:38

if you haven't got enough NI contributions you get topped up with pension credit.

It depends- it's not as simple as that. It's not about years alone, it's your total income.

@glitterytrainers You can also buy your missing years of NI.

Have you never had any letters from DWP to this effect?

I was bombarded with them in my early 50s but as i carried on working (and still am) I chose not to.

You though may be able to contribute- the sum for me to top up was around £500 - to buy the years you need.

JinglingHellsBells · 22/12/2019 12:39

So I don't see your point!

Your husband will get his occupational pension plus a SP plus you r state pension.

You were posting as if you would be in poverty!

what on earth is your thread all about?

I assumed you were single and thought you'd have to live in less than the full state pension!

OhTheRoses · 22/12/2019 12:40

I will get nearly the full state pension due to 30 years of contributions excluding the few when I was in a contracted out scheme but if I keepngoing for another three years will make thse up.

It's about £9k from 67, ie, in 7.5 years' time. I'll also have about 3/4 of a full occupational pension about four times that if I retire in a couple of years.

YABU because the state pension is less than the bare minimum and part of living in a civilised society. I say that as a committed Conservative.

Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 12:40

JinglingHellsBells I will get the full state pension - I've checked. I could give up work now and get it when I retire - I still paid NI even when I was part time. I have never been out of work.

OP posts:
MintyMabel · 22/12/2019 12:40

I have said this often. Daily Mail is typical off it. The country is apparently full of work dodging benefit spongers but they become deserving pensioners who have worked hard all their lives.

Of course, there are comparatively few of those work dodgers, but it is true they will be considered as very deserving pensioners.

JinglingHellsBells · 22/12/2019 12:41

I do have a husband and he has paid into a pension scheme.

So what's your gripe?

As a couple you will have 3 pensions- 2 state and his from his job.

I don't get what you are on about.

And you can buy back missing years in your NI contributions.

JinglingHellsBells · 22/12/2019 12:41

@glitterytrainers So, what on earth was this all about?

What a waste of everyone's time commenting.

Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 12:44

JinglingHellsBells this thread has turned into something different entirely - if you read my original post. I don't think two lots of £168 a week and a small private pension are going to leave us in the lap of luxury but I wasn't moaning about the amount I was going to get - I just think the more you pay in the more you should get out.

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 12:45

MintyMabel at last someone has got the point of my post!

OP posts:
MintyMabel · 22/12/2019 12:46

I will clarify, I don't think those who haven't worked should get a lower basic pension. My gripe is the constant "they've worked hard all their lives" mantra. They truth is many haven't so they should really stop saying that.

DioneTheDiabolist · 22/12/2019 12:51

You wrote I certainly know a few who have never paid into the system but will get the same pension as me. in your OP OP. Is that not what you meant?Xmas Confused

furrytoebean · 22/12/2019 12:54

I think you have to be careful with this line of argument glittery the state pension is there so old people have the bare minimum to live off. People pay in relation to what they earn so we have enough money to do it.
You might feel bitter about your friend getting the same as you but be glad it's done this way because someone getting £100k a year also gets the same as you.
If we all just got out what we put in it wouldn't work!

Swimtobreathe · 22/12/2019 12:55

'The more you pay in the more you should get back'

THAT was the point of your post? Are you for real?
Think about that for five minutes. Do you really think that wage levels are set according to how hard people work, or how deserving they are?
By your system, women would get lower pensions than men. Care workers and retail staff would get pretty much the lowest pensions. Nurses and teachers would get less than IT technicians and accountants. And those poor, put upon bankers would get the most.

That's already the case with private pensions, and you want to extend it to state pension too, because you're worried in case someone else might have got something you think is unfair?

Also you didn't understand my post about DLA. Existing claimants are subject to new benefit rules. Just because someone previously has a lifetime award with paperwork to prove it doesn't mean that that can't be changed over to a new benefit with a different set of rules. It's happened to a lot of people already. A lifetime DLA award means shit if the govt has switched over your area to PIP, what is the claimant supposed to do, sue them for broken promises?

WaxOnFeckOff · 22/12/2019 12:55

Virtually all the money that people receive on benefits or on state pension if that is their only income, gets spent in the UK on taxed goods and services. It's not squirreled away or spent abroad,/invested in foreign or offshore assets.

I've worked full time since I was 17 and will have worked 50 years on full contributions before I'm eligible for the full state pension. I'm 53 and think I have maybe another 4 full years and then I will get the full amount regardless of how many further years I work before I can claim. I also have workplace pensions though.

It is a bit galling when you see others getting something you don't feel they are entitled to, but the reality is that they are a minority and we all get the benefit back in tax from what they spend.

Hingeandbracket · 22/12/2019 12:55

I just know people who have hardly worked a single day in their lives and will still get a pension.
Fuck me there are some crazy reasons to envy others - why in the name of flip would you object to everyone getting a basic level of pension - it's not like it's a flaming fortune.
What do you propose instead?

Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 12:56

DioneTheDiabolist yes and I stand by that. But what I was really getting at is what MintyMable said - that was more my point really.

OP posts:
Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 13:00

Swimtobreathe you really do make valid points there. I suppose I just know a few people who have screwed the system for every penny and will get the same as me in the end up. I'm lucky though as I will have a house and no mortgage. For instance my Aunt and Uncle - Aunt just died still pay rent and my Uncle is 83.

OP posts:
JustAnotherPoster00 · 22/12/2019 13:05

why in the name of flip would you object to everyone getting a basic level of pension

Some people dont have any self worth unless theres a rung below them on the societal ladder to kick down at, says a lot about them tbh

Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 13:07

Anyway now that I've wound everyone up to a frenzy I'm off - thanks for a lively debate - think that's the most responses I've ever had.

OP posts:
Swimtobreathe · 22/12/2019 13:07

Comparison is the thief of joy OP.
Its easy when you're working to see people who don't work and feel envious of that free time. But if you actually swapped lives, you'd realise that the 'advantage' that they're getting is a total illusion.

Its also galling that we're encouraged to feel this way about people on benefits. Yet we're supposed to look up to the people who have a much bigger impact on society - the very rich, who swindle their taxes, send money off shore, who pay proportionately less. They screw the system for every penny and end up with far more.

Original poster
glitterytrainers · 22/12/2019 13:08

Although 69% of you don't think I'm being unreasonable!

OP posts:
DioneTheDiabolist · 22/12/2019 13:08

There are plenty of people who have screwed the system for every penny and will get much more than you because they are rich. Bit weird your ire is directed towards those who won't be getting as much as you.

DustyMaiden · 22/12/2019 13:11

Yes but what would you have us do with them? Let them live on the streets or just shoot them.?

Skinnychip · 22/12/2019 13:19

I would have thought more people will have worked (although perhaps from a later age as previous generations had less access to FE) as most households need 2 incomes today to afford rent/mortgages.
In previous generations women (with not particularly high earning DH) gave up work when DC were born and some never went back to work, where as I think that would be more unusual now. When I was at school my mum worked a few hours a TA and very few other mums worked FT.

firstimemamma · 22/12/2019 13:24

Are you trying to suggest that if people "haven't worked" that they shouldn't get a state pension? Genuinely curious.

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