WASPI Campaign .... State Pensions

System

merrydance wrote: »

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

I've just realised we are going to leave the EU. I didn't know we were in it. I didn't receive any notification of these changes. If I had I'd have emigrated and spent my life in another world.

p00hsticks

armchaireconomist wrote: »

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

It WAS staggered. Womans state pension age has been rising gradually from 60 to 65 - there was no 'cliff edge'.

Some women (me included) started their working lives when their SPA was 60 and will actually reach SPA at 65 (or 66) , but the change to 65 was announced when these woman were relatively young. It's not feasible to say that pension legislation should not be changed for those already working - it would mean that any changes could only take effect 50+ years in the future.

seven-day-weekend

I was one of the last women to get my State Pension at 60, being born in January 1950.

Nevertheless, although it didn't affect me, I did know about the changes in legislation through watching /reading the news and taking an interest in the budget.

I don't really understand how people could not have known. The change was announced was over 20 years ago!!

Silvertabby

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. Posted by airmchaireconomist

No-one went straight from 60 to 65 - the increases were staggered. The first changes were announced in the mid 1990s, and the first women to be affected reached 60 in 2010 - they had to wait until they were 60 years 3 months, and so forth and so forth.

Unlike the WASPI women, who seem to think that it would be fair to pay women born on or before 31 December 1959 their pensions from 60, whereas women born on or after 1 January 1960 can wait until they are 66+

The mid 1990s changes weren't only published in the media - they were discussed at length by women in workplaces, the hairdressers, shops, etc etc.

ibizafan_2

As I was born in February 1953, my SPA was staggered at 62 years 10 months. I can't remember not knowing about it. I can't understand why so many women are complaining that they never knew.

Triumph13

ibizafan wrote: »

I can't understand why so many women are complaining that they never knew.

Perhaps because they think that pretending they didn't know will increase their chances of getting the rest of us to put our hands in our pockets for them?

Malthusian

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.

The 1995 Pensions Act was [STRIKE]32 [/STRIKE]years ago so you had access to a private pension scheme throughout that time. whoops. most of that time.

Those private companies that pay matching pension contributions do not get it from a magic money tree - they pay employees less salary than those that don't (albeit it is cheaper to pay pension contributions than salary due to tax). If you worked for employers which did not pay pension contributions you were free to save your extra salary in a personal pension.

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

You are free to expect whatever you like. But if you don't have any reason to expect it then prepare for disappointment. The State giveth and the State taketh away again.

merrydance

Too right Malthusian! To be fair, women normally bear children and that does take a toll on your body. Presently I am waiting for a major operation for gynae problems. If I had my state pension, I would have left work. Now I have to go in, even though I am not really that well, but not ill enough to claim any benefits. I can't imagine any firm wanting to take me on in this state! A couple of years over, fine, 6 years is a long time to wait. The state is probably hoping a few of us will fall off our perch before then. Also the amount of people who assume I am getting my state pension is a lot, how come? if it was so well publicised.

bodjen0611

The 1995 Pensions Act was 22 years ago Malthusian, NOT 32:rotfl:

dunstonh

bodjen0611 wrote: »

The 1995 Pensions Act was 22 years ago Malthusian, NOT 32:rotfl:

Although it was well discussed in the media and in consultation for a number of years. So, lets give it another 5 years and meet him half way