Why would someone want to opt out from a pension scheme?

DBdoobydoo

SouthCoastBoy said:

I have always been careful with money and never wanted to get into debt, even as a student in the 80s I never went overdrawn unlike a number  of my contemporaries. 

When I got my first job in London after graduating I needed every penny as the wage wasn't great so I opted out of the pension scheme, in hindsight, I should have just gone overdrawn every month.In total I missed out on 4 years and 9 mths of pension contributions, I regret that now but unfortunately not a lot I can do about it.

After university I worked in the NHS for 4 years and 9 months then left for a private sector job. Some time later I received a refund of about £800 pension contributions. I was in my mid-twenties, ignorant regarding pensions & a long time from retirement so it just felt like a lucky windfall to me.

Fast forward 30 years & I rejoined the NHS where I worked another ten years until retirement contributing to the pension. If only I had worked another three months for the NHS in 1983 I would have enjoyed a much enhanced NHS pension.

Silvertabby

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

Our neighbour is 89.  Still mentally sharp, but with selective hearing - ie, only interested in hearing nice things.

She has two pairs of glasses - one for reading and one for distance/watching tv/driving.  She returned from her latest eye test chuffed to NAAFI breaks because the optician had said that while she needed new reading glasses, she didn't need glasses for driving.

I asked her if he had meant that she didn't need NEW glasses for driving, but she was adamant that he had said that she didn't to wear her glasses when driving.

I mentioned this to her son, who lives some distance away, but he just said that she was fine.  Probably because he knows that he will have to pick up the slack if his mum can't drive...

ColdIron

Silvertabby said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

She has two pairs of glasses - one for reading and one for distance/watching tv/driving.  She returned from her latest eye test chuffed to NAAFI breaks because the optician had said that while she needed new reading glasses, she didn't need glasses for driving.

I asked her if he had meant that she didn't need NEW glasses for driving, but she was adamant that he had said that she didn't to wear her glasses when driving.

It can happen when someone's Visual Acuity decreases to a point that a small distance correction makes no difference

The standards are not very high. 6/12 which is quite low (normal is 6/6) with a reduced field of vision (15 degrees?) in one eye only

incus432

ColdIron said:

Silvertabby said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

She has two pairs of glasses - one for reading and one for distance/watching tv/driving.  She returned from her latest eye test chuffed to NAAFI breaks because the optician had said that while she needed new reading glasses, she didn't need glasses for driving.

I asked her if he had meant that she didn't need NEW glasses for driving, but she was adamant that he had said that she didn't to wear her glasses when driving.

It can happen when someone's Visual Acuity decreases to a point that a small distance correction makes no difference

The standards are not very high. 6/12 which is quite low (normal is 6/6) with a reduced field of vision (15 degrees?) in one eye only

The other big problem many experience as get older (I do) is dazzle with night-time driving. Easily blamed on headlights being much brighter than they were (true ) but often linked to early cataracts. 

ColdIron

incus432 said:

ColdIron said:

Silvertabby said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

She has two pairs of glasses - one for reading and one for distance/watching tv/driving.  She returned from her latest eye test chuffed to NAAFI breaks because the optician had said that while she needed new reading glasses, she didn't need glasses for driving.

I asked her if he had meant that she didn't need NEW glasses for driving, but she was adamant that he had said that she didn't to wear her glasses when driving.

It can happen when someone's Visual Acuity decreases to a point that a small distance correction makes no difference

The standards are not very high. 6/12 which is quite low (normal is 6/6) with a reduced field of vision (15 degrees?) in one eye only

The other big problem many experience as get older (I do) is dazzle with night-time driving. Easily blamed on headlights being much brighter than they were (true ) but often linked to early cataracts. 

It's very common as you age, most will complain about this to some degree so I wouldn't get too worried about it. Cataracts do worsen the situation, it's like switching on your headlights in fog

Silvertabby

ColdIron said:

Silvertabby said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

She has two pairs of glasses - one for reading and one for distance/watching tv/driving.  She returned from her latest eye test chuffed to NAAFI breaks because the optician had said that while she needed new reading glasses, she didn't need glasses for driving.

I asked her if he had meant that she didn't need NEW glasses for driving, but she was adamant that he had said that she didn't to wear her glasses when driving.

It can happen when someone's Visual Acuity decreases to a point that a small distance correction makes no difference

The standards are not very high. 6/12 which is quite low (normal is 6/6) with a reduced field of vision (15 degrees?) in one eye only

But she still needs her glasses to watch tv....

poseidon1

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

I’m surprised you see the fact they are still driving in their 90’s as a positive though. It would worry me.

Below is an extract from a personal injury law firm article 


'' On the 1st January 2024, the Daily Telegraph reported the DVLA had, in response to a Freedom of Information request, revealed that 153,000 people aged 90 or older hold driving licences, almost double the number who did so in 2013. 

Will there be more personal injury claims due to there being many more drivers aged 90 or more on the roads? 

It’s hard to argue against the proposition that as the numbers of drivers on the road aged 90 or more continue to rise, there will be more accidents involving nonagenarian drivers, giving rise to personal injury claims ''



See below link to the article for those interested. Seems to be championing the return of mandatory eye tests  for the over 70s to replace the current self certification system.

https://www.mooneerams.com/blog/will-the-record-number-of-uk-drivers-aged-over-90-increase-the-number-of-personal-injury-claims/

Nebulous2

I've an older acquaintance who lost their driving licence because of eyesight problems. It was a devastating loss for someone for whom driving was a core part of their life, in a rural area without public transport.

At the same time it drew a finite line, and prevented tensions and family arguments about when was the 'right time.' 

Older drivers appear to be being hit quite hard with increased insurance premiums. I've seen several financial advice columns address that. 

The most recent PLSA standards had a comfortable retired couple running one small car, where previously they had two cars, one bigger and one smaller. So it looks as though costs are having some impact on people's willingness and ability to pay to remain on the road. 

AlanP_2

They try to avoid driving at night and if they have to its only on roads they know well. I think the number of older drivers will carry on increasing. If you think about it many of their generation (particularly the women) didn't learn to drive or couldn't afford a car when younger.

My mother and father didn't,

Nowadays the majority are learning once they get to 17.

incus432

AlanP_2 said:

If you think about it many of their generation (particularly the women) didn't learn to drive or couldn't afford a car when younger.

My mother and father didn't,

Nowadays the majority are learning once they get to 17

According to DVLC 2023 data, 73% of all adults over 70 hold a full driving licence.  20 years before that it was 44%