What will happen to those of us who can’t afford to pay in to a pension?

[whatnooow]

I’m starting to get a bit worried about how we are supposed to support ourselves as we get older as we basically live hand to mouth each month.

My DH and I are minimum wage workers and had to come out of the company pension contributions about 7 years ago to be able to get by, day to day. we’re both early 40s and are both knackered already. Another 30 years will definitely kill us off!

Will we just have to work until we drop dead? What if we can’t work due to ill health, but not actually disabled? Luckily we will have paid the mortgage off in about 20 years, but how will we survive, pay bills, buy food etc?

Neither of us will receive any inheritance. Time feels like it’s speeding up and I’m very worried.

You’ll get benefits. It’s those that pay in to a private pension I feel sorry for. They will pay and won’t be entitled to benefits but get the same as you (a small pension’.

Well, I do those jobs. I don’t have an issue with it. I clean farms. It’s brutal work, and I do deeply miss the European staff that worked with me. I do houses in the winter. It’s a job. And for that I’m very grateful.

It worries me reading about people who don't think a pension is worth it if they are on benefits already. Maybe it was the case with the older style benefits system, but surely the way UC works is that the more you earn, the amount you get from UC means you have more in your pocket. I can't see it would be any different with a small amount coming in from a pension rather than work? You'll still be better off than not having it? Or is it just topped up with pension credit rather than UC, and that works differently?

Always pay into a work pension even if only a small amount as your employer is forced to pay some into your pot to so free money towards your pension. At the moment there is state pension and PC but I'd not want to risk those both still being placed in 30 years time.

Sorry but do you mean per year?

Because otherwise that seems very very little?

Minimum wage goes up in April.

The current state pension is approx £12000 per year, per person.

If your mortgage was paid off, you would need to live on that (or the equivalent when you reach state retirement age)

You seem to have a chip on your shoulder, look how you assume that I'm rich and that at some point paid you to clean my toilets! You've got no reason to make such a catty comment at me! What are you talking about the American dream for? This isn't America and I'm not on loads of money either but I've pushed throughout my career to be developed, I did health and safety stuff for years alongside my day job voluntarily so I could learn my trade and prove myself! I've even paid for some of my own qualifications over the years! It's been incredibly tough building my career in male dominated industries but I had the tenacity to never give in! You've never tried, you told yourself not try and invented fake barriers! The organisations I've work for have hundreds of skilled staff that built have their own careers without wealth! Most of the country has! You're attitude is hateful, you play the martyr, you make silly erratic statements! Do you think that helps you!

Pension credit is for people who do not receive a full state pension, so again, where is the incentive to work when the government will top your pay anyway to a state pension level?

Low-income pensions are entitled to benefits (attendance allowance, housing), free medication, free bus travel, heating allowance, etc.

My nan was a low-income worker (think shop job), she is very comfortable and can give £100s away to charities, and to family monthly.

Many low-income pensions are actually not applying for all the benefits they are entitled to, which is why they are in poverty.

This generation of pensions are doing very well.

I didn't fall out of a privileged vagina with a trust fund. I worked hard and all the hours to build my own future. ANd so can you!

It's typical MN. When the average MNer is not earning much, it's usually a choice while having small children. They don't realise that most people wouldn't choose it and there aren't any obvious options out of that situation. If there were, minimum wage jobs would only be temporary stop-gap options and not the permanent reality for so many people.
Also, all these suggestions to just get a supervisor or management role where they work now with no extra training? If it were that simple, nobody would be stuck at the bottom of the ladder, would they?

Yes once you’ve passed your probation you can apply for internal vacancies so can transfer to another dept. I have been a civil servant for 25yrs, and always recommend it. Great pension and good progression opportunity if you want that. I’ve always worked flexi time which was great when the kids were young, always able to attend sports day, assemblies etc. I genuinely enjoy my job.

You will receive the state pension, depending on your NI status. A shortfall will be made up by supplementary pensions. You will get at current rates c. £800 a month each.

There's a balance between NMW jobs (my DC is doing one until there's a better alternative) and not seeking something better. Minimum wage work should be a starting point from which to build a better future but it isn't around here (SE Cornwall) because there are only NMW jobs. Supermarket check out to care home worker, or the other way around? Still only NMW.

If nothing changes and you stay on minimum wage jobs until retirement then i think you will find yoyr lifestyle wont change a huge amount.
The plus side is you own a property, so once you have paid off the mortgage you will have a roof over your head for retirement, option to downsize/get a lodger.
Effectively your income in retirement if only state pension will be low but you wont be spending as much.

If you can try and find the funds to join your company pension schemes and look at what you can do to increase your income.

I am a boomer with just a state pension and never had it so good. I could easily live on half the state pension. Luckily I am mortgage free but if I were renting housing benefit would pay a decent amount of the rent. (However I dont drive and buy most of my clothes from charity shops but able to get away for at least 3 holidays a year. You will be fine. I would be more worried about World War 3

Some jobs won’t pay more than the minimum wage!!
Thats all I’m ever going to be earning!

When you’ve finished paying off the mortgage then pay what you are no longer paying for the mortgage put into a pension plan!

I'm a boomer with ongoing responsibilities to my aged and demented parent, and to my child who is still not earning enough to cover the basic cost of living. Very very grateful that my state pension is not my sole income. £11,800 does not go far among three people, especially if they don't live in one house.

Why can't you earn more than NMW?

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/03/growing-numbers-over-60s-homelessness-charities-warn

Probably because that is what many jobs are paid.

Jesus, all these 'get another job that pays more than NMW' comments..do you lot not realise that most 'ordinary' jobs, even those requiring a level of skill pay NMW precisely because they know people can get government assistance to top up wages.
I had retail supervisor and management jobs, neither paid much more than the colleagues we managed. By the time the tax and NI is subtracted its a minimal gain. I've dropped back to shop floor because after travel I was worse off! plus got all the toxic shit of management in retail
As for pension, a small pension can go against you as then the benefits that go along with a top up don't apply and you can end up worse off. I think my pension 'pot' is about 30k. Years of carer/ parenting then retail jobs. I'm not going to be living in luxury and potentially just miss threshold for any extra help.

Surely there will be opportunities at work, to train and progress. If not use your skills to move to another job. I know lots of people who work full time and then have another job at the weekends, to give them spare money. This would enable you to pay into a pension?

I haven't worked since 2000. I took a break when I had DS and planned to go back when he started school. But then I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. My health deteriorated pretty quickly and working wasn't possible.

DH earns around £30k and we can't afford his workplace pension contributions. We have no other savings and we rent so no hope of paying off a mortgage or downsizing to free up money. We have no friends or family who could help in any way.

We will be well and truly fucked in about 15 years. I'm terrified.