Body & Soul1 min ago
State Pensions
39 Answers
Can anyone explain to me how it is not possible for an average pensioner to survive on a state pension?
I could be wrong, but I believe it averages about �85.00 per week for a single person. Given that they receive concessions on a lot of other things as well (bus passes etc), why do I keep hearing that our pensioners are struggling to survive on that amount of money a week?
I'm also assuming (wrongly??) that most no longer have a mortgage to pay having paid that off previously.
This is no way a dig at pensioners, it's more a genuine puzzlement why it seems impossible to survive on �85.00 per week.
I could be wrong, but I believe it averages about �85.00 per week for a single person. Given that they receive concessions on a lot of other things as well (bus passes etc), why do I keep hearing that our pensioners are struggling to survive on that amount of money a week?
I'm also assuming (wrongly??) that most no longer have a mortgage to pay having paid that off previously.
This is no way a dig at pensioners, it's more a genuine puzzlement why it seems impossible to survive on �85.00 per week.
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No problems, ma'am! It just seemed to me that no one was considering many of the things that life can throw up such as couples separating.
For example, before my divorce, I was living in a 4-bedroom detached house in a pleasant Lincolnshire village with very little outstanding mortgage. After it - and still - I was 'obliged' to buy a two up/two down terrace with a considerable mortgage.
Given how prevalent divorce now is, there must be many people in the same boat who don't have a professional pension. I shudder to think how they are coping.
For example, before my divorce, I was living in a 4-bedroom detached house in a pleasant Lincolnshire village with very little outstanding mortgage. After it - and still - I was 'obliged' to buy a two up/two down terrace with a considerable mortgage.
Given how prevalent divorce now is, there must be many people in the same boat who don't have a professional pension. I shudder to think how they are coping.
Actually apart from our missunderstanding I could talk to you all day QM, I love being called ma'am- lol.
Yes I understand your points and sympathise. My question was mainly aimed at your average pensioner (if there's such a thing!), where i should imagine divorce and extended families etc are not as common.
Can you imagine when my generation, I'm in my late 30's, and younger get to pensionable age? Multiple familes and houses scattered everywhere!
Yes I understand your points and sympathise. My question was mainly aimed at your average pensioner (if there's such a thing!), where i should imagine divorce and extended families etc are not as common.
Can you imagine when my generation, I'm in my late 30's, and younger get to pensionable age? Multiple familes and houses scattered everywhere!
Let�s keep it simple:
The Basic State Pension for a single person is currently �87.30 per week, or �378.30 per month. �Pension Credits� can increase this, but you have to be almost destitute before this kicks in.
Even with a 25% discount, not many people who live in a house pay less than �80 per month in Council Tax. �15 per month is about the lowest water bill I know of. Fuel bills for a house cannot come to less than �40 per month � and that�s if you�re very careful. A TV Licence costs almost �12 per month. A pensioner who has a bit saved but who has no other income qualifies for no reductions on any of these items. They are now left with �230 per month and so far they have not eaten or drunk anything.
If they want to run a small car (and many in rural areas simply have to) it will cost around �30 per month just to park it outside the door and another �50 per month to buy enough fuel to do a modest 5,000 miles per annum. Now they are down to just �150 per month (�37.50 per week). And they still have not eaten or drunk anything. Do I need to go on?
I have not exaggerated any of my figures � if anything I have erred on the low side for some of them, particularly domestic fuel.
The short answer to your question BOO, is that I�m amazed at your puzzlement. Yes, it�s true that some pensioners have additional income (and good job that they have), but that wasn�t the question. The State pension (for which those who receive no �top-ups� have paid for throughout their lives) is nothing short of scandalous, and is particularly so when compared to many of the benefits available to the work-shy.
Furthermore, pensioners should not be expected to merely �survive�. They should be able to live full and active lives without money worries.
Those on State Pensions alone are unable to do so.
The Basic State Pension for a single person is currently �87.30 per week, or �378.30 per month. �Pension Credits� can increase this, but you have to be almost destitute before this kicks in.
Even with a 25% discount, not many people who live in a house pay less than �80 per month in Council Tax. �15 per month is about the lowest water bill I know of. Fuel bills for a house cannot come to less than �40 per month � and that�s if you�re very careful. A TV Licence costs almost �12 per month. A pensioner who has a bit saved but who has no other income qualifies for no reductions on any of these items. They are now left with �230 per month and so far they have not eaten or drunk anything.
If they want to run a small car (and many in rural areas simply have to) it will cost around �30 per month just to park it outside the door and another �50 per month to buy enough fuel to do a modest 5,000 miles per annum. Now they are down to just �150 per month (�37.50 per week). And they still have not eaten or drunk anything. Do I need to go on?
I have not exaggerated any of my figures � if anything I have erred on the low side for some of them, particularly domestic fuel.
The short answer to your question BOO, is that I�m amazed at your puzzlement. Yes, it�s true that some pensioners have additional income (and good job that they have), but that wasn�t the question. The State pension (for which those who receive no �top-ups� have paid for throughout their lives) is nothing short of scandalous, and is particularly so when compared to many of the benefits available to the work-shy.
Furthermore, pensioners should not be expected to merely �survive�. They should be able to live full and active lives without money worries.
Those on State Pensions alone are unable to do so.
Oh Boo. I am an OAP ( I am still very young at heart) and fortunately my husband is still in employment. However, when he retires life is going to change drastically. We will have to watch every penny just so we can exist and treats and holidays will be out of the question. I am seriously very worried. We are of the age where we were not worried about taking out pension plans when we were young as we thought the State Pension was adequate. Little did we know.
Also, there are very few concessions and we can't get many benefits as we have our own home.
We have both worked really hard all of our lives. We should be looking forward to retirement. 60/65 is not that old these days, we still want to be out and about enjoying ourselves. It ain't going to happen!
Also, there are very few concessions and we can't get many benefits as we have our own home.
We have both worked really hard all of our lives. We should be looking forward to retirement. 60/65 is not that old these days, we still want to be out and about enjoying ourselves. It ain't going to happen!
Your post crossed mine BOO.
I imagine those with multiple families and houses scattered everywhere will get by after pensionable age in the same way as they do whilst of working age. In my experience this consists of paying the very barest minimum (if anything at all) for the abandoned first family whilst they pursue their dream of a �new life� with a new partner and children.
People who choose this lifestyle should have to cut their cloth according to their means. But I doubt that they will.
I imagine those with multiple families and houses scattered everywhere will get by after pensionable age in the same way as they do whilst of working age. In my experience this consists of paying the very barest minimum (if anything at all) for the abandoned first family whilst they pursue their dream of a �new life� with a new partner and children.
People who choose this lifestyle should have to cut their cloth according to their means. But I doubt that they will.
Winter heating allowance is �200.00 per household BOO or �300 if you have someone over 75 in your household. It isn't a lot is it? My last fuel top up cost �400 and that will last three months. I would get a free bus pass, but we don't have any buses.
Why on earth should pensioners have to worry about just existing. They deserve more than that. It's easy to survive on less when you are younger and fitter anyway. I found it quite good fun when I was young trying to make ends meet - not the case now though.
Why on earth should pensioners have to worry about just existing. They deserve more than that. It's easy to survive on less when you are younger and fitter anyway. I found it quite good fun when I was young trying to make ends meet - not the case now though.
Hey lottie :-) and hello New Judge.
I obviously hadn't done my maths with regards to expenditure, and i was mistakenly under the impression that OAP's received more concessions than they do.
Thank you for putting me straight, and frightening me silly. Neither me or Mr Boo can afford to pay for a private pension so we will have to rely on the state pension when we retire. I was sort of hoping (naively!!) that it would be nice not to have to work yet never seeming to have two pennies to rub together!
I obviously hadn't done my maths with regards to expenditure, and i was mistakenly under the impression that OAP's received more concessions than they do.
Thank you for putting me straight, and frightening me silly. Neither me or Mr Boo can afford to pay for a private pension so we will have to rely on the state pension when we retire. I was sort of hoping (naively!!) that it would be nice not to have to work yet never seeming to have two pennies to rub together!
Oh, it's lovely not having to work BOO, except I spend all my time running around trying to sort out my adult kids and very elderly mother and I don't have the time (nor the money) to do anything for myself any more.
At 60+ and still being fairly young at heart and trendy I thought life would be easier. No such luck, it has been the worse time of my life so far!!
At 60+ and still being fairly young at heart and trendy I thought life would be easier. No such luck, it has been the worse time of my life so far!!
Awww Lottie, im sorry to hear that :-(
Sadly it appears life's a struggle whatever age you are! As I've said I'm in my late 30's and i'd have loved to now be at the stage where I should be planning for my retirement, but money is still really tight here and I'm lucky if I get to the end of the month with a fiver in my purse.
Guess I'll just contend myself with the notion that the only thing I can look forward to when I reach my twilight years is by being as crotchety as possible and being so vile and bad tempered that Mini Boo has to bribe her kids to come visit me.
Sadly it appears life's a struggle whatever age you are! As I've said I'm in my late 30's and i'd have loved to now be at the stage where I should be planning for my retirement, but money is still really tight here and I'm lucky if I get to the end of the month with a fiver in my purse.
Guess I'll just contend myself with the notion that the only thing I can look forward to when I reach my twilight years is by being as crotchety as possible and being so vile and bad tempered that Mini Boo has to bribe her kids to come visit me.
Please tell me you're also going to get one of those tartan trolly things on wheels? And you'll it bash everyone's ankles with too?
I'm also hoping that I've got a gorgeous faceful of whiskers, I can't wait to to hear the conversations......
Mini Boo (adult version)- "now kiss grandma goodbye kids"
Grandkids- But mum, she's got a moustache and smells funny.
Mini Boo- here's a tenner, just do it!
I'm also hoping that I've got a gorgeous faceful of whiskers, I can't wait to to hear the conversations......
Mini Boo (adult version)- "now kiss grandma goodbye kids"
Grandkids- But mum, she's got a moustache and smells funny.
Mini Boo- here's a tenner, just do it!
The true extent of the pensions crisis was revealed by Norwich Union's latest research in 2007 where 11 per cent of over 60s admitted they have stopped taking holidays, the same number have reduced their spending on clothes, toiletries and footwear and a further 11 per cent have cut down on socialising.
In addition, 9 per cent have cut back on the amount of time they keep their heating on, 6 per cent have reduced their spending on food and a further 5 per cent have stopped using a car.
Despite having to make these cutbacks, only 29 per cent of the over 60s questioned are claiming benefits to help them through retirement, with 70 per cent believing that they are not eligible.
Money worries weigh heavily on the minds of Briton�s over 60�s, with the increasing costs of household bills of major concern to almost one in five. The future is also a worry, 16 per cent fret about how they would afford long-term care should the need arise. 11 per cent are anxious that they may not have enough money to live comfortably in their retirement and a further 11 per cent are concerned they will not be able to cope with the rising cost of living.
Retirement is quite stressful it would seem.
In addition, 9 per cent have cut back on the amount of time they keep their heating on, 6 per cent have reduced their spending on food and a further 5 per cent have stopped using a car.
Despite having to make these cutbacks, only 29 per cent of the over 60s questioned are claiming benefits to help them through retirement, with 70 per cent believing that they are not eligible.
Money worries weigh heavily on the minds of Briton�s over 60�s, with the increasing costs of household bills of major concern to almost one in five. The future is also a worry, 16 per cent fret about how they would afford long-term care should the need arise. 11 per cent are anxious that they may not have enough money to live comfortably in their retirement and a further 11 per cent are concerned they will not be able to cope with the rising cost of living.
Retirement is quite stressful it would seem.
