Drop in for a natter about anything French related.True. You only have to see the number of ads round here for manual jobs/trades. We've heard so many times from artisans that they cannot find young people interested in learning a trade/becoming a companion. Our local paysagiste says he has more offers of work than he can handle but he cannot find enough people to work for him. He's got loads of machinery which takes away some of the manual labour, but apparently he pays the SMIC and youngsters want more ....
Pension reforms
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Blaze
- Posts: 5579
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 9:06 pm
- Location: Ille et Villaine (35)
Pension reforms
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niemeyjt
- Posts: 4920
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:34 pm
Pension reforms
Maybe we need to also think about how we offshore jobs. Sadly for the UK, when a senior minister's wife is actively involved in such offshoring, I cannot see it happening any time soon.
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niemeyjt
- Posts: 4920
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:34 pm
Pension reforms
Just a quick addition regarding UK pensions.
I have already posted links on how to check your pension - and also the need to top up Class 3s before April in order to get the full back dates available - but there is also the option to defer your pension if you have not already started to take it - for those on the old pension you can get 10% extra for each year - for those on the new pension it is 5% per year.
The Class 3 top-up is currently £824.20.
see: https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/print
Now back to preparing my UK tax return - glad it is pouring with rain outside!
I have already posted links on how to check your pension - and also the need to top up Class 3s before April in order to get the full back dates available - but there is also the option to defer your pension if you have not already started to take it - for those on the old pension you can get 10% extra for each year - for those on the new pension it is 5% per year.
The Class 3 top-up is currently £824.20.
see: https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/print
Now back to preparing my UK tax return - glad it is pouring with rain outside!
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Wilbro
- Posts: 945
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:22 pm
- Location: Correze
Pension reforms
@hughnique I
If you claimed the benefits then you were effectively double claiming and leaving your wife with no applicable years. If you had let her claim then she could have used them as qualifying years. A nasty trap to fall into but unrecoverable unfortunately.
If you claimed the benefits then you were effectively double claiming and leaving your wife with no applicable years. If you had let her claim then she could have used them as qualifying years. A nasty trap to fall into but unrecoverable unfortunately.
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hughnique
- Posts: 1506
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:47 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Pension reforms
Wilbro,
Perhaps I am misinterpreting this somewhat, now when you say was or have I claimed the benefits, are you meaning did I physically go to the post office each week and draw the family allowance, or are you saying that did I ask for the years my wife was at home looking after the children to be taken in to consideration when my pension pot was calculated, which was not the case as I had over 40 years contributions.
Perhaps I am misinterpreting this somewhat, now when you say was or have I claimed the benefits, are you meaning did I physically go to the post office each week and draw the family allowance, or are you saying that did I ask for the years my wife was at home looking after the children to be taken in to consideration when my pension pot was calculated, which was not the case as I had over 40 years contributions.
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Wilbro
- Posts: 945
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:22 pm
- Location: Correze
Pension reforms
@hughnique
The benefits had to be in her name to give her qualifying years. My wife's were in her name but as I knew all the PO staff they let me collect it sometimes. This though meant all the years of child benefits went to contribute to HER pension calculation hence she got a full State pension as she worked the other years.
If the benefit book was made out to you then I'm afraid they can't contribute to your wife's qualifying years and they're lost despite the fact she was actually at home looking after the children.
The benefits had to be in her name to give her qualifying years. My wife's were in her name but as I knew all the PO staff they let me collect it sometimes. This though meant all the years of child benefits went to contribute to HER pension calculation hence she got a full State pension as she worked the other years.
If the benefit book was made out to you then I'm afraid they can't contribute to your wife's qualifying years and they're lost despite the fact she was actually at home looking after the children.
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hughnique
- Posts: 1506
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:47 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Pension reforms
Having just got of a marathon phone call to the pension service, the only glimmer of information is that her payment is based on 18 years of her "own" contributions. As she worked for a couple of years max when she left school and possibly 3 years, part and full time, just before we came here, I am at a loss to understand where this 18 years has come from unless, of course, the benefit book was in her name, and they are indeed giving her credit for the time spent at home with the children. When asked about these mystery payments women are receiving, that was a total minefield and she doesn't qualify anyway. So I presume she is getting 18/40th's of the full pension, correct me if I am wrong, and I think I am as that would give her a weekly rate of just over £200,thereby £800 a month, I wish.
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hughnique
- Posts: 1506
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2021 1:47 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Pension reforms
Think that might be 18/30th's which is still £150 a week, evidently the term used is that she gets a type A pension whatever that means.
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Wilbro
- Posts: 945
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:22 pm
- Location: Correze
Pension reforms
I Don't know what type A is but it surely isn't £150 pw for your wifeThat would mean someone with full contributions would get circa £300 pw. 
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niemeyjt
- Posts: 4920
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:34 pm
Pension reforms
What you'll get
How much basic State Pension you get depends on your National Insurance record.
The full basic State Pension is £141.85 per week.
You can get more State Pension if:
you are eligible for Additional State Pension
you delay (defer) taking your State Pension
You may have to pay tax on your State Pension.
If you’re a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953, you’ll get the new State Pension amount instead.
Qualifying for the full amount
You usually need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to get the full basic State Pension.
If you have fewer than 30 qualifying years, your basic State Pension will be less than £141.85 per week. You might be able to increase the amount you get by paying voluntary national insurance contributions.
Check your National Insurance record to find out how many qualifying years you have.
source: https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/what-youll-get
How much basic State Pension you get depends on your National Insurance record.
The full basic State Pension is £141.85 per week.
You can get more State Pension if:
you are eligible for Additional State Pension
you delay (defer) taking your State Pension
You may have to pay tax on your State Pension.
If you’re a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953, you’ll get the new State Pension amount instead.
Qualifying for the full amount
You usually need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to get the full basic State Pension.
If you have fewer than 30 qualifying years, your basic State Pension will be less than £141.85 per week. You might be able to increase the amount you get by paying voluntary national insurance contributions.
Check your National Insurance record to find out how many qualifying years you have.
source: https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/what-youll-get