pension credit and state pension

margaretclare

annie1975 wrote: »

Well maybe not everyone can afford to pay into things like HSA,have you thought about that?

If you really can't afford something as small as that - we've paid it since I was a student nurse and DH was an apprentice - then by definition you're on a low income and would qualify for pension credit, which is what this thread was originally about. You'd then join the ranks of those people you're criticising, who, you say, 'get everything'.
I doubt that they do, myself.

And considering your not too worried about what other people do/dont do you have always got plenty to say.

You too. You jumped into this thread by talking about 'getting punished for making a better life for yourself'. You're obviously sad and bitter and I don't envy you, nor do I envy anyone, not even those who you say 'get everything'.

annie1975_2

margaretclare wrote: »

If you really can't afford something as small as that - we've paid it since I was a student nurse and DH was an apprentice - then by definition you're on a low income and would qualify for pension credit, which is what this thread was originally about. You'd then join the ranks of those people you're criticising, who, you say, 'get everything'.
I doubt that they do, myself.



You too. You jumped into this thread by talking about 'getting punished for making a better life for yourself'. You're obviously sad and bitter and I don't envy you, nor do I envy anyone, not even those who you say 'get everything'.

No some people cant afford to pay something as Small as that (as you put it).
As for me being sad and bitter, you need to look at your attitude towards people on these threads.
Post 10... No that is NOT all.....Understood now.

Calm down a bit and try being a bit nicer to people...Instead of insulting them.

seven-day-weekend

I didn't see anything nasty or insulting in what MC said in post 10. She was just giving information.

margaretclare

Thanks, 7DWE. I've looked back at post # 10 and I can't see anything insulting or nasty in that post at all. The OP was asking what is the difference between state pension and pension credit, and I was trying to explain. If that post was considered to be insulting, why was it not reported? It's a complicated topic if you haven't met it before, as the OP hadn't.

Further on, what is the point in bringing in bitter comments about 'those who get everything without paying for it' or some such? I don't know of any such people. It's none of anyone's business what anyone else gets, whether they paid for it or were in low-paid employment without recourse to work pension i.e. those who are now 'poor'! I don't envy anyone. OK, we have to pay council tax and maybe there are people who don't. I still don't envy them what they get/don't get.

margaretclare

annie1975 wrote: »

So if you get state pension and pay into a private pension most of your life which pays £43 a week,you wont get pension credit.?

Won't this depend on whether you're on your own or whether you're part of a couple?

This can actually cause confusion. State pensions are paid individually, but means-tested benefits are paid as part of a couple - if you are part of a couple, that is. Even if you're a couple, SRP is still paid to the individual.

Jennifer_Jane

annie1975 wrote: »

No some people cant afford to pay something as Small as that (as you put it).
As for me being sad and bitter, you need to look at your attitude towards people on these threads.
Post 10... No that is NOT all.....Understood now.

Calm down a bit and try being a bit nicer to people...Instead of insulting them.

Annie1975 - I think you are the one being insulting. Actually I read a lot of 7DW and margaretclare's posts, and they are good, accurate, contributors who have bothered to post to help people.

As for your bitter comment about people having worked all their lives and getting nothing, I personally would hate to have to live on only £143 a week. But I am glad that I live in a Country which has this for people in poorer circumstances.

I am so glad - and proud of myself - that I worked hard to make my money work for me, that I went without lots of things, dressed from gifts and charity shops, bought on useby date food to be cheaper, so that I could be independent. I only had 9 years of permanent work in this Country to become independent and I am truly proud that I succeeded in this.

Moreover, I am grateful that I was in a job - for 9 years - that enabled me to add into the pension scheme so that I could accomplish this. I was a secretary, not a high earner.

Dunroamin

annie1975 wrote: »

So if you get state pension and pay into a private pension most of your life which pays £43a week,you wont get pension credit.?

You can't have been paying in much to be getting only £43 per week.

hugheskevi

The Savings Credit is withdrawn at the rate of 40p per £1 (this applies to income over £112 per week for a single person aged 65+)

Compare that to the marginal tax rate of most workers, 32%, and the marginal rate of higher rate employees, 42% and it looks quite reasonable - especially as that worker may well be making pension contributions, further reducing their marginal withdrawal rate, as well as mortgage/rent payments (depending on the extent to which you view these things as 'withdrawals')

If other benefits are being received - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - then the withdrawal rates are much higher.

None of the answers are palatable - give everyone more (unrealistic in current fiscal position) or make Pension Credit less generous (feasible, but Pension Credit rates aren't especially generous). That is the problem with using means-testing too extensively - you have to keep rates low to avoid longer-term incentive problems.

annie1975_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

You can't have been paying in much to be getting only £43 per week.

Dunroamin.£43 a week was an example,not what I actually get.
The point I am trying to make is if you havent paid into a pension, you get your Old age pension topped up with pension credits.
If you have paid into a pension and lets say its £43 a week,(some people would struggle to pay into a private pension) and be no better off than those who dont bother to pay into one..

Jennifer-jane.
I didnt insult anyone and it was Margaret Clare who called me sad and bitter.And thinks its a big deal not to be able to afford something as small as a private health scheme.
As for post 10. Writing in capital letters is shouting, and writing Understood now at the end read as if the poster was stupid.
Maybe thats just the way I have read it ,and if i have read it different to everyone else then i apologise to anyone I may have offended.

Jennifer_Jane

annie1975 wrote: »

Well maybe not everyone can afford to pay into things like HSA,have you thought about that?
And considering your not too worried about what other people do/dont do you have always got plenty to say.

margaretclare wrote: »

If you really can't afford something as small as that - we've paid it since I was a student nurse and DH was an apprentice - then by definition you're on a low income and would qualify for pension credit, which is what this thread was originally about. You'd then join the ranks of those people you're criticising, who, you say, 'get everything'.
I doubt that they do, myself.

You too. You jumped into this thread by talking about 'getting punished for making a better life for yourself'. You're obviously sad and bitter and I don't envy you, nor do I envy anyone, not even those who you say 'get everything'.

annie1975 wrote: »

No some people cant afford to pay something as Small as that (as you put it).
As for me being sad and bitter, you need to look at your attitude towards people on these threads.
Post 10... No that is NOT all.....Understood now.

Calm down a bit and try being a bit nicer to people...Instead of insulting them.

In my view, Annie, you were pretty insulting to a really helpful contributor, who has even continued to try to clarify things. She was replying to zeddy's post where he kept saying incorrect things which might not have been helpful to others.

She spent some time in clarifying things, but you have taken this to be insulting to zeddy. I don't know if you are sad and bitter, of course I don't, and I hope you are not - but your post was bitter, and I hope that people don't get fooled by your post and that they will continue funding their retirements, as life must be pretty horrible to live on the pension credit breadline.