Wife's Pension

bendix

If you want to get into 'working class' debate, I'll beat you hands down. My single parent dad was unemployed all through my childhood and i grew up on a council estate. It didnt stop him from living frugally and saving for the future, and the principle of personal responsibility has been passed to me.

Mine owner, my a**e.

EdInvestor

Those who reject the idea of a health and welfare safety net should first visit a poor country where they don't have one, and check the devasting effect unemployment, disability or a serious illness can have on whole generations of a family.

Self reliance is all very well but it does depend on everything going your way - and, often, a decent dollop of good luck as well.

bendix

EdInvestor wrote: »

Those who reject the idea of a health and welfare safety net should first visit a poor country where they don't have one, and check the devasting effect unemployment, disability or a serious illness can have on whole generations of a family.

Self reliance is all very well but it does depend on everything going your way - and, often, a decent dollop of good luck as well.

I've lived in Thailand for five years before returning to the UK earlier this year. I will return there in four years.

The country has no social welfare system to speak of. No pension system. And a laughable unemployment payment, that noone bothers to apply for.

Curiously, most people make a living. Millions become small-scale entrepeneurs, selling food or clothing on markets. They have pride and dignity in what they do, knowing they are supporting themselves. I guess they prefer to do that, than sit at home waiting for the taxpayers to give them their allowance so they can head to the pizza parlour for the night.

The elderly are taken care of by their families if they can't take care of themselves.

I'm struggling to see what is wrong with that as a model.

seven-day-weekend

Maybe someone is too ill/disabled to support themselves and don't have a family to do it for them? Do we just let them die ? (maybe this is a viable option under your scheme).

There has to be some sort of welfare state, surely?

(Apart from the OP's question and answers, this should be in Discussion Time).

givememoney

Hi

I am 61 and receiving my state pension (in my own right) but also I work part time.

I suddenly realised the other day that my husband retired at 65 in December 2008. I am I supposed to claim my share of his pension or was this automatically given to me.

I know I should be aware of this but I am not. I have had a rise in the pension but assumed it was just a rise.

EdInvestor

givememoney wrote: »

I am 61 and receiving my state pension (in my own right) but also I work part time.

I suddenly realised the other day that my husband retired at 65 in December 2008. I am I supposed to claim my share of his pension or was this automatically given to me.

If the state pension you receive in your own right is less than 60% of the state pension he receives, you would be entitled to have it made up to the 60 per cent level.

Contact https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk to check the position.

bendix

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Maybe someone is too ill/disabled to support themselves and don't have a family to do it for them? Do we just let them die ? (maybe this is a viable option under your scheme).

There has to be some sort of welfare state, surely?

(Apart from the OP's question and answers, this should be in Discussion Time).

I never said there should be no welfare state (although I have my views on that). I said that state benefits should be phased out and people encouraged to make their own provision in retirement. You can't do it immediately, obviously, but it if you started telling people who are 25 that there will be no pension when they are 65, they might learn a bit of responsibility.

It would be staggered in. 20 years from now, those retiring would get 50% of what they get now, to encourage them to save in their remaining 20 years etc etc.

I don't see what's wrong with the notion of encouraging people to look after themselves.

givememoney

EdInvestor wrote: »

If the state pension you receive in your own right is less than 60% of the state pension he receives, you would be entitled to have it made up to the 60 per cent level.

Contact www.thepensionservice.gov.uk to check the position.

Sorry to come back.

His state pension is £200 per week so 60% of is £120 so are you saying that I could have my pension made up to £120 per week?

At the moment I get roughly £93.75 per week.

McKneff

givememoney wrote: »

Sorry to come back.

His state pension is £200 per week so 60% of is £120 so are you saying that I could have my pension made up to £120 per week?

At the moment I get roughly £93.75 per week.

No, you are getting a full basic state pension in your own right.
Claiming on his you would only get 60% of his basic state pension which is the same as yours ie £93.75. The rest of his must be made up of other things, serps etc.

givememoney

Thanks I get it now.