No money at all

[AngelaBB]

My husband retired in August, I have been retired two years. He didn’t talk to me about retiring , just came home and said he had talked to HR and never went back to work.
He is hopeless with money, I gave to run everything and I find it exhausting. He hadn’t bothered to sort out his pension, although he told me that he had and just left it, we now have no money at all. He has finally sent the forms in but has been told that it will take at least six weeks to all come through. I have no money at all, used my overdraft facility and credit cards maxed out. He expects me to sort it out but I don’t know how. There literally is nothing in the pot. He can live like this but I can’t, he thinks I’m over reacting and it’ll all work out but I’ve had enough. Am I being unreasonable?

The pension service write to you in advance with instructions as to how to apply and timescales.

It’s a pretty common attitude on MN. Marriage seems to be becoming more and more transactional.

Are you quite sure you’ve no workplace pensions from past employment? I get a small DB pension from working for Legal & General for a few years in the early 1980s, it was a non-contributory scheme that over-21s were automatically placed in and I never paid anything in to it, but I did keep them updated each time I moved house despite leaving in 1986. Even my last four years before I reached state pension age, working part time in a supermarket, had a good pension scheme.

He sounds like a pain in the hole

He sounds like an idiot.

Wow. I have done that before. Didn't realise anyone else did.

OP, are there any jobs advertised locally that either of you could do to bring a bit of money in? I know that's easier said than done and loads of people chase them these days, but cashier work or gardening etc?

Can you sell any big items - as pp said, ideally his. Any gadgets, tools, sports equipment?

Doubtful that they would qualify for pension credit if OP is claiming new state pension and her DH has applied for and is awaiting his own pension . The threshold for pension credit is something like £340 per week for a couple and they would count DH’s expected state pension as current income, which would take them over the threshold. I’d recommend citizens advice or an agency like Turn 2 Us for proper advice as to what, if anything, can be claimed in the meantime.

Helpfully, if you pay Council Tax and water bills over 10 months, February and March are a breathing space? I get my car serviced and MoT, and a delivery of oil with the amount I’d usually be paying out.

Is that code for irresponsible?

I literally said I wasn’t the best and that it was fair enough that I could have left that last bit I said out so not sure how that’s me being perfect or doubling down, but if you mean that I see both OP and her husband as similar with money then yes. She says he’s hopeless with money but I think it’s beneficial to examine how both are with it.

What’s wrong with her living off her state pension?

Can you get benefits for now?. You can get an advance and pay it back later

Are you sure he retired op and wasn't sacked/asked to leave.

All sounds like a nightmare situation

What advance is that then? UC? She is too old for that

SR age is most certainly not 66.

If he is under state pension age, he should apply for this & you can do it online

https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance

Suggest also put in a joint claim for this

You may be eligible for council tax discount, but would need to apply via council & housing benefit if you rent.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Subsidising? Jeez! They are a couple! The OP reached state pension age, and physical issues made it too hard to carry on. The husband was not subsidising her. What a sad way to view marriage.

This is so odd, how did he think he was going to get his bills paid?

At least when his pension comes through it should be backdated I suppose.

You can’t get UC over state pension age

I know. Some friends and acquaintances seem to be surprised I work full time aged 50. I worked part time for many years when my kids were younger and am now in a fortunate position to be able to be loading my pension so it will be quite a decent private pot (and when I was younger I knew I'd likely have that option later), but I'm also in the top 5% of salaries. They are still doing low paid PT work and I really want to ask about their pensions!

DH is 65 and he retires at 66 and some months for SP

OP in the run up to retirement what did you think would happen? Did you asses all private pensions? Budget rent or mortgage?

Yes your husband sounds like a disaster but what plans were in place How does the reality differ from your financial projections? It hasn't happened overnight this has resulted from a lifetime of planning.

Look at Olio app for free food in your local area

However, you may get overwhelmed with tons of excess food. We share the food with several free community pantries that are at the roadside, so the are accessible 24x7x365.

You need to collect the food

You don't get a choice on what you are given

Saves the food going to landfill