More flexibility needed in state pension age
 

http://news.sky.com/video/more-flexi...n-age-10616040

I have extreme opionons on this. I will turn 65 on 28 December yhis year. And l have been told that my pension will start in January 2017.

Now the Gvernment paln to change this.

I find this totally appalling. I have paid into this Governments treasury all my life. I have had three periods of unemployments in that time.

But, there has been a survey of how people are living longer. My wife cannot retire for another three years.

I will NOT be able to survive on THAT pension, so therefore will have to continue to work. I cannot, and WILL NOT sit on my backside to keep my family in the 'pleasure ' of life.

This government should give people that retire over 65. A decent pension to live on.

Prices go up, yet nothing else.

My rent is £700.00 per month on social housing. My pension is £150.00 per week - which totals £600.00 which leaves £100 how can you survive on that.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

People are living longer, the pension age is becoming unsustainable. However when you do retire you'll be getting quite a good deal with the triple-locking which will mean decent rises each year....

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

You will still get your pension next year Arthur. The age changes were brought in a few years ago, I have to wait an extra year.

If I were you I would be more worried about your added Graduated Pension component which you will still get which may take you out of the bracket for certain benefits or at the very least reduce them.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

l expect the triple lock promise will go after 2020.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

i think you need 35 years contributions to get full state pension ,all the years you work after that your paying for the next generations pension [we must be because its not going on our pension pot]
i think it stinks -i looked up the average age in my area [life expectancy 62-66 for a male] but that's ok rich people live longer :(
my pension starts at 66 i have been working since age 16

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

I get my state pension in 18 months so I done this online check to get a state pension forecast and mine comes up at £177.40 a week. I`m a bit confused cause I thought the new state pension was £155.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

It actually leaves you a hundred quid in the red each month.

That prices go up but nothing else does is not true as far as pensions go. They go up by wages, prices or 2.5%, whichever is higher.

You have paid in to the treasury but also taken out of it your entire life. Going by your earlier comments you are probably already well into the red.

Regardless even if you were in those households that do make a net contribution each year, and most aren't, it isn't a savings account. Your pension will be paid by current taxpayers.

Could be worse. I'm not going to hit retirement age until 68 as of right now, and it'll probably be later still by the time I get there. Pensions aren't affordable as they stand right now, let alone making them more generous.

I suggest you look into Pension Credit.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

You can get housing benefit on top of the pension.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

It has to go fairly soon. Pensions are costing a bomb already and the social case for continuing it in the context of austerity on those of working age, and how much better pensioners and those nearing pensionable age have done than other ages over the past years in terms of income growth, home ownership growth, disposable income and other things.

It makes no sense for pensioners to have to help their kids out while simultaneously receiving more generous welfare and non-means tested benefits.

Re: Strong feelings on this
 

I started receiving my pensions and found that I received £8 per month over the limit once Carers Allowance was added. That meant no more Income Support. No problems with that, it's a safety net after all. But with I.S. stopping so did free dentist and optician treatment. And so did 100% Housing and Council Tax Benefit. I now pay most of the Council Tax and about 60% of rent, almost £500 per month. And that wipes out almost all my pension payments.

No State Pension until 67, so it's going to be a hard few years until then. :(

I was advised to make my daughter Carer to her brother, and vice versa, but the DWP said "NO!!!" They would see that as a fiddle to get extra Benefits!