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

Moonwolf

I spend quite a lot of time sorting my 92 year old uncle out.

He has a cleaner, a shopper and a gardener, he gets attendance allowance so the shopper and cleaner are covered by that.

He had to give up his car. 

He can afford taxis, like a lot of people the cost of his car was similar to what he spends on taxis, but he can't manage a smartphone or computer and it is increasingly difficult to organise taxis or for that matter home deliveries without one.

I sorted out internet, mainly for his carers, he has a smart TV and was using Netflix and iPlayer but the interface is inconsistent and changes when it upgrades itself which confuses him.

He has a kindle, he found the large print particularly useful, and I had it set up perfectly with the simplest possible interface with child locks to stop him buying a book accidentally.  Unfortunately Kindle has changed the interface to give it a sales bias and it has become too complicated for him, this is stupid as they get less sales this way.

Personally I think it is a bit of a scandal that with current technology there is so little non tech friendly stuff out there.

Emmia

This thread has wandered off topic a bit.

daz378

The understandable reason for opting..out...is living on the breadline...or other options like property..but is giving up free  money....just before starting my council carers job 24 years...my mums pension was 37p a week...dad was breadwinner...so was happy to pay into pension...its now my lifeline...job is very stressful...unsocial hours unappreciated...13 months till I hit rule of 85..every week month a victory....its a risky partial retirement..but will only need 16 hours a week to survive...pensions are the purest form..of the concept of..deferred gratification 

Silvertabby

daz378 said:

The understandable reason for opting..out...is living on the breadline...or other options like property..but is giving up free  money....just before starting my council carers job 24 years...my mums pension was 37p a week...dad was breadwinner...so was happy to pay into pension...its now my lifeline...job is very stressful...unsocial hours unappreciated...13 months till I hit rule of 85..every week month a victory....its a risky partial retirement..but will only need 16 hours a week to survive...pensions are the purest form..of the concept of..deferred gratification 

Sorry if I'm being the bearer of bad news, but you do know that only your pre 2008 pension and automatic lump sum are covered by R85?  

daz378

Yes I do realise....and only 5 years reduction up to 2014....will assess nearer the time whether its feasible 

Andy_L

AlanP_2 said:

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.

ISTR from previous threads (about photo ID?) that the average age of getting a driving licence is rising and the %age of youngsters with one is dropping

SacredStephan

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.

Woman, 91 who killed toddler should not have been driving - inquiry (Oct 24)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx252v6l60lo

incus432

Andy_L said:

AlanP_2 said:

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.

ISTR from previous threads (about photo ID?) that the average age of getting a driving licence is rising and the %age of youngsters with one is dropping

Official stats show proportion of 17-20s with full driving licence by year

2003  29%

2013  31%

2023  29%

so no change over last 20 years

You can analyse older age groups as well to see if average is rising if you wish

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts02-driving-licence-holders