WASPI Campaign .... State Pensions

Jackieboy

dunstonh wrote: »

Polly, its not lucky. It is part of the financial planning you did. It may have been an easy decision for you but you still had to agree to be in the scheme. You could easily have opted out and kept the contribution to spend on holidays in Spain and leave yourself bitter and poor in retirement.

It makes me so cross when people tell me that I'm lucky to have a decent occupational pension!

merrydance

I am 60 and have to wait until I am 66 to get my state pension. Unfortunately I have worked for private companies for the last 30 years of my working life and they did not provide access to a private pension scheme. If I had for seen or had any idea that this was going to happen to the state pension, I would have changed jobs (to late now) to a company that did provide some sort of private pension. We should have been advised sooner or the changes should be made more gradually.

Andy_L

merrydance wrote: »

I am 60 and have to wait until I am 66 to get my state pension. Unfortunately I have worked for private companies for the last 30 years of my working life and they did not provide access to a private pension scheme. If I had for seen or had any idea that this was going to happen to the state pension, I would have changed jobs (to late now) to a company that did provide some sort of private pension. We should have been advised sooner or the changes should be made more gradually.

How much warning do you want? The increase in women's SPA to 65 was legislated for in 1995 and announced in the budget 2 years before that. So for 2/3rds of that time the increase to 65 was a known thing

merrydance

Was it? Can't remember hearing a darn thing about it. Did all those affected receive notification?

Jackieboy

merrydance wrote: »

I am 60 and have to wait until I am 66 to get my state pension. Unfortunately I have worked for private companies for the last 30 years of my working life and they did not provide access to a private pension scheme. If I had for seen or had any idea that this was going to happen to the state pension, I would have changed jobs (to late now) to a company that did provide some sort of private pension. We should have been advised sooner or the changes should be made more gradually.

As above, there many years' notice given of the main rise to 65.

Even so, were you (are you?) planning on living on the SRP only?

merrydance

No we will downsize into a smaller property, so the equity released from that and my SP. Just cannot remember receiving any letters about this change, did anyone?

p00hsticks

merrydance wrote: »

No we will downsize into a smaller property, so the equity released from that and my SP. Just cannot remember receiving any letters about this change, did anyone?

Well, did you ever receive a letter telling you you were due to get an SP at 60 ?
If not, why expect to recieve one about a change to that ?

merrydance

Because it is a massive change to one's life that is why. Retirement age at 60 was expected.

dunstonh

merrydance wrote: »

No we will downsize into a smaller property, so the equity released from that and my SP. Just cannot remember receiving any letters about this change, did anyone?

Did you ever get a letter telling you it was 60? No. So, why should you get a letter saying it was 65?

There was massive media coverage at the time leading up to this. Marketing for pension providers was increased.

Anyone who had done even the slightest bit of retirement planning would have known. The only ones that wouldnt know would be those that did no retirement planning and took no interest in the media.

Because it is a massive change to one's life that is why. Retirement age at 60 was expected.

If it was such a massive thing in your life then why did you never do any retirement planning?

armchaireconomist

Sadly, feminists, you can't cry "gender equality!" only when it discriminates against women. I don't see why anyone should have to work less time than me because they're a female.


That said, I do sympathise with those who've been thrown from 60 straight to 65. It should have been staggered.