Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

I think there are ways of tracking your old pension schemes, but I dont know how you do it myself, but it is always still there, you dont lose it.
You could be a millionaire.

 

The government website has a feature to help you find old pensions.

It's very important that you track them down because a few years ago, a sneaky law sneaked through, surprisingly not well publicised, that allows the government to steal pension pots if they've been inactive for a period of years and the owner has not been in contact.

It's a good idea to trace all your old pensions from former employers. Once done, as a minimum, ask them to send out a statement, then that's activity on your account. Better still is to consolidate them. There are plenty of providers that do that. But, if you do consolidation them, get some free advice first, as there may be favourable terms on some older schemes that you'd lose if transfering out. A typical example being the tax free lump sum you can take. I think the standard figure is 25% if I remember right, but some older schemes set up before various law changes allowed a greater percentage.

 

Might be worth a look.
Find pension contact details

 

Have a look at the attached link @Mrs. B.
Find pension contact details

You worked to earn that pension and I don't think there are many of us who can (or should) afford to just leave the money for someone else's benefit.
My friend used this and was able to track down a pension from an old employer from years ago

 

Can but hope!

 

I see a gang, originally from Bulgaria have been charged for raking in £54 million in false universal credit claims over a 4.5 year period. Makes you wonder how many other millions are being given to false claims.

Universal credit: Bulgarian fraud gang convicted after stealing £54m in benefits scam | The Independent

 

But ... it is interesting we hear about universal credit fraud, but we don't hear about multi-millionaires defrauding HMRC and all the deals that go on because it is just too much effort to pursue them. Similarly the TV licensing people go after single parents on benefits, but don't touch the many owners of luxury properties who live here part of the yr. No wealthy person has ever been jailed for not paying for their TV license. Pretty much the same with Council Tax on empty luxury flats whose owners are abroad. It goes uncollected, whereas you or I would be jailed for not paying.

 

Just foreign gangs that have moved in to take advantage of our system.
I'm sure its going on all the time.

Doubt they will get any of the money back.

 

And they want an ID for voting, no one is checking things

 

If it cut down on these kind of things I wouldn't mind having ID cards, but I bet if we introduced them, within two weeks someone in China or Eastern Europe would be selling them online.

 

France and Belgium and other EU countries east and west have had ID cards for decades and, in the 33 years we've been over here I've never heard of major or even minor fraud scandals.

Clearly there is crime here but you need and ID card to open a bank account, get a driving license, get a dustbin and have it emptied, get insurance, vote.............. Stops a lot of social benefit and other fraud.

 

Probably why the rubber boats come over is because we are the only country in Europe where you can live and not have to have an ID card.

It always reminds me of those old war films when you get stopped and asked for your "papers".

 

Any party that even suggests the idea of an ID card, will be signing their death warrant.
But I say - bring them in!!
There's no one who looks remotely like me - or wants to, I imagine!!

 

Yes @pete Some people think it's an infringement of personal liberties but I find it reassuring and it gives a sense of security. In the EU, you can travel between member countries on an ID card so no need for a passport and we can go to any French territory - Guadeloupe, Ile de le Réunion etc - on a French ID card.

 

Must admit I was originally against ID cards, but mostly because they wanted to charge us for them, since then, if it clamps down on illegal immigration to some degree I would go for it.

I've got an out of date passport and a driving licence so cant see the difference really.
Even screwfix want ID when you collect.