New flat rate state pension April 2016 - Actual Amounts

saver861

gadgetmind wrote: »

Well, there's the hard part. Some of these recipients clearly need short words formed into simple sentences and can't handle any detail, yet these changes are all about the detail. How do you convey a complex message to these people?

Well the starting point would be to avoid the spin which the sitting government failed to do.

The pension statements have been redesigned I think three times now. This is not because all those people in receipt of them needed simple sentences. These are people who are proactive in obtaining their pension statements in the first place!!!

As in any situation, information conveyed has to be appropriate for the target audience. They have failed badly on this occasion, with that failure even more pronounced due the spin on the initial announcements.

gadgetmind

saver861 wrote: »

Well the starting point would be to avoid the spin

What spin? I've seen the press make completely inaccurate statements, but the budget speech and accompanying materials were down to earth and matter of fact.

The pension statements have been redesigned I think three times now.

I agree that pension statements lack sufficient detail and that you have to go an extra step to obtain this. The official explanation is that they are trying to make it easy enough for people to understand.

As in any situation, information conveyed has to be appropriate for the target audience. They have failed badly on this occasion, with that failure even more pronounced due the spin on the initial announcements.

Would you care to quote this "spin" in full? You may like to refer to the single tier state pension fact sheet while doing this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181237/single-tier-pension-fact-sheet.pdf

It's only 14 pages.

Thrugelmir

bigfreddiel wrote: »

This is well off topic now, so let's get back on course

Just your state pension forecast please, and in a few weeks time update us all with the actual amount, 6April onwards.

Or should I start a new thread?

Cheers everyone, fj

Might as well start a new one. Given the off piste course of this one.

saver861

gadgetmind wrote: »

What spin? I've seen the press make completely inaccurate statements, but the budget speech and accompanying materials were down to earth and matter of fact.

Le me ask you then:
Do you accept there is confusion among a significant percentage of people in relation to the new single tier system?

If yes, what do you attribute as being the source or reason for this confusion?

gadgetmind wrote: »

Would you care to quote this "spin" in full? You may like to refer to the single tier state pension fact sheet while doing this.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181237/single-tier-pension-fact-sheet.pdf
.

To help you in your answers, see below from Steve Webb:

Pensions Minster Steve Webb told Money Mail: ‘I am sorry if the message people have been getting has not been clear enough. For the sake of simplicity and to help people get a grasp of the issue, I have been saying everyone will qualify for the full flat-rate state pension if they had paid 35 years of National Insurance contributions.
‘Perhaps what I should have made clear was that they should have paid 35 years of National Insurance contributions at the full rate.
‘We are going to attempt to make it absolutely clear to people what they will be entitled to, and what they can do about it. And we plan to make a priority for those people retiring in the first five years of the new pension coming in.’


By the way, he said that in June 2014 - when he was still Minister!! So we have then sitting Minster saying it is confusing - we have the current sitting Minister saying it is confusing.

That tells me there is a good chance it is confusing! :cool:

gadgetmind

saver861 wrote: »

If yes, what do you attribute as being the source or reason for this confusion?

Not bothering to read even the simple factsheet.

So we have then sitting Minster saying it is confusing

Um, he didn't say that in the quote you provided.

bigfreddiel

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Might as well start a new one. Given the off piste course of this one.

I think I will. Nearer April probably

This thread has just degenerated into a point scoring, willy waving battle of meaningless drivel, lets C&D it right now!

Thanks to the few who actually read the title and joined in briefly.

Cheers fj

gadgetmind

bigfreddiel wrote: »

This thread has just degenerated into a point scoring, willy waving battle of meaningless drivel, lets C&D it right now!

I tend to agree and apologise for my part in it.

Thanks to the few who actually read the title

Of course, the title is also wrong as it's the "single tier" pension.

atush

Saver, stop hijacking this thread.

saver861

atush wrote: »

Saver, stop hijacking this thread.

At your service ma'am

Actually if you look back you will see I did not post on the thread until post 15 by which time it had gone somewhat off the theme.

However, sorry to the OP for continuing it on - if the OP starts another thread looking for the specific info I'll keep clear

mark1959

Right back on it. My latest statement, 41 years total , 15 years approx contracted out, age 56 3/4, £148 ish. Which is not bad at all considering I have my own pension as well. (From the contracted out period)