Page 8 | I’m jealous that my cousin retired at 55 on a police final salary pension scheme

Neapolitanicecream · 2023-04-25T17:22:37+00:00

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.

hamustro · 25/04/2023 23:34

I think you're getting a hard time on here.

I completely understand the feeling of jealously. It's normal if you're looking at a rubbish pension after years of paying in. When I look at my estimated pension income (which, if I remember correctly, is about £4,000 per year from State Pension age onward, based on contributions from me and my employer from age 21 until retirement) it rankles slightly, particularly when I know that some jobs have more generous pensions.

Ultimately, there's a reason I haven't made the career change, and it's because my current job suits me better in other ways. That doesn't mean that people in jobs without decent pension schemes should have to slog their guts out until their 70s for a shit pension, though. I think your feelings of injustice (and mine!) should probably be focused more on the shocking State Pension provision in this country. I think there would be a lot less jealousy around what appear to be generous pensions if so many people didn't expect to be living in poverty whenever it is they eventually get to retire.

plominoagain · 25/04/2023 23:36

Most retired officers get a second job, because having seen our peers die at an early age , one of the worst things you can do is just stop working completely, particularly if you've done shift work . That's why you have so many doing a few days a week to wind down gradually. My husband retired after his 30 and now delivers drugs for the NHS instead.

Marchintospring · 25/04/2023 23:38

plominoagain · 25/04/2023 19:34

Ok I'll bite . I'll be retiring in two years time at 56 . I'll have done 32 years policing . All of them front line . I have been , bitten , intentionally pricked with a blood filled syringe, had my wrist broken three times , hit by a car , punched , kicked and had some charmer throw the contents of their colostomy bag at me . I go to work knowing that EVERY decision I make will be a) unpopular with someone and b ) likely to be picked over by armchair warriors with no experience of policing whatsoever yet still given credence by social media. Knowing that everyday , every minute , every conversation is likely to be recorded on someone's mobile phone . Knowing that even though I am often working 12 hours plus , someone will complain if they see me getting food , even though every canteen is shut . Knowing that every time I switch that blue light on , I put my personal driving licence on offer , and if an accident occurs , I am likely to be prosecuted . Knowing that the people most likely to ring us , will also be the most likely to vilify us . All of this I accept because I choose to do the job I love . All of its restrictions, expectations all of it , because I still love the job I do .

If you want the same pension as me , then join up . Do what I have done . In 16 years , I've had one Christmas off , and no NYE . None . Choose to miss birthdays and children's milestones . Book your annual leave 18 months in advance . Have at it . Then you can have my pension for the bargain price of 13.75 percent of my career average pension .

Thank you. Hope you enjoy many more New Years from the other side.

TheBirdintheCave · 25/04/2023 23:41

My dad (a former Chief Superintendent) retired from the police aged 46 with a pretty stellar pension. He thoroughly deserves it though, as do all police officers :)

TheBirdintheCave · 25/04/2023 23:45

plominoagain · 25/04/2023 23:36

Most retired officers get a second job, because having seen our peers die at an early age , one of the worst things you can do is just stop working completely, particularly if you've done shift work . That's why you have so many doing a few days a week to wind down gradually. My husband retired after his 30 and now delivers drugs for the NHS instead.

This is a common thing then? 😂 Dad retrained and worked as an electrician until he got Leukaemia and had to stop.

plominoagain · 25/04/2023 23:50

Absolutely. I'm probably going to go in two years and I'm already looking . I've got colleagues working for the Guide dogs association, driving lorries for Waitrose , supermarket delivery drivers , another delivers courtesy cars and drives tennis players about for Wimbledon fortnight , all sorts of jobs . I know a number of my peers who also just stopped , and then literally just died . It's like all the shift work suddenly caught up.

Zipps · 25/04/2023 23:51

I have just retired early and the amount of comments about how lucky I am and people saying how jealous they are, are annoying. Especially coming from people who have barely worked (on benefits, sahp, part time etc) moaning that they are going to have to work until 67. I started full time work after A levels and apart from maternity leave have carried on. To retire early took a lot of planning, saving and investing. DH and I downsized too.

MrsElba · 25/04/2023 23:56

Where have you gone OP? Not the response you were hoping for, or have you popped off to reconsider a career in the police? Wise choice - you'll get to retire nice and early for a fairly easy ride, lots of perks, loads of spare cash left over at the end of a month once you've paid your small pension contribution. You've got this 👍

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 25/04/2023 23:58

What a sneaky, snidey, snooty thread. As if being in the Police is sooooo easy you could have done it op. Well you didn't. Is this an excuse to bash the Police? Use your brain. There's a reason they get to retire early.

ClairDeLaLune · 26/04/2023 00:21

My friend works in the police. She deals with road traffic fatalities. It’s an incredibly stressful job. The pay isn’t even all that great. There’s no way on earth I’d begrudge her her pension. YABVU OP.

RobertaFirmino · 26/04/2023 01:04

Our coppers deserve a cushy retirement, goodness knows their working lives are hard enough. I hope your cousin has a bloody good new life and next time you see them, please pass on my thanks for helping to take care of us.

Kvetching · 26/04/2023 01:08

It’s a hard job and I wouldn’t want to do it.

Our friend, a very senior police officer, recently retired at 50, but he’s had a tough career. His mental health is fragile and his marriage very nearly failed.

blahblahblah1654 · 26/04/2023 02:35

They need some perks, no one would do the essential jobs otherwise. I doubt the pension is open to new recruits anyway.

Sunnysunbun · 26/04/2023 05:33

My friend has found bodies, been assaulted, had to search horrific murder scenes, watch pornography which stopped her sleeping for months and do years of shift work. I don’t envy her her pension I just wish it was more.

LemonjeIIo · 26/04/2023 08:00

Marriedtoanofficer · 25/04/2023 23:07

YABVU Op my husband is retired now. Joined when cadets were a thing so could retire at 48 with full pension and final payout.
He has seen the most horrendous things through his career. Missed the birth of our second child as he was investigating a 3 year old child’s murder by drugged parents. He was in bits when he got to see us.
A sample that he’s been subject to, shot at run over physical abuse hospitalised spat at urinated on by the dregs of society.
Didn’t retire at 30 yrs he was promoted which meant he was high ranking enough not to get called out after shift as often. Retired after 35 aged 53 where we have the best life together after all those years service.
Took him a while to adjust and is now settled into retirement with hobbies and time for all of us.
Our son was keen to join he is the same caring young man his dad is and he sat him down and told him things he had done and seen that he never did say to our children growing up. Explained what an officers family life had been whilst working.
How many Christmas’s has your mum done alone
How many NYE has your mum done alone
How many school plays sports days has your mum done alone
How many birthday parties has your mum done alone
How many sickness of you kids has mum done alone
How many nights has your mum bathed you kids alone
How many social occasions has your mum done alone
Our son did not join the police took another path and is doing well.
The list is endless he says I was parenting like a single mother to you both much of our marriage then.

So no I disagree with you op, he deserves his pension and payout I deserve him with me after what he has given to the public.

We thank you for his unwavering assistance to us all. Enjoy your retirement 👑

Plottingspringescape · 26/04/2023 08:09

I wouldn't be too jealous, as I understand it average life expectancy for a police officer is about 7 years after retirement, so chances are you will get to enjoy a longer retirement than they will. Years of shift work really screws with your health.

Marriedtoanofficer · 26/04/2023 08:47

LemonjeIIo · 26/04/2023 08:00

We thank you for his unwavering assistance to us all. Enjoy your retirement 👑

Show quote history

Thank you Lemonjelllo He volunteers at our local blood bank moving blood around our area. As said above don’t stop totally it is good for them to do something with their time.

Nolongera · 26/04/2023 09:03

Is it 35 years now for a police pension? It used to be 30. My mate joined at 18 1/2 and retired at 48 1/2. " Getting your 30 in" was his oft used phrase.

These were the rules when he joined and anyone else was free to apply at the time.

All pensions are different, some offer great value, the police pension being one of them. It's one of the perks of the job.

If you want one of these pensions, get one of these jobs. Don't spend your life fannying about then play the victim.

BMW6 · 26/04/2023 09:10

Hate me instead OP.

I retired on final salary pension at 50 and didn't have an onerous career like Police or Fire.

Started with HMRC at 17, did 33 years. No degree required.

ILikePizzas · 26/04/2023 09:14

The state pays its enforcers well. Who'd have thunk it.

whatkatydid2013 · 26/04/2023 11:28

BMW6 · 26/04/2023 09:10

Hate me instead OP.

I retired on final salary pension at 50 and didn't have an onerous career like Police or Fire.

Started with HMRC at 17, did 33 years. No degree required.

I was about to post this. I’ve a non contributory final salary pension and if I retire at 55 it will be on about 60% of my final salary. I work in an office based role in private sector and my pay is also pretty good but less than an equivalent role without the pension offer. Everyone can factor in benefits as well as salary when choosing a job 🤷🏼‍♀️