WASPI Campaign .... State Pensions

mumps

Jackieboy wrote: »

Do you mean you applied for the forms?

It usually takes quite some time to do a successful AA application and you need to supply a lot of medical reports from people like his consultant as well.

I'm pretty good at forms and it took me a couple of days to do my husband's AA application and to get all the medical evidence together.

I wonder if it has got harder to apply? I got attendance allowance for my mother, I suppose it would be 20 years ago, the form wasn't that daunting and I didn't send any medical evidence. They did write to her GP. We were turned down once but got it on appeal.

Jackieboy

mumps wrote: »

I wonder if it has got harder to apply? I got attendance allowance for my mother, I suppose it would be 20 years ago, the form wasn't that daunting and I didn't send any medical evidence. They did write to her GP. We were turned down once but got it on appeal.

And my mother had her application turned down 30 years ago.

Mind you, as she was only just over 70 and with all marbles fully functioning I would no more have done the application for her than she would've dreamed of appealing when turned down. We didn't "do" benefits in my family.

Pollycat

mumps wrote: »

Good luck, after a career in HR and trying to persuade people that joining the pension scheme is a great idea because the boss contributes and so does the taxman I don't rate your chances.

Your might feel the changes don't discourage people from planning and of course it shouldn't but my experience is that it does.

I think it's more likely to be that a lot of young people today will prefer to pay £50 per month for the latest iPhone and a holiday in Ibiza and a pair of £100 designer jeans than consider pension planning.

I'm of the generation that saved in a building society because that was your only chance of getting a mortgage.

atush

i agree Polly

Mind you I have 3x boys int ehir 20's. Some ar more into the latest gadgets than others, but all 3 have pensions.

As if they wouldnt with me as their mother lol.

Mind you, they like the idea of saving on tax.

I remember when I was teaching them about finance (casually as they didnt get it at school) explaining that tax was deducted from your pay, and that money was used to pay for common good things like schools, hospitals the army, roads etc. They were quite affronted at the idea that someone would take some of their income off them lol.

I also taught them about stocks and shares and owning part of a company and sharing in t he profits (ie dividends) and other such things. Who knows if they will take it all on board or not. But I am thinking they understand more than a lot of older adults do.

OldBeanz

I don't think we can pick on this generation. What were the WASPI generation doing about pensions? Also how often do we have fire fighters, policemen and NHS staff on here asking whether they should give up their FS pensions, never mind teachers who really should understand. Should people start pensions in their twenties or wait to get the better tax relief in later years. Ignoring what is going to happen in 40/50 years and that something will work out is not unique to this generation.

Pollycat

OldBeanz wrote: »

I don't think we can pick on this generation. What were the WASPI generation doing about pensions?

I think this gereration are much more 'I want it and I want it now! And I want the absolutely newest version!' than the people of my generation who furnished their houses with 2nd hand furniture and hung sheets at the window until they could afford curtains.

I'm not sure about WASPI women generally but me and my 4 closest friends (3 of which are 1954 women hit by the 2011 act - as am I born late 1953) all have occupational pensions.

GibbsRule_No3

When I started work in 1971 I was not given a choice (luckily), and was put into a Final Salary pension whether I wanted it or not. I was 17 and knew nothing about what this would mean when I got to 60 (women could retire and get the SP at that age then). All I knew was that I would have had a larger take home pay if I had not been in the scheme but I knew what I would take home each month and if I wanted more I could have moved jobs. As time went on and I got nearer to retirement and started taking notice, I planned how to use this pension until the SP kicked in, SP then shifted again, so I am still working three days a week and it is working for me, due to contracted out segment but now I can make up a bit more SP, so I will win financially and three days feels like semi-retirement. It does amaze me that everyone was not put into pensions though, as I agree, people won't necessarily pay money into anything unless they can "see" what they gain when they want things "now".

OldBeanz

Pollycat wrote: »

I think this gereration are much more 'I want it and I want it now! And I want the absolutely newest version!' than the people of my generation who furnished their houses with 2nd hand furniture and hung sheets at the window until they could afford curtains.

I'm not sure about WASPI women generally but me and my 4 closest friends (3 of which are 1954 women hit by the 2011 act - as am I born late 1953) all have occupational pensions.

I am of your generation.
We are all richer now and products tend not to be recycled. My parents had loads of stuff which appeared to last a lifetime which we tend to replace every few years. In real terms much housing furnishing is far cheaper (does anyone sell second hand televisions or rent them) in real terms. Besides how did this generation learn to be like they are?
As for pensions. Most occupational pensions reward those that work for the same employer. Jobs are no longer for life.
I can remember women, pre-marriage, looking forward to the lower NI married rate they could pay despite equal pay and the impact later in life. People who joined the Civil Service but who were going to bail out before 4 years because they could reclaim their pension payments. There was also the stramash when Thatcher stopped the link between pay and pensions. It was obvious in the 1980's that pensions were going to be minimalist (not helped by other later reforms).

seven-day-weekend

OldBeanz wrote: »

I don't think we can pick on this generation. What were the WASPI generation doing about pensions? Also how often do we have fire fighters, policemen and NHS staff on here asking whether they should give up their FS pensions, never mind teachers who really should understand. Should people start pensions in their twenties or wait to get the better tax relief in later years. Ignoring what is going to happen in 40/50 years and that something will work out is not unique to this generation.

Absolutely true. Many women who paid the 'small' Married Womens' NI (which was stopped for new people in the 1970s) are now amazed and affronted when they find themselves with no pension.

It was explained to me that if I paid it I would have no Retirement Pension in my own right, but would have to wait until I could claim off my husband's, and it would not be the full amount. What's not to understand?

My reasoning was, I would rather pay it myself and have the full amount and not have to rely on my husband building a smaller amount for me.

I knew a lady who, when my friend and I drew our Pensions within a few months of each other, and she, of a similar age couldn't, saying they 'were keeping it from her' and 'ripping her off'. Even when we explained that we had the full contributions, and she hadn't worked since she was 18, so had very few, she still felt she was hard done to.

So, not just the younger generations who don't bother.

mumps

Jackieboy wrote: »

And my mother had her application turned down 30 years ago.

Mind you, as she was only just over 70 and with all marbles fully functioning I would no more have done the application for her than she would've dreamed of appealing when turned down. We didn't "do" benefits in my family.

My mother also had all her marbles and was mid 70s and had never had benefits. Unfortunately her hands were crippled with arthritis so she couldn't hold a pen. I did the appeal as she was entitled to the benefit, opinion of doctor, specialist and eventually the DWP. I can't see the issue with appealing if an incorrect decision has been made.

Presumably your family did "do" benefits, otherwise why did she apply?