Pensions

[rosamundjohn]

I have paid more than 30 years contributions and now i not entitled to a pension until I am over 66!
I still keep paying! Am I stupid?
Promises not kept.
I will probably never get one. Comments please.
Yes born in 54!

[lcg]

annie....i'm talking about teachers, social workers, police, nurses and midwives. of course hcsw's get paid less....and i do shifts as a hcsw to pay my bills on top of my full time job - so i appreciate how difficult life is and how craply paid those guys are (and how valuable they are in supporting me doing mine!). i worked as a hcsw for 15 years before going to uni, racking up debts (which i am still paying off!) and becoming a 'professional'. the roles, risks and responsibilities are very different and is reflected in pay, although they should be paid more as they work so hard x

[rosamundjohn]

Maybe they will legalise eusthanasia? I just love your comments. What shall we do?

[Maydup]

I don't disagree with you lcg76 and I have a huge and genuine respect for nurses, especiallly the good ones; but there are some public sector workers who need to wake up and smell the roses. Those who have never had to live off minimum wage for example or to be grateful to receive even a basic SSP payment when they're sick. That's the private sector for most people and there's no pension at the end of it.

[rosamundjohn]

But they haven't invested it old geezer.

[rosamundjohn]

But they haven't invested it, Old Geezer

[lcg]

nah...we'll just work until bits start to erode or drop off! frankly, my mum's in a similar position to you...she misses out on a pension for three years because she was born six days before a cut off date. to say she's peeved is an understatement, as she has mainly had manual jobs, is now disabled (as i truly think she has just worn herself out) and struggling massively after paying loads into different pensions. hers are quite a mess x

[lcg]

maidup...there are always going to be people who are overpaid and never had to struggle in their lives. unfortunately....most of them make the policy/laws in this country!!!!! that's where i think the system is screwed up x

[rosamundjohn]

Disgusting-robbery/incompetence/villains

[rosamundjohn]

anyone who thinks a nurse or a tacher or social worker has an easy life has never been there. I nearly got hit today. Don't feel at all friendly about these pension changes.

[lcg]

life in the fast lane can be hard, RJ. why do people think it is acceptable to use violence in somebody else's workplace? perhaps we should get danger money also...x

[annie0000]

lcg - my oh is an ambulance care assistant but he has 2 degrees and is a qualified nurse too. He worked in mental health and left for two reasons 1. he was badly attacked once to often and was stabbed in the back during a home call but the guy was going for his throat. 2. He was fed up with the number of lazy nurses he encountered in the mental health wards who would rather sit about smoking than do any work - he wishes he had done some other branch of nursing. He gets paid broccoli but loves his job. However, he has worked in the private sector and I do work in the private sector and neither of us agree in the premise of the strike action. Seriously in this economic climate the deal on the table is a lot better than most people have. I don't think it's great that you get less than what you thought you'd get when you took the job. But that is just the way it is.

[lcg]

maybe it is better. but...given all the crap i am dealing with in my job, i am relishing the idea of registering my disgust at the way we (particularly nurses) are treated by going out on strike just in a general sense. i think it's right about time and my problem with the way it is portrayed in the media is that because we are the 'caring profession' we are never 'allowed' to speak out, that it should infringe our rights and makes us bad people. your oh's experiences are truly shocking and it's right that he does something that he loves...money isn't the be all and end all, but i am the only earner in my house and i'll fight for every last penny (and to not have to work 70 hours a week to pay the basics). everybody has a different opinion, situation and viewpoint on the strike. but i think it's about time hard working people (whatever they do) are better rewarded for their efforts.

[welshlibranr]

Still with you all the way Icg76!..........

[annie0000]

I agree with that lcg, unfortunately after everything, you will probably end up in the next bed in the nursing home to someone who never earned a penny or worked a day in their life and spent their benefits on fags and booze (I appreciate that's a generalisation, I do know that not everyone on benefits chooses to be or fritters it away!!) You will be paying top whack out of your hard earned and saved money.....and also subsiding them.

[jno]

the idea is that everyone is living longer so will be drawing pensions for longer. When pensions were first set up people were only expected to live for five years or so after retiring and they would have ten kids paying into the fund that provides your pension. What with everyone living longer and having fewer kids, the sums don't add up any more.

That's why. I'm not saying I agree with it.

[lcg]

annie...believe me, i have considered a life on the dole! i have both physical and mental health disabilities and could probably cadge the biggest whack of the social if i put my mind to it (and then pickle and gas myself into oblivion!). but...i am too honest, proud and hard working for my own good. i think i'd rather die than do that, tho, tbh. however, it will be fun to go on my first demo tomorrow and actually put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. i think i'll be happier with myself for doing it.

[annie0000]

Apart from about 9 months (in total for 2 kids) off on maternity leave, I have worked since I left school - that is 28 years so far and I have another 22 to go. I have preserved benefits in 4 pension schemes so far and am now being totally screwed in the one I am in - I fully expect to get no state pension either as the pot will no doubt be empty when it comes my turn to retire. I didn't see anyone in the public sector turning out to support me when i got screwed. Luckily I am in a position to be able to work from home tomorrow to look after the kids but otherwise would have to have taken a days holiday or unpaid leave and my OH will have to cross the picket line tomorrow however unpleasant that may be as he is not in the Union and has his holidays already allocated to cover the kids holidays. He already can't sleep but has no choice tomorrow unless he wants to lose his job and I am sure that the mouthpieces on the pickets tomorrow will give him a hard time. He is one of the ones most affected as he is on the lowest wage you can be outwith those that are having their benefits protected. It's a joke really, the unions decided they were having this strike regardless of what concessions were made.

[bednobs]

how were you expecting people in the public sector to support you annie?

[Old_Geezer]

The sums for the government pension may not add up any more, but forcing folk to hold on to their jobs for years more than they were told they'd have to doesn't help the public spend significantly. What is saved on one budget is spent on another.

[Old_Geezer]

As I understand it the strike is a different issue. It is around the occupational pension offered by authorities for those seeking employment with them. These would surely be a matter of not breaking a contract made at the time. Something private companies seem to manage on whim. But if occupational pensions are in trouble then maybe they should have looked at the 'pension holidays' taken because the kitties were so overflowing with wealth, and ask a certain Mr. Brown what happened to the vital tax consessions. Although I suspect this is more relevant to private rather than public employers.