Travelling On

badmemory

About your state pension.  I suggest you look at the pension part of this forum.  Look for a thread about state pension & then look for xylophone who often posts a link to where you can find out how much you will get.  You can also check if it will be possible to increase the amount by paying extra years or completing incomplete ones.  This is normally very good value as you can get payback in only 3 years!  You need to read the link very carefully as gov websites are not known for their clarity!

Karmacat

Hiya Cheery!  The palaver was incredible - but I confess, the timescale was my fault.  I often couldn't make myself do anything about it for a week at a time, I just hate all the setup kerfuffl so much, and it never seems to go right.  Still, I'm very glad to be back - I know I'm overdosing on the computer a bit, but thats to be expected.  And there's people like you that I haven't caught up with yet, even on here! 

Grogged

Unfortunately everyone else in ratesetter is also wanting their money back, so there is a long wait as I know only too well.
Do you get the weekly email about it?
If not you can see current progress here:
https://www.ratesetter.com/investment-release-requests
It looks like they may also be bought by Metro bank, which may speed things up.
ATB G.

beanielou

Blimey. That is some list! 

Karmacat

Grogged said:

Unfortunately everyone else in ratesetter is also wanting their money back, so there is a long wait as I know only too well.
Do you get the weekly email about it?
If not you can see current progress here:
https://www.ratesetter.com/investment-release-requests
It looks like they may also be bought by Metro bank, which may speed things up.
ATB G.

Thanks for posting, Grogged I'm sure I got the weekly email, but with only enough mobile data to do the necessaries, I didn't read it through, my bad.  That sounds like you've been trying for a while?  I'm only online this week, so I haven't done anything about it yet - I should have realised it would be a thing!

beanielou said:

Blimey. That is some list! 

I know, its mad, isn't it!  It's just because I haven't done anything for ages, thats all.
badmemory said:

About your state pension.  I suggest you look at the pension part of this forum.  Look for a thread about state pension & then look for xylophone who often posts a link to where you can find out how much you will get.  You can also check if it will be possible to increase the amount by paying extra years or completing incomplete ones.  This is normally very good value as you can get payback in only 3 years!  You need to read the link very carefully as gov websites are not known for their clarity!

Hello badmemory!  Thats a good idea to check here, on the right board.  I've had a couple of checks before with the govt's service, and they tell me I have 42 years of contributions, which is enough for the full pension - the thing is, when I was a teenager, full time education contributed towards your stamp.  But I'll check again, thats fine, its like carpentry - measure twice, cut once   How are you?

I've just been catching up on a few threads on here, with Celeb Masterchef in the background (except at a few crucial points!) The weather down here is quite grim, but it will mean continued digging at one particular spot will be a bit easier - I have way too many self seeded alchemilla around, and I want one of them gone, its in a lovely spot for my scabious, which I love.  Can't put the scabious in just yet, although its been in a pot for at least two years, because the fencer will need to walk over that bit to replace the panels that have blown down.  But I will

apple_muncher

beanielou said:

Blimey. That is some list! 

That's just what I was thinking too! I've gone for a sit down to recover from it...

rtandon27

Karmacat said:

...self seeded alchemilla...

KC - I just looked up alchemilla wondering what it is and discovered I've got a border of it that takes no effort to maintain! - Now I know why - self perpetuating as it loves just doing it's own thing!  My favorite types of plants! 🤩

greenbee

rtandon27 said:

Karmacat said:

...self seeded alchemilla...

KC - I just looked up alchemilla wondering what it is and discovered I've got a border of it that takes no effort to maintain! - Now I know why - self perpetuating as it loves just doing it's own thing!  My favorite types of plants! 🤩

I spend a lot of time digging it out. Although at least I don't feel bad about mowing it when it overhangs the edge of the bed... 

Suffolk_lass

There's a link here to Gov.uk that says you should get an invitation to claim your state pension no less than 2 months before you reach state pension age, but you can claim up to four months before. This page has got the apply button on too.

Although you have 42 years it is still worth checking how much you will get and understanding if making up 2016-17 and buying the few years since you stopped work might increase you from the Basic to the New State pensions. There is a Guardian article that is worth reading here (although this presumes a public sector worker it applies to anyone with an occupational final salary pension where their time there was opted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme or SERPS).

Karmacat

greenbee said:

rtandon27 said:

Karmacat said:

...self seeded alchemilla...

KC - I just looked up alchemilla wondering what it is and discovered I've got a border of it that takes no effort to maintain! - Now I know why - self perpetuating as it loves just doing it's own thing!  My favorite types of plants! 🤩

I spend a lot of time digging it out. Although at least I don't feel bad about mowing it when it overhangs the edge of the bed... 

Mine has actually moved into the grassy area (I won't call it a lawn!) as I cut quite high.  I don't mind that, but I won't pamper it and let it grow, I've done enough of that - thats why I have as many plants as I do!