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AIBU?

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Original poster

I’m jealous that my cousin retired at 55 on a police final salary pension scheme

196 replies

Neapolitanicecream · 25/04/2023 18:22

Just that really. I’m jealous of everyone that has retired on a police final salary scheme from 55 years and I have to work till 67 and not sure what I will get.

I just wish I hadn’t bothered with my degree and never earned much over average. I’d have been much better off joining the force or even a council job apperently.

OP posts:
Emigratingimmigrant · 25/04/2023 18:36

You are busy today on MN, aren't you...

BeanCounterBabe · 25/04/2023 18:36

YABU. This is a known perk of being in the police, nothing new about this at all (my dad did it 20 years ago). What stopped you applying to the police?

I understand the envy but unless you were prepared to make the same career decisions you are not going to get the same outcome.

NeatCompactSleeper · 25/04/2023 18:37

I’d have been much better off joining the force or even a council job apperently.

Or learning to deal with your jealousy.

Toottooot · 25/04/2023 18:37

Aww boo hoo. 🎻

Easterfunbun · 25/04/2023 18:37

They deserve it. Much like teachers and nurses too. Grow up.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 25/04/2023 18:37

It’s an incredibly hard job with danger built in.

Whatever you think of the police, it’s hardly an easy job.

I have a very good friend in a similar situation, he joined straight from school and has built his way up. He’s in a similar situation. He’s also entirely grey at 44 but not sure if that’s a result of the job!

shivawn · 25/04/2023 18:38

I’d have been much better off joining the force or even a council job apperently.

Not everyone is cut out for the force. Fair play to your cousin, I hope he enjoys his retirement, no doubt he's earned it.

VikingVolva · 25/04/2023 18:39

If you wanted to retire at 55 or so, with a public sector final salary scheme, then you needed to prioritise pension provision when making career choices.

Back in the 80s, public sector salaries were way adrift of the private sector, but you could still have chosen lower salary then for longer-term better outcome.

If there's anyone you should be cross with, it's yourself for not prioritising back then what you now value. Not the people who made different choices.

Those that still have such early retirement are demanding and quite physically risky jobs, like police, firefighters and military (are there any left beyond those?) What do you think your life would have been like if you had chosen such a role?

Nimbostratus100 · 25/04/2023 18:39

Neapolitanicecream · 25/04/2023 18:22

Just that really. I’m jealous of everyone that has retired on a police final salary scheme from 55 years and I have to work till 67 and not sure what I will get.

I just wish I hadn’t bothered with my degree and never earned much over average. I’d have been much better off joining the force or even a council job apperently.

well, were you fit enough to? and were you prepared to spend decades working shifts? ANd take all the personal risks?

Police earn what they get

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 25/04/2023 18:40

usually higher rates of divorce, suicide and alcoholism

Not forgetting a higher rate of domestic abusers.

Why are you jealous OP? Are you not happy that to so many years - I imagine decades in fact, after serving the public, they get to retire with a decent enough pension that means they can enjoy a younger retirement?

I would be made up for a relative of mine to be able to do this.

CheersForThatEh · 25/04/2023 18:40

I'd love to be a millionaire.

TravellingSpoon · 25/04/2023 18:41

Quveas · 25/04/2023 18:31

I've got a council job and I will be retiring this year at 66. So get your facts right.

Maybe you should have joined the police?

Was coming on to say this. If I stay with my council employer, by the time I retire I will have worked for them for over 40 years and will still only be able to retire at normal pension age.

CheersForThatEh · 25/04/2023 18:42

I'd also love to see a 67 year old copper walking the beat and chasing crims.

CheersForThatEh · 25/04/2023 18:42

Why dont you know what your pension will be? Thats on you.

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 25/04/2023 18:42

What do you do op?

Amethyst9 · 25/04/2023 18:44

Presuming you’re not a troll OP…

Police officers work unsociable and long hours, in dangerous, upsetting or difficult conditions, for objectively low or average pay. I say they deserve to retire early with every penny of their pension!

I would much rather my fairly cushty office job on higher pay with flexible working, work from home, favourable hours and nice conditions, retiring at 67.

If society doesn’t value doctors, nurses, policemen, firefighters etc then no one will want to do those jobs and the country will be in a mess. The reality is a lot of these workers are intelligent, decent people who could most likely earn more money doing something else. So we need to provide them favourable pay, decent working conditions, decent pensions in order that they choose these careers. I don’t know why people can’t see/understand this.

AdoraBell · 25/04/2023 18:44

Why are you jealous?

user1471464218 · 25/04/2023 18:45

I think it's too late to join the police anyway because afaik they don't get a final salary pension any more. Fire brigade do though, theirs was supposed to change but they successfully argued against it. I wouldn't (couldn't) be a firefighter though. ....fitness reasons

Mojoj · 25/04/2023 18:45

If you want to retire early, you have to go after the big money careers and plan accordingly. People who retire early from the Council, for example, normally have had high paying jobs as they're very highly qualified. They have also, usually, chosen to pay more than the bare minimum into their pensions.

Throwncrumbs · 25/04/2023 18:46

DustyLee123 · 25/04/2023 18:28

NHS used to be able to take theirs at 55 too. Does that bother you ?

I took mine at 55, due to ill health, after 34 years as an NHS nurse. Been hit, spat at, threatened, kicked etc by some lovely patients 🙄

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 25/04/2023 18:48

Skybluepinky · 25/04/2023 18:36

They deserve it, dealing with the dregs of society.
Sounds like u chose what u thought would be an easy life and are now moaning.

I agree. I certainly wouldn’t have done their job! They deserve whatever their pensions are after years of service.
Everyone has a choice, so no point being jealous!

Redglitter · 25/04/2023 18:49

My brother retired from the Fire Service at 50. He deserves it. He's done a physically & mentally exhausting job. He's missed birthdays, Christmases & all kinds of events. He also paid 12% of his salary to his pension

I'll be working til I'm 67. He & his colleagues & my police colleagues deserve their retirement when they get it. They worked for it

PieonaBarm · 25/04/2023 18:50

Police are now career average pensions and are at 35 years and likely to rise. They also pay just over 13.5% of their salary into it.

If you fancy leaving home and wondering if you'll be in one piece when it's time to go home (and usually not on time), missing family occasions, weddings, Christmas, birthdays, working nights, having your day off cancelled at virtually no notice, and then turning upto work and seeing things most people only see in their worst nightmares then join up, pay probably twice into the pension and retire slightly earlier than someone who works in the private sector. What's stopping you?

SquashPenguin · 25/04/2023 18:51

My sibling is a police officer. They were inside the riot van that people set fire to during the riots in Bristol. They’ve been attacked countless times, spat at, slapped, kicked and bitten so hard it’s scarred. It’s a horrendous job, why the fuck would anyone begrudge them their pension.