State Pension

superwoman4

xylophone wrote: »

This is definitely giving me a sense of deja vu - there was a poster (Rotoguys?) who described almost exactly similar circumstances - perhaps the fabled Andy did too?:)

The oldboy is just another of Andy's AE's !!!!

xylophone

Being in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit automatically categorises us as being on a low income - exactly the same as those that receive other means tested benefits - ESA/JSA/IS.

As from next June when I receive my State Pension, I will lose the Guaranteed & Savings Credit of £116.00, but will receive £176.00 instead taking the weekly income up to £657.05.

Happy days! He won't be on a very low ( or even low) income any more?;)

xylophone

or better yet,

"classified as 'poor' " .......

and he'll really be able to enjoy his

two government final salary pensions and four private annuities.

oldboy64

margaretclare wrote: »

I think we do actually get more than that. Some of it's mine, some of it's his, some is weekly, some is monthly, and a few bits are yearly. We're still taxpayers and we wouldn't be that, if we had 'less than what the government says we need to live on'.

This all exists only because there are 2 of us with independent earned pension incomes. When/if there is only one of us left, it will be a different story.

Thanks

My wife decided that she wanted to give up work and stay at home when we had the children in 1981.Up until that time she had brought up two other children (1966 & 1968). She felt that it was more important to be there for them. After the two youngest turned 18 in 1999, she felt that at 55 she was too old to start working again. So effectively I have always been the only breadwinner in the household. She started to receive her SRP in 2004 (age 60) based on the work she did up until she was 22 (1966) and the Home Protection legislation.

oldboy64

itch_for_a_glitch wrote: »

Where is this mystical figure coming from ? £407.65 ?

It's the 'Appropriate Amount' as calculated by the DWP when applying for Pension Credit and is based on our particular circumstances. It is the absolute minimum that they say we need to have coming into the household per week to live on for a couple. As our income falls short of this minimum, the DWP top it up to £407.65.

oldboy64

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Absolutely! I can't see how a net household income, of nearly £21,000 for 2 people, and that doesn't include AA and DLA, can be described as "poor" and mean no Council Tax is paid.

xx

The government have set the minimum figures. Where they get them from I don't know. But it is hard trying to live on what we get as it is. Our money doesn't go very far.

The State categorises us as being 'poor'. Anybody who receives Guaranteed Pension Credit is classified as such. In addition Guaranteed Pension Credit automatically entitles us to 100% CTB as well as HB if we rented plus a whole host of other 'benefits & freebies'.

oldboy64

superwoman4 wrote: »

The oldboy is just another of Andy's AE's !!!!

Don't be so silly.

margaretclare

oldboy64 wrote: »

The government have set the minimum figures. Where they get them from I don't know. But it is hard trying to live on what we get as it is. Our money doesn't go very far.

The State categorises us as being 'poor'. Anybody who receives Guaranteed Pension Credit is classified as such. In addition Guaranteed Pension Credit automatically entitles us to 100% CTB as well as HB if we rented plus a whole host of other 'benefits & freebies'.

Why doesn't it? If you have no council tax to pay? Our council tax is £117 a month.

The state may 'categorise you as being poor'. I've been poor. I know what it's like. I didn't have the luxury of 'deciding I was too old to work' even when I was made redundant coincidental with widowhood aged 56. My priority was keeping the roof over my head, paying the mortgage. Being poor, to me, meant no income at all unless I got off my a*se and went to earn it. I even grew up in poverty and no one need tell me what poverty is like.

When DH and I got together we both worked until we were 67.

SandraScarlett

margaretclare wrote: »

Why doesn't it? If you have no council tax to pay? Our council tax is £117 a month.

The state may 'categorise you as being poor'. I've been poor. I know what it's like. I didn't have the luxury of 'deciding I was too old to work' even when I was made redundant coincidental with widowhood aged 56. My priority was keeping the roof over my head, paying the mortgage. Being poor, to me, meant no income at all unless I got off my a*se and went to earn it. I even grew up in poverty and no one need tell me what poverty is like.

When DH and I got together we both worked until we were 67.

He could always downsize and sell his £million house.

xx

xylophone

Anybody who receives Guaranteed Pension Credit is classified as such. I

Well, once the glorious morning of State Pension dawns, you'll be losing GPC and won't be poor any more!:rotfl:

"Oh, frabjous day, Calloo, Callay," you'll chortle in your joy.....

(Apologies to the Author of Alice in Wonderland)