I was talking about state pensions admin. I was visiting a web-site last year and there were about three people posting, it eventually closed down.
People on their, I was sure, said that ex-pats living in commonwealth countries got their basic pension but without the annual increments. In other words it was worth less and less each year.
So this is ordinary people being victimised again. Struggle all of their working lives to earn a living the best way they can and they aren't even able to choose where they would like to spend what retirement years they have left to them.
I can understand that they wouldn't get state benefits but pensions should be sufficient to give people who have worked hard a comfortable existence without benefits coming into the equation at all.
Sandie Seward
I fully agree with that, Marie, but, sadly, as we all know only too well, they are not sufficient to live on without 'top-ups' from Means-Tested Benefits like Housing and Council Tax Benefit, and Pension Credit.
And, did you know, that because of Pension Credit, I now have to pay 10% of my 'excess' income that is above the tax threshold back to them? I had to fill in a Tax Return, and back came a demand for £79, which has to be paid before January 31st next year!
So, some of my heating allowance will go straight back to them as Income Tax.
marieann
No, I didn't know that admin and it seems so pennypinching when you think about the firms making enormous profits who are handed all sorts of tax breaks on a plate.
I don't have a full state pension, just about three-quarters, and a small private pension which they take a fifth of in tax, I think. Tony has his full state pension though and a tiny private one, we used his other one for the car, it made more sense.
