was it worth it, am I rich?

Errata

margaretclare wrote: »

Wouldn't they know this from the electoral register, which is updated every year?

No, because it's quite easy for people not to appear on the register.

Savvy_Sue

margaretclare wrote: »

Wouldn't they know this from the electoral register, which is updated every year?

As I think I said before, I'm not sure if they have the right to do that cross-check, at one point I'm sure they didn't, because of Data Protection.

Errata wrote: »

No, because it's quite easy for people not to appear on the register.

And that too. You're only on it if you fill the form in: it may be an offence not to do so, but it still happens.

aloise

missile wrote: »

Do you resent those less fortunate than you, who are forced to live on state benefits?

I do, if it means that they end up with more money than we do, after working and saving hard for our retirement. :mad:

gordon2

One of the things I love about being retired and not claiming any benefits is the fact I don't have nosey council or benefits staff asking how much money I have in the bank.

My brother and his wife claim pension credits and are always moaning about the forms they have to fill in and having to keep bank statements to send to the pension credits office.

I have noted though that if I reduce my savings to less than £16,000 I can get £9 a week council tax benefit according to entitled to. I would rather do without than having someone in an office knowing what I have in the bank and what I spend.

So yes it was worth it.

zzzLazyDaisy

Yes it was worth it. Until you get caught up in the kafka-like world of the benefits system you - understandably - don't actually realise what you are missing/escaping.

I am in a similar situation to you in that I am in receipt of contribution based disability benefits, but I don't get any means tested benefits owing to my savings, so like you I pay my own council tax etc. Unlike pensions, though, disability benefits are the subject of periodic review (rightly so) and there is always the risk that *someone* may report you for *something*. Also, as someone else has pointed out, this government is on a campaign to reduce the benefit budget, which means that no-one can be sure that their income will not be cut or stop altogether - this applies to both means tested and contribution based benefits, but is unlikely to be applied to pensions, and in any case won't affect your private pensions.

So you are as secure as you can be in the knowledge that your pension income is safe, and you can budget accordingly.

In my view, the security that you have gained through your own efforts and foresight, and the resulting cushioning of fear and stress about what might happen in the future, is priceless.

margaretclare

I completely agree with the last 2 posters. Yes, it does seem as if the benefits system is 'Kafkaesque'. And no, I do not resent anybody who appears to have more money than I have and hasn't worked for it. Life is too short to hold resentments.

dzug1

Errata wrote: »

No, because it's quite easy for people not to appear on the register.

And some of them quite legitimately as well. You can be liable for council tax without being eligible to vote.

beedeedee

Let me tell you a story........My old Mum lived in HA sheltered housing in her later years. A man of about 65 moved into a flat in the same block. Now this chap had a sister who had fallen out with her husband and got divorced (she had never worked). She went to live with her son and family in the South of France for many years, until eventually she fell out with them as well. She came back to the UK and moved in with her brother, and yes, you've guessed it - after a few months she fell out with him as well! She had no money, no pensions, no assets after having lived the life of Riley for many years, but she was entitled to all sorts of things including a flat in the same block which was nicely furnished for her. My mother felt rather bitter that she had worked all her life - but this woman was entitled to so much (having paid nothing into the system) - just because she had fallen out with everybody.......Mum often wondered if she should have been more argumentative in life!

gadgetmind

Bunter wrote: »

is conducted by a third party on behalf of the council

I got something similar asking all kinds of personal questions about our house. My suspicions were raised by there being no THREATS about all the PUNISHMENTS that would be thrown our way if we didn't complete the letter, so I called the company and asked what information I legally had to supply.

They said "none". I threw the letter away. End of.

Savvy_Sue

beedeedee wrote: »

My mother felt rather bitter that she had worked all her life - but this woman was entitled to so much (having paid nothing into the system) - just because she had fallen out with everybody.......Mum often wondered if she should have been more argumentative in life!

But that lady's argumentativeness was not the reason she was entitled to any of those things. Her entitlement came from her lack of savings / income. And with those came lack of choice.

I know which I'd rather have.