So unfair, makes me think perhaps we should retire temporarily at about 30 while many of us could enjoy before they then work us all to death.
Had a nose on the pensions site this morning, state pension will come at 65 years and six months for me, the wife had in mind she could get the state pension at sixty years old, not so, she has to carry on till sixty seven years old, she was not best pleased.
See that is what annoys me why can’t we all have the same age ? makes no sense we went from an unfair unequal system to a worse one.
it seems if you were born around 1956-1960, the jump in retirement age, is incremental, when you get to a 1961-1969 birthdate, the state pension age is 67 regardless.
Lol that made me splutter my cuppa 
I do wish I had a substantial private pension. It enables you to have the choice to retire when you want to. I think the new private pension changes in April will make a huge difference to some people. They can take advantage of this whilst they are still alive and kicking, instead of waiting until they’re not a kick off 70 and getting their state pension. If we’ve to work until late 60’s, it could just take a toll on our health. By that time they might be pushing up the daisies, or in ill health and can’t take advantage of their private pension. I’m a live for now person and my choice would be to have some of a private pension in April, whilst I can still enjoy it.
It really doesn’t seem fair on some professions either, I can imagine sitting in an office may be possible but manual workers will be off sick long before they retire, and do we want nurses and care workers straining to do their jobs as their bodies age too ?
Just thinking my Mum had a district nurse who was so looking forward to retiring at 60 she was counting the days when we met her at 58 because her back was just about gone with the lifting of patients.
Thanks for all the replies everyone but it looks as if I was right and my friend’s got it wrong, as some of you have also stated and Yes, I was referring to the State Pension.
The only way that I can see is via Pension Credit but I checked that out a long time ago and I would not get any.
Besides, I do not want to claim a State Benefit and end up being accused of being a sponger, scrounger or cheat, which is what a certain political party’s supporters seem to believe these days, much as they also seem to believe that anyone who doesn’t hold their views is a Socialist or a rabid Communist – echoes of 1930’s Germany there but then, what can you expect from a party that views compassion as unprofitable?
Sad times we live in. stevmk2
Steve, your friend obviously did get it wrong. Also, i can imagine being told that and you’d think it was a great chance to take advantage of it! I know i would. Especially if you are unhappy in your job, which you are. It’s a horrible place to be in Steve and I hope things work out for you. But yes, it would be great to get the state pension earlier!!
I’d be in a terrible financial pickle if I hadn’t have got savings, to supplement my occy pension. True, it was my decision to take that voluntary redundancy in December 2003, but my health and sanity would have suffered, had I stayed employed with the Bank.
But since the NHS thought better of giving me any temporary bookings until I gave in and resigned, I had no other income and have had to trickle feed from the savings to keep my head above water.
I was prudent, and have managed my finances well. But could not find any paid employment or anything paying more than say £7 an hour! After tax I’d have ended up with about £4-5. Shocking situation here in London.
I can see though how Steve finds it difficult to find work.
So I have had that gap between paid employment and State Pension. Only about 5-6 weeks to go. Yaaaaay!
:-p:-D 
stevmk2
£7 an hour seems a while ago I think that was what we (husband and I ) were on about 4 years ago dribbled down to £6.50 now so will I guess be getting raises in line with NMW from now on.
My work pension is about £330 a month,my wife passed away without life assurance and her pension fund was with Equitable life(whoops).
Thank goodness I saved a bit during the good times.
I downsized and now cut my cloth accordingly-yes I lend/give a bit to close friends but I live a rather frugal life otherwise.
I’m now looking into a PIP - Personal Independence Payment - because the RDA suggested it to me so I asked and they said I can apply.
It’s not a Means Tested Benefit, in fact it’s not actually a Benefit in the normally understood scheme of things as it’s a bit like the Winter Fuel Allowance in some ways.
I qualify so I’m applying.
Age UK have offered to assist me too; they actually said I should have applied for DLA a long time ago but I was misinformed before.
It’s an Entitlement for those with long-term disabilities that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
Apparently I may have to be assessed by an ATOS “a health professional” but there’s a new centre in MK now.
stevmk2
That all sounds very positive Steve
It’s not so easy as that Stev, I know as I have only got 25% of my hearing and have failed twice and that was under the old system of testing which was much fairer than the ATOS system of today. Before you get your hopes up too high, read the link below and check with your audiology department as it seems that hearing loss is not deemed as a serious disability.
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/resources/disability/hearing-loss-when-does-social-security-grants-
Steve I will be 66 and 8 months before I get my Pension, also cannot get a Bus Pass until I am 66, which I don’t think is fair at all.
I have 5% hearing in my left ear and about 8 - 10% in my right ear now wishbone-mate.
If anything I’m a pessimist by nature so I do not expect anything from anyone, least of all ATOS, who I already know from bitter experiences at the Joke Shop - sorry - JobCentrePlus as it was laughingly called.
I have been promised back-up by the RDA and Age UK have also said they’ll help if get a knock-back - I probably will I’ve already been told by someone at ATOS that I used to work with in MK - I worked for the FCO and so did she!
The thing is ATOS invariably knock back 60% of claims - probably as a requirement of Our Dave’s Caring Coalition - so I know that much and so do many of the organisations tasked with helping claimants and - hopefully - those trying to prevent mass-bloody-suicides of disabled claimants with nowhere to turn to. stevmk2
Good luck Steve. Hope you can manage to get something.
Amazing what asking around about PIP does - the number of people waiting for an Assessment is something like half a million so, apparently, I’ll have a 7 - 9 month wait if it’s decided that I need to see an ATOS - ahem - “health professional” but it seems that a company called Maximus is taking over.
Maximus are described by John Pring of the Disability News Service as a 'company with a “chilling” record of incompetence, discrimination and alleged fraud so that’s about par for the course for the Caring, compassionate Coalition innit?! :roll:…soon be May eh? stevmk2