THE VANISHING PENSION

Bearing in mind my investment that matured was a cash ISA linked to the stock market, but tax free, I'm a bit loathed to bung it all into a pension scheme where I can take 25% tax free, but have to pay tax at 20% on any other amounts I might want to with draw.

Most other investments seem to attract some fairly high charges, so that is something I'm bearing in mind.
The little bloke always loses out, I know, it is just a case of losing out as least as possible.

 

The state Pension is disgusting bearing in mind how much you pay in, and how the government uses the money.
If the same principle was applied to company pension schemes there would be an awful lot or Robert Maxwell's floating around the ocean.

I've not until the last few years worked for a company that actually offered a pension scheme as such, Building and civil engineering scheme was the best they would give us.
It was for years just a lump sum scheme , which you had to opt out of in order to pay into a private pension.
But I'm not sure where any of my money paid into serps actually went and I think it has all but disappeared.

Graduated pension?
Anyone remember that? All gone by the board.

 

It remains a bone of contention for me that for 45 years I worked extremely hard . I ran a business for 38 years and paid my tax and NI on time. I was a worrier when it came to that sort of thing.

Yet my pension age is now 67 instead of the 65 it should be.

I was never given an alternative but to pay the full rate of tax and NI yet they the system that took my money can simply say we ain't paying you for two additional years.

I'm retired now due to my wife's illness. I am in effect her full time carer. My doctor tells me I should claim for carers allowance but I've never even looked at it.

It's 7 more years till I reach that pension age of 67.

I intensely dislike the system. All of it they are all nothing short of liars.

I think by making the changes that won't come into play for quite some years is a clear admission that we will reamain in debt or get far deeper by the time the changes come into force.

But what do we expect from a bunch of chinless t urds that give themselves 11% wage increases year on year yet give our doctors nurses firefighters etc etc 1% ... They are after all public servants.......

There I feel better now.........

 

To be a carer for someone is a draining job under many points of view, emotional, financial and so on. I can only imagine that any kind of help, ranging from somebody taking on your duties for a day, to some extra money for your increased needs, can only be a relief, in the long term.

 

Thank you. It is or can be tough. But I love my wife dearly so it's no bother. We just get on with it and enjoy what we have.

We now have a large and lovely garden which we both enjoy. I've created a separate growing area and erected a greenhouse and built raised beds. Simple stuff really but everything is done so the boss can get easy acces and all areas are paved and flat.

I get out from time to time and have a wonderful network of family and friends who help me no end.

For me the only thing I struggle with is seeing my wife in pain. I genuinely wish it were me and not her. I feel helpless sometimes but cannot let it get to me or let it show.

The carers allowance they can keep. But how nice it would have been if they had not messed with the pensions.

We have private pensions or frankly we would be stuffed. The state pension is not great but it would allow just a little easement and take away just a bit of the anxiety.

There are many many people far worse off than us.