AIBU to think that WASPI women should not be entitled to compensation?

[mugglewump]

They've been on the news again marching for compensation in a climate where the government is having to make very difficult decisions about funding to stop our debt ever increasing.

I think there are far more deserving cases for goverment money than women who didn't act on information at the time and sort their pensions out or keep working (p/t or f/t) until retirement age.

Moreover, the people paying this compensation are those who will be working until they are 67 to 70 to claim a state pension. Surely, it's a bit ick to expect them to bail out women who retired at 60?

I have to say that a poster saying that words matter, and that facts should be facts and opinions are opinions is a very good look. There should be more of this during debates

I'm another one who can't quite grasp the problem. I was born in 1960 and I've been watching my retirement age creeping up from the 60 it was when I started work to 65 when it was equalised with men and then up and up again so that now it is 67. It's been a matter of absolute record hasn't it? I don't remember getting letters or being personally informed, but it was EVERYWHERE. I'm the least political or current affairs-wise person in the world, but even I knew that I'd be 67 (and I thought it might even be older) before I could claim my pension.

Yes it is. Her leaving school/working age has been questioned and denied. Repeatedly. No skin off my nose though

Also am a waspi woman, I’m pretty sure I didn’t get a letter but was very aware that it was happening as it was all over the place, which I think is what the poster you quoted means. I then took it upon myself to find out more about it and take responsibility

'Well why should me working longer pay towards free childcare for younger women? We older women did not get that and when I enquired decades ago about a small private pension - no company pensions for many at that time - I was told that was not possible as a married woman. Incorrect information? Why would I question a ‘financial expert’?
How much is the free childcare costing taxpayers?'

@caramac04 by that thinking, I'm childfree, so why should my taxes go towards paying for schools and education?

I don't smoke, so why should my taxes go towards providing healthcare for smokers?

I don't drive, so why should my taxes pay for healthcare for drivers involved in traffic accidents?

This ridiculous whataboutery needs to stop.

The vast majority of laws or tax rules changes etc are up to the individual to keep themselves aware of and act accordingly.

Very good point. Are we going to see claims for compensation in the future from people who were forced to pay higher income taxes/NI contributions/VAT as these rates were increased at various times - when the news of the increases was all over the various news media for a considerable period, but individual letters were never sent out?

Isn't that pretty much a direct equivalent?

I am one of 'those' women - just about to get my state pension at 66. I did get a letter telling me about the changes but I gather there was a delay between when the government decided it was going to happen and when we were actually told. That was obviously wrong and there has been an apology but I really don't think we should be paid compensation. There are far more pressing things for the money to be spent on eg. NHS.

Yes! Surely people can see from the plummeting birth rate in many ways it’s a lot harder now to raise a family and childcare top ups are mainly to
mitigate cost of housing. I know which decades I’d rather be mother and it isn’t now. That’s not to say there wasn’t discrimination as obviously there was, but it feels a really odd attitude to resent younger women paying thousands in nursery fees.

Because you directly benefit from these younger tax payers and their children. It doesn't work the other way around.

You're not paying for the childcare solely for younger women. Fathers are also responsible for the childcare bill.

Plus I bet the government makes this back on the extra tax generated by both people in couples working.

YABU.

Their children directly benefited from the taxes paid by childless/childfree women.

How can you claim to have no information re the pension age changing which was announced 15-25 years before coming into effect but somehow also have assumed you would retire at 60?
There isn’t a lot of logic in this.

She could not have been legally employed at 13. Not in a mill or anywhere - unless 'off the record' in a corner shop or something where it went under the radar.

13 year olds were not allowed to operate machinery.

I don't know her - and you weren't even alive then I assume - but I do know the law and what happened with regards to employment for women of our age.

My Mum was affected, she couldn't understand how the Waspi women could say they didn't know because it was so well publicised.

Fine I will tell her she is wrong. Happy?

ilovesooty · Today 11:15

"I'm a WASPI woman. I don't think we should receive compensation at all."

Me neither as a WASPI woman.

Carry on working like a lot of us have to ?!

Yes, do phone her again.

Considering you've spent your time telling us how she was illiterate, unable to read or understand letters, it doesn't make you a reliable source.

To be fair, you don't actually have experience of her MIL's experience, either, do you? There will have been plenty of families who risked getting in trouble by letting their children go out to work before they should have left school legally. They will have been absolutely desperate for the money that their youngsters could bring into the home (albeit a pittance, I would think).
Just because you didn't experience that, it doesn't seem fair to keep telling somebody that their family member didn't have that experience. You simply don't know.

I have no idea whether I received the notification letter or if I did whether I read it or understood it . I was caring for my severely disabled son 24/7 and was chronically and almost catastrophically sleep deprived, I eventually got some respite care when my brain was so tired that I could not remember if I had given my son his medicine. Even if I had received the notification what could I do as a full time carer? What preparations could I make other than put my son into a full time nursing placement?? There is no additional pension for full time Carers . Even today if you have to give up work early on in your working career you will have to survive on the state pension as your reward. It is usually women who sacrifice their jobs ( and associated pensions) for their loved ones . These women like their predecessors will be especially financially vulnerable in old age because when a child has complex medical needs or severe behavioural issues the husband / partner very often scarpers off . Something more should be done for these women . I was fortunate because I did work a few years before my son was born but I am aware that are younger women at the start of their careers who have to take on a full time caring role who will not have much opportunity to contribute to a private pension.

I'm a Waspie.
We were not informed. We didn't have the Internet.
It wasn't on the news or TV this was about to happen.
Most didn't have work place pensions .
Loads of us were SAHM.

I’m sorry but I fail to see how they didn’t know

Because at that point, in England and Wales, it was illegal for children to leave school below the age of 15, and had been since 1947.

And the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 outlawed children under the age of 15 working in factories.

I didn't say she was illiterate, stop twisting my words. I really can't be arsed any more, just deny the experience of 1 woman by another woman because her lived experience isn't the same as yours. Don't think that's a great look tbh but I'm out of this now. Not my personal issue although I do support their cause.