State Pension

daveyjp

I was paid 4 weekly for years and wish I still was.  Never having a 5 weekend month is a great bonus.

molerat

MACKEM99 said:

Many years ago when I was in the military we were paid based on a daily rate and thereby paid different amounts every month so for example February 28 days and other months 30 or 31, but of course it still added to to the full amount for a year.  Some particularly those on the higher incomes always used to moan in February saying the only had 28 days pay to last them till next pay day on 31 March!  When I pointed out that on 31 January they had been paid 31 days pay to last till 28 February they did not seem to grasp that part!

I remember those days.  Then the system was changed to 4 week and 5 week months, possibly even worse, 4 weeks pay to last 5 weeks.  Eventually moving on to equal monthly payments.  Some people would not manage to budget however frequently it was paid.

I do wish people would stop calling it a benefit.

State Pension is a benefit, it is officially classed as one and paid out from the DWP benefits budget.  I don't personally care what they call it as long as it keeps arriving in my bank.

Silvertabby

MACKEM99 said:

Many years ago when I was in the military we were paid based on a daily rate and thereby paid different amounts every month so for example February 28 days and other months 30 or 31, but of course it still added to to the full amount for a year.  Some particularly those on the higher incomes always used to moan in February saying the only had 28 days pay to last them till next pay day on 31 March!  When I pointed out that on 31 January they had been paid 31 days pay to last till 28 February they did not seem to grasp that part!

Yes - I was in PSF (RAF payroll office) and so bore the brunt of these complaints.  Rather than the higher paid, though, it was the young trainees who couldn't seem to grasp why their Feb pay was so much lower than their Jan pay.  My standard responses were "No, you can't have an advance of pay to tide you over" and/or "But you've only been charged 28 days food and accommodation charges instead of 31 - what are you whining about?"

MACKEM99

Silvertabby said:

MACKEM99 said:

Many years ago when I was in the military we were paid based on a daily rate and thereby paid different amounts every month so for example February 28 days and other months 30 or 31, but of course it still added to to the full amount for a year.  Some particularly those on the higher incomes always used to moan in February saying the only had 28 days pay to last them till next pay day on 31 March!  When I pointed out that on 31 January they had been paid 31 days pay to last till 28 February they did not seem to grasp that part!

Yes - I was in PSF (RAF payroll office) and so bore the brunt of these complaints.  Rather than the higher paid, though, it was the young trainees who couldn't seem to grasp why their Feb pay was so much lower than their Jan pay.  My standard responses were "No, you can't have an advance of pay to tide you over" and/or "But you've only been charged 28 days food and accommodation charges instead of 31 - what are you whining about?"

I guess you were clerk accounts in those days?😃

Silvertabby

MACKEM99 said:

Silvertabby said:

MACKEM99 said:

Many years ago when I was in the military we were paid based on a daily rate and thereby paid different amounts every month so for example February 28 days and other months 30 or 31, but of course it still added to to the full amount for a year.  Some particularly those on the higher incomes always used to moan in February saying the only had 28 days pay to last them till next pay day on 31 March!  When I pointed out that on 31 January they had been paid 31 days pay to last till 28 February they did not seem to grasp that part!

Yes - I was in PSF (RAF payroll office) and so bore the brunt of these complaints.  Rather than the higher paid, though, it was the young trainees who couldn't seem to grasp why their Feb pay was so much lower than their Jan pay.  My standard responses were "No, you can't have an advance of pay to tide you over" and/or "But you've only been charged 28 days food and accommodation charges instead of 31 - what are you whining about?"

I guess you were clerk accounts in those days?😃

Before my time!  Admin Clk, P&A Clk, then retired as Sgt Pers Admin.

BikingBud

Silvertabby said:

MACKEM99 said:

Silvertabby said:

MACKEM99 said:

Many years ago when I was in the military we were paid based on a daily rate and thereby paid different amounts every month so for example February 28 days and other months 30 or 31, but of course it still added to to the full amount for a year.  Some particularly those on the higher incomes always used to moan in February saying the only had 28 days pay to last them till next pay day on 31 March!  When I pointed out that on 31 January they had been paid 31 days pay to last till 28 February they did not seem to grasp that part!

Yes - I was in PSF (RAF payroll office) and so bore the brunt of these complaints.  Rather than the higher paid, though, it was the young trainees who couldn't seem to grasp why their Feb pay was so much lower than their Jan pay.  My standard responses were "No, you can't have an advance of pay to tide you over" and/or "But you've only been charged 28 days food and accommodation charges instead of 31 - what are you whining about?"

I guess you were clerk accounts in those days?😃

Before my time!  Admin Clk, P&A Clk, then retired as Sgt Pers Admin.

Since replaced by JPA and self-help, what a debacle that has turned out to be. Always knew who the good clerks were and who could resolve the issues and those that would merely extend the problems.

But you point is very good, young singlies who were paid according to number of days in the month were also billed for food and accommodation per diem.

Always found it quite amusing that young soldiers were not able to cope and were buying expensive stereos with many flashing lights, on or just after payday but you could frequently find them for sale late in the month at a knockdown price when they had month left at the end of the money. Whereas young airmen were quite happy to scoop up these bargains as we often had money left at the end of the month.

The recurring common thread is ability to budget.

BikingBud

Qyburn said:

There are more ways of budgeting than you can shake a stick at. Someone might want to budget for the four weekly amount as their "monthly income" and treat the double month as a bonus.

Myself I prefer to get money into my hands as soon as it's available and make up my own mind how to manage it.

But they are budgeting, not leaving things to chance.

MarzipanCrumble

I am probably very naive and a bit dim...... but having worked since 18 and been paid monthly with every job, I find the SP 4 week payment - well, confusing.   I would struggle to 'budget' when the rest of the world (utilities, council tax, water, mortgage, rental, loans, etc) all work on fixed monthly dates.

I really admire those who get their 'benefits' on a 4 weekly basis when monthly would make it easier.  I see why (and the DWP is discouraging in wanting ppl to apply) weekly payment may be preferable.

Luckily I don't rely on SP for my outgoings.

badmemory

I do find it unfortunate that as we get much older that things are made harder to deal with.  I don't have a problem but some do find 4 weekly more difficult to deal with when all their bills are monthly.  Then getting into your 80s & having to start dealing with HMRCs interesting systems, must be also interesting & then you get introduced to K codes.  HMRC now need a new code, which you MUST have to agree to, which can take more than 50% of the income to which they are attached.  Personally I am happy to pay the bill more than 9 months later, but how long before they are requesting a payment on account from me & can they do that whilst you are on simple assessment.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

badmemory said:

I do find it unfortunate that as we get much older that things are made harder to deal with.  I don't have a problem but some do find 4 weekly more difficult to deal with when all their bills are monthly.  Then getting into your 80s & having to start dealing with HMRCs interesting systems, must be also interesting & then you get introduced to K codes.  HMRC now need a new code, which you MUST have to agree to, which can take more than 50% of the income to which they are attached.  Personally I am happy to pay the bill more than 9 months later, but how long before they are requesting a payment on account from me & can they do that whilst you are on simple assessment.

I cannot see that happening anytime soon.

I'm sure it would help some people but changes to HMRC processes and payroll software would be significant costs for, in the overall scheme of things, a relatively small number of people.