Womens State Pension

Ann-Marie_4

I have been informed that because I was born in 1953, I have to work until I am 63 before I can get my state pension. I have asked the pension authority for an explanation but I am getting no satisfaction. Is the government immune from normal pension contracts? Who can I contact to make my feelings known.

CLAPTON

complain to your MP.... they voted for the changes.

EdInvestor

There is no actual "contract" involved in the state pension. The gradual increase in the age when women can take state pension to equalise it with men was announced many years ago to give people plenty of time to plan.

More recent changes to the pension coming after 2010 will be very beneficial for women, worth your while to check them out.

seven-day-weekend

It's to do with equal opportunities. Men and women can no longer have different retirement ages, so any woman born between April 6th 1950 and April 5th 1955 will have a retirement date based on the gradual equalising of retirement ages. Everyone, whatever their gender, born after April 6th 1955 will have a Retirement date of 65.

(That's until the Government raise everyone's Retirement date to 68 which I think is happening in 2020).

I'm glad to say that being born in January 1950 I can still take my pension at 60.

However, i will have to have paid/be credited with National Insurance contributions/HRP for 39 years to get my full pension.

You will only have to pay/be credited with NI for 30 years. There are other benefits too which are not available to those retiring before April 6th 2010.

Have a look at this link for retirement dates and other information:
http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/state-pension/forecast/home.asp

(Edited to add ...and you don't actually need to WORK until you are 63. You just can't draw your State Pension until you are 63. Providing you have other means of supporting yourself you can stop working whenever you chose).

jamesd

Ann-Marie, please seek equal treatment for men and women, both getting a pension for the same number of years from retirement to death and both getting paid the same amount of pension for the same amount of contributions.

You'll find that women will need to retire about two years later than men to make things equal.

Women live longer, in part because the NHS systematically discriminates against men in its service provision.

The end result of women living longer is that if they retire at the same age they get their pension paid for more years, so all of the personal pensions pay women less unless they retire later than men. The state pension is an exception that pays women more than men (same amount, but for longer) for the same contribution level. The evening out of the retirement age for women is one step along the way to reducing this difference, so instead of getting the pension for about nine years longer than a man they will get it for about four years longer.

The past practical work restrictions on women are being addressed as well, with the minimum number of contributions to get a full state pension being reduced to 30, so more women will be able to get it all. That will still leave the current pay difference between men and women doing the same job, though, so in practice women may be able to contribute less than men to a pension. That's being addressed (and over-compensated for, probably) by gradually making the second state pension flat rate, so how much you earn and pay in NI won't affect how much second state pension you get.

So, lots of things happening but the one you're unhappy about is one that is reducing the greatest single discrimination in the pension system: women being retired and getting the pension for many more years than men.

Ann-Marie_4

Thanks for your comments. However, having checked out the Pensions Website, the reason for the change in age is to encourage people to provide for their retirement with private pensions. I also have a private pension which I will receive at aged 60 and had I known about these changes I could and would have opted out. However, at my age this isnt an option. If the government can change it's mind as to what you are entitled to at any time, why is anybody bothering to pay into the state pension? Next they could raise the retirement age to 100 and no-one will have a right to object.

kandyfloss

Anne- Marie I have missed out as well.I was born this day in '56 so have just missed out on being able to claim my Pension until I am 65.I worked practically non stop for 34 years before finally taking a break.I found it too much trying to work a 60 hour week as well as trying to run the house hold.

No help from hubby in the house because he was brought up by Victorian parents who believed that the woman did the house work while the men worked,but I have had to do both and packed it in because I was worn out so to speak.

We manage on one wage as best we can but now that thingshave changed financially I am seriously considering returning to work to help pay the bills.

There will be no retiremant in years to come.People will start work when they leave school or Uni and will have to carry on working until, the day they drop dead.Goverments don't want the working classes to have anything other than debt.....

jem16

Ann-Marie wrote: »

Thanks for your comments. However, having checked out the Pensions Website, the reason for the change in age is to encourage people to provide for their retirement with private pensions.

I am sure they want to do that too. However the main reason is to bring men and women in line with each other so that neither benefits nor loses out. It would have been nice for the age to have been made 60 for both but this was never going to happen - the government simply cannot afford it.

I also have a private pension which I will receive at aged 60 and had I known about these changes I could and would have opted out.

Do you mean opt out of your personal pension or the state pension?

If you mean state pension you can't opt in nor opt out. You get it regardless as long as you have paid the appropriate NI contributions.

However, at my age this isnt an option. If the government can change it's mind as to what you are entitled to at any time, why is anybody bothering to pay into the state pension?

Nobody pays into the state pension. If you work you must pay NI contributions. This builds up your entitlement to certain social security benefits, including the state pension. You don't get a choice about paying or not paying.

Next they could raise the retirement age to 100 and no-one will have a right to object.

Yes they could although unlikely. There is nothing to stop you objecting with your vote although it may not change anything.

That is why you should be making your own provision for your retirement then you can make the decisions.

I have just missed out too as I won't get my state pension until I'm 65. However I will still retire at 60 at the latest on my teacher's pension.

Pobby

Yes. Good post kandy. Thank you. My wife has just missed out so will have to carry on until 61. However the way things are I can see that maybe we will both have to work on.

That`s despite both of us with a full state pension, some serps, a 10 year of duty company pension, 5 private pensions and a pile of savings, cash Isa and other investments.I heard that to fund a comfortable pension these days you need £300k behind you!!!!!!!!:eek:

evergreen

I was born in December 1952 so I won't get state pension until I'm 62 years 8 months and 13 days approx!!!! I must admit I moaned at first but I think it is only fair that men and women get pension at the same age. We want equal pay and in many jobs do get equal pay and things are improving as far as equal pay is concerned. Those who are 12 or so years younger than me will be waiting until they are 68 until they get their pension!

MPD

kandyfloss wrote: »

There will be no retiremant in years to come.People will start work when they leave school or Uni and will have to carry on working until, the day they drop dead.

Unless of course these people start taking responsibility for their own pension provision.