State Pension

jamesd

farquarpigmix wrote: »

Went to job centre to sign on. First time I had signed on. Went through me like a dose of salts. Talk about being made small. Might be a simple process for others. It was a nightmare for me.

Nothing unusual in that. I doubt that there's anyone who finds it a pleasing or desirable experience. Differences of degree rather than overall not good experience.

Glad that I'm now at the point where it's effectively optional for me to do that rather than back in my early twenties when I didn't really have the choice.

I'd welcome any feedback you have on how the contracted out helpline goes. Been a while since I've had any and it'd be nice to know how helpful they are at the moment.

Malthusian

The Jobcentre tends to be a particularly unpleasant experience for people who don't know how the system works but are nonetheless absolutely certain it isn't fair.

Just a general principle.

farquarpigmix

jamesd wrote: »

Nothing unusual in that. I doubt that there's anyone who finds it a pleasing or desirable experience. Differences of degree rather than overall not good experience.

Glad that I'm now at the point where it's effectively optional for me to do that rather than back in my early twenties when I didn't really have the choice.

I'd welcome any feedback you have on how the contracted out helpline goes. Been a while since I've had any and it'd be nice to know how helpful they are at the moment.

Will update you when I phone them.

farquarpigmix

jamesd wrote: »

Nothing unusual in that. I doubt that there's anyone who finds it a pleasing or desirable experience. Differences of degree rather than overall not good experience.

Glad that I'm now at the point where it's effectively optional for me to do that rather than back in my early twenties when I didn't really have the choice.

I'd welcome any feedback you have on how the contracted out helpline goes. Been a while since I've had any and it'd be nice to know how helpful they are at the moment.

Hi James,
Found out it was because I was in forces 1980 -1985 & Post Office 1986 - 2004 They said should get pension of forces.

Next step is the tracing link you said plus phone state pension to see how many years I need to get state pension.

GunJack

farquarpigmix wrote: »

Hi James,
Found out it was because I was in forces 1980 -1985 & Post Office 1986 - 2004 They said should get pension of forces.

Next step is the tracing link you said plus phone state pension to see how many years I need to get state pension.

and the post office......

xylophone

You are a Royal Mail deferred pensioner?

http://www.royalmailpensionplan.co.uk/

And AFPS deferred pensioner?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/313089/20140501_deferred_pension_advice.pdf

Were you given no information when you left?


And https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Silvertabby

And AFPS deferred pensioner?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/313089/20140501_deferred_pension_advice.pdf

Were you given no information when you left?

xylophone - it was part of my job (in the RAF) to issue discharge documentation and information packs when people left the RAF (with insufficient service to qualify for an immediate pension). I would tell them that they were entitled to a pension at 60 (since risen to 65) but that they would have to contact the AFPS administrators. As this would have been at least 30 years before age 60, I just knew that the pensions information pack would never see the light of day again in the vast majority of cases. Yes, to answer your question, the OP would have been told to claim his Service pension at 60 but only if he was eligible. In OPs case he quotes his service as 1980 to 1985, but he must have at least 5 full years of service from age 18 in order to be eligible for an Armed Forces pension.

adindas

farquarpigmix wrote: »

So far I have paid 39 years of NI contributions. If I work to the ripe age of 67 I will have paid 51 years. So I am paying a extra 16 years for no extra state pension as someone who pays 30, or 35 years. Been told I can't stop payments so to me its a rip off. is this correct saying I am unable to stop throwing money away?


If am unlucky to pass away nobody will receive my state pension. So another rip off.


If this has been asked before I apologise.

I have been paying tax at 40% rate for many years and still many more years to come ....

Did I find it unfair ? I have not taught about it, but I do feel inappropriate that the money I contribute is used to pay :
- The Benefit for the people who could work but do not want to work
- The benefit of benefit cheaters
- Housing benefit receiver and subletting ../
- Right to buy for those people who are relying on benefit but at the end they still get benefit to be passed to their offspring with right to buy.

I do not have a voice how the money I contribute monthly to the state be used. If I have a voice I prefer the money I have been paying to be used to build more hospitals, schools, improve public transport system rather than go to someone personal pocket by doing nothing.

There are a few TV documentary that could just tell the tips of the iceberg ...

IMO those benefit cheaters should be punished severely to deter people of doing that. At the moment if you get caught you the sentence is very liniment in which majority are only the suspended sentence.

jamesd

farquarpigmix wrote: »

Hi James,
Found out it was because I was in forces 1980 -1985 & Post Office 1986 - 2004 They said should get pension of forces.

Thanks. That means that those years counted for the basic state pension but not the earnings-related additional state pension. The money for that part went into the pension scheme (or a comparable effect for unfunded public sector schemes)

farquarpigmix wrote: »

plus phone state pension to see how many years I need to get state pension.

Each year worked from 6 April 2016 adds 1/35th of the flat rate level until you get to that cap level. So £155.65/35 = £4.44 a week per year worked. You'll also get a bit for 2015-16 that won't have been in your earlier statement. So between one and two years probably to get to the 155.65 level.

farquarpigmix

jamesd wrote: »

Thanks. That means that those years counted for the basic state pension but not the earnings-related additional state pension. The money for that part went into the pension scheme (or a comparable effect for unfunded public sector schemes)

Each year worked from 6 April 2016 adds 1/35th of the flat rate level until you get to that cap level. So £155.65/35 = £4.44 a week per year worked. You'll also get a bit for 2015-16 that won't have been in your earlier statement. So between one and two years probably to get to the 155.65 level.

I still got 12 years to go before retirement. Unless they move goal posts again.


Army pension people have said might not be entitled to a pension? Need to fill form out & send back first. :-((