Boost your State Pension by £25 per week

As I have had children there have been years when I didn't pay NI and, despite, being covered by Home Responsibilities Protection (my name was on the Child Benefit book) I was offered the opportunity to make up short years. I declined. When my husband retired early due to ill health as I was working and paying full NI we put his name on the book instead of mine. When calculating money available when we retired I have never included the state pension in what we would be getting as I have never felt that we would ever get it. I have, so far, unfortunately been proven right in being skeptical. Originally I would have started to receive pension this month, then it was moved to January 2017, now it is July 2019. Even if the government were proposing a GOOD deal, which I don't believe this is, I would still STRONGLY recommend that no one buys into it. The money in the bank is yours, constantly accessible and covered by guarantees far stronger than ANY government 'promise'.

I am making a case for 'older' pensioners on these posts as it's obvious to me that they are the ones who are losing out the most. With regards to the ladies, Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was introduced in 1978 and allowed for credits (I think up to 21 years) towards what was then required for a female of 39 years NI contributions to gain a full basic state pension. (To qualify for HRP, Child Benefit had to be in their name, which it was in the vast majority of cases) Post World War 2 'baby boomer' ladies who had children from the early 60s lost out the most, only ameliorated by being paid a pension at age 60 which would either last longer due to lower mortality rates or deferring because they were still working, enabling an eventual higher pension (or lump sum). But it remains the case that the 'older' pensioners are being treated as second class citizens. If the Government offers a top-up system for basic SRP (which it does), it offends every democratic bone in my body that another class of pensioner should have to pay over 4 times as much for the same thing. As to calling the proposed top-up 'generous', I would say horse manure. It's nothing of the kind. And don't let us forget that pensioners have already had the preverbial kick in the pants with the freezing of the Age Allowance. The amount of extra tax payable by this ruse will dwarf any extra income from the governments' much trumpeted 'triple lock' guarantee on the SRP. It is apparently a fact that pensioners are much more likely to vote. I suspect many will want to wreak their revenge when going to the polls in a little more than 12 months time.

"As women live longer, the scheme should be particularly beneficial as they will be able to get a better return on any money they put in. Many women may have also missed out on the full State Pension allowance because they’ve taken time out to have children, meaning they may not have paid in enough in National Insurance contributions. The above statement is not correct. Women who have taken time out of employment to raise children do not lose those years they are counted towards a pension. I know this for a fact because my wife was credited with child raising years towards her pension. Labour changed the rules when they tinkered with serps. I would not waste my money by giving it to the governnant if you die a few months later you have lost your 25K. They are offering it so that you dont claim benefits because if you are so badly off that you only receive the basic state pension you can claim pension credit which makes up your pension to approx £200. spend the money and enjoy yourself then claim benefits. Plenty of immigrants can claim and they have not paid a penny into the system. I would not trust any government because they ae always tinkering with pensions and we always end up worse off. Mainly if you are working with above average wages and have a few quid saved up. But the workshyand immigrants receive all the benefits but pay little into the system.