Government Pension forecast

[dothawkes31]

what a confusing maize of IDs and passwords and activation codes! Good job I have another 10 years to get it sorted it's like spinning on your own axis trying to fathom the bloody thing, I've emailed them and asked them to explain the difference between an ID a Password and an activation code cos they don't make it clear, and I've been using that sort of thing for 15 years but they are determined to make life difficult grrrrr

[dothawkes31]

I didn't know about shortfall letters, do you mean people who worked part-time and used to pay reduced stamps? has something changed then as I have taken no notice, i have 2 pensions, one with House of Fraser from 30 years ago and I am keeping them where they are as someone on here told me a while ago not to put all my eggs in one basket and so i've not done, as they're doing ok apparently where they are.

[rabbitygirl]

If you didn't pay full stamp to the required amount to count a certain year towards your pension then you would have received a letter from Newcastle telling you of the shortfall, how much to catch up and have the year counted. As I say, many paid and now find they didn't have to because the qualifying number of years is significantly reduced, and from quite recently.
Paying the reduced stamp is another matter entirely. Those electing to pay that have no opportunity to 'catch up', because by electing to pay the reduced sum they have chosen to have a lower pension. Many women now regret that. But it's simple maths. Nobody can expect a full pension on reduced contribs.

I hope your private pensions will serve you well. Mr R took his out last year. Much reduced on forecast and left in would have reduced further. We were forecast £150k back in 1974. I couldn't possibly type here what he got in 2009. Not because it's private - but because it would make me sob!!!