Cheery's country living adventure

Cheery_Daff

OK, checked Mr Cheery's state pension forecast.

He's got 29 full years, currently at £134.18 a week pension, with 9 more years to contribute for a full one (before 2029).

2019/20 and 2018/19 are full, so presumably 2020/21 will be as he's done nothing different, so that will mean 8 years left.

2017/18, 16/17, 15/16 and 12/13, they're 'checking to see if it counts towards your pension and will update you when this is finished'. You'd think the checking wouldn't be taking 9 years, but who knows?! If these years DO count, that's another four knocked off, so four left to find.

There is the option to pay for three 'not full' years - 11/12, 10/11, and 09/10, each wanting £800.80 before April 2023 - apparently he made no contributions in those years, so that's the full class 3 rate. 

What I don't understand is why some of those self-employed years seem to have counted, and some don't - when all were under the small earnings threshold, and as far as I know he didn't do anything differently re filing tax returns etc.

Hmm. It looks like the best option for him is to wait for now, and make sure those self-employment contributions get paid each year between now and 2029, which (along with last year) should give the required 9 years. At some point he can ring up and check what's going on with those years that 'might' count, but perhaps not right now since the phone lines seem to be super busy right now...

Cheery_Daff

Also don't understand why he has 29 full years, but still needs another 9 - I thought the max was 35? 

Bleurgh.

Anyway, not something that needs dealing with immediately at any rate!

Tescodealqueen

Cheery_Daff said:

Also don't understand why he has 29 full years, but still needs another 9 - I thought the max was 35? 

Bleurgh.

Anyway, not something that needs dealing with immediately at any rate!

Cheery I haven't worked in pensions for several years but a couple of things to think about
1. The new state pension which came in in 2016 makes a reduction for any "contracted out" pension. I seem to recall you mention  Mr Cheery's employer pension so that will increase what he needs to pay if he wants to get a "full" pension at the rates quoted for State Pension.

2.If any of the years which are gaps are years where Mr Cheery was self employed you used to get a letter 18months after the end of the relevant tax year giving opportunity to pay. It might be worth asking if he can complete those years with Class 2 self employed stamps as they are cheaper than Class 3 voluntary stamps though I am not sure what the rules are about those these days. It would certainly be worth asking the question.
3. There are time limitations so checking out sooner rather than later(not suggesting this minute though)

Cheery_Daff

Aha TDQ, yes of course that will be the case with the contracted out pension, And it's quite likely they did send a letter at the time and it was ignored... Will investigate...

Karmacat

There's a real sense of things coming together, Cheery, how excellent!  

Cheery_Daff

Yep, it does certainly feel like we're stitching things together! 

Sun is shining AGAIN today, although it's still cold. I'm trying a new morning routine, because every now and then I like to think I can. So I've already done some yoga, and got some green lentil soup bubbling away for lunch. Mr Cheery put the slow cooker 'in a safe place though so I've had to do it in a pan 😂

Just finishing off some MB over a cuppa (rubbish so far today - down about a fiver so far), then the plan for the rest of the day is...

* post office (parcel and card)
* bike ride (probably just half an hour as it's super windy out there!)
* process this giant mound of kale i harvested yesterday
* some outside tasks (clean chicken House, check seedlings, pick up the bits of debris that are blowing around)
* plasterboard and sealing the ceiling
* try jump starting the old car
* batch cook something for freezer
* 20 mins decluttering clothes

Mr Cheery will probably want an excursion/ walk at some point so that might shape some of my plans, but hopefully at least some will get done!

Cheery_Daff

OK, parcel posted, cycled five miles, first batch of kale is in the dehydrator, I've had green lentil soup for lunch 😁

A bit more MB over lunch - down £12 now, same as yesterday, pah! But up overall by £42, which is an improvement on last month - I didn't even get into positive figures til the 12th 😮😂

Shifting myself outside now for the outside tasks while the sun is  still shining. I'm enjoying having quite a rigid list today to work from, it's keeping me going!

themadvix

It sounds like you’re having a very productive day Cheery!

Cheery_Daff

Certainly am! Did the daily poo pick of the chicken house, and retrieved all the assorted yogurt pots and dishes that we've taken in with treats and just left there. Checked the seedlings- I think I've lost a couple of beans in the frost, but now I've put fleece on them everything seems more toasty. 

Picked up a load of bits of plastic etc that were blowing round the garden. Sorted through the recycling (we missed the collection last week so there's loads), took the normal bin bags to the top of the drive. 

Blanched a batch of kale for the freezer (it's taking forever to sort through all this kale, I'm not even half way yet!) Mr Cheery and I have walked a couple of miles, and we've picked up provisions for tomorrow's visitors (hope it warms up a bit!!)

I had plans for more batch cooking, getting another batch of kale in the dehydrator, kitchen ceiling... but we'll see how i feel when I've had tea...

edinburgher

@Cheery_Daff - how are you losing money at MB?