Waspi woman, finally reached state pension age....

Scooby222

I'm one of those Waspi women that the government keep trying to ignore(!) - and I've finally reached the required 66 years to start claiming my state pension. I've always worked full time and paid NI, so I will get the full amount.

Part of me thinks that it's an amazing present from the government, and I'm very excited to be finally getting this regular payment. Hurrah! The other (bigger) part of me thinks: you were supposed to start paying me this at 60 you ********, and I've worked and paid for this all my life! 😡 And no, you didn't do enough to let everyone know in good time that it was going to change!

Whatever, it will be great to finally have my payments start next month.... But however did I get this old? 🤔😊

Holly_Scope

That's fantastic news @Scooby222, really pleased for you! 😀🙌 But yes, with that being said I completely understand it must feel very bitter sweet.

Scooby222

Thanks Holly_Scope, I'm very happy to be getting it finally, but it's made me wonder whether other Waspi women feel or have felt conflicted when they finally reached state pension age? The mixed feelings have taken me by surprise.
It's lovely to have made it to 66 though! 🙂

Girl_No1

I don't think they thought this through properly. I always maintained it would have been much fairer if they'd made the retirement age for everyone, say, 63/64 rather than simply move the age for women to initially match men, then increase both in tandem going forward.

I'm a prime example of someone who would, had the legislation not changed, have pushed-on for that extra couple of years, living off my savings, until I was paid state pension at 60 without claiming disability benefits.

As it is, DWP now pay me PIP and NS-ESA (more combined than state pension), and as it stands I will retain PIP post state pension age.

Anyway, congratulations on making it to 66.

Scooby222

Hi Girl_No1, I agree with you about the pension age changes being badly thought-through. I get PIP too and that has been keeping me afloat during the last 6 pension-free years. I've just had my first PIP review, and discovered that it will carry on now until my next review in 10 years. So I have not been as badly hit as many other Waspi women at least. I'm glad that you have had this help too, it can make such a difference.

WhatThe

Congratulations, Scooby!!!

I'm very nearly halfway through my EXTRA 7 YEARS hurrah! Imagine the uproar if men had 7 years slapped onto their expected retirement age. What a distorted idea of equality!

Chris75_

And the so-called Labour party can own this, just like Clegg and co own the tuition fees fiasco.

When I had BBC Scotland on earlier, they said Starmer's lot are at 20% in the polls. That French bloke was at 35%.

Scooby222

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1064214#Comment_1064214

Ouch, 7 years is even worse, if it's any consolation, the extra 6 years for me seemed like forever when i turned 60, but the last couple of years have flown by. I had actually forgotten about the state pension until I received a letter from gov.uk telling me that it was about to start.

WhatThe

Scooby, I'd still be fuming with 6 more! Just glad to be halfway because it's gone quickly for me, too. Happy that you got there 🎉

WhatThe

Chris, the polls show a centre-left 55-45 lead over the collective right wing.

Make yourself a nice cuppa - that won't happen 🍵

Chris75_

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1064254#Comment_1064254

I like to hope that, just like in France, the voters will hold their nose and vote against the far right.

Macron's Renaissance party isn't popular, but at least it isn't fascist like the Rassemblement National of Jordan Bardella.

Otteline

deleted

Scooby222

Otteline's post was deleted before I could read it 🙁

I've now had my first SP payment and it still feels amazing! This will make life so much easier, still feels like a gift. 😃

Albus_Scope

Glad it's come through @Scooby222 excellent news!

MW123

@Scooby222

Congratulations on reaching retirement, I hope you're enjoying it. I'm still undecided about whether to retire next year or keep working, as I’m not sure what I’d do with myself being home all day.

I’ll reach retirement age in early May 2026. I was born nearly four weeks after the WASPI cohort, so although I turn 66 in May, I won’t qualify for my State Pension until July, thanks to the staggered extension.

But my friend, born in December 1960, faces an even longer wait. She won’t qualify for her State Pension until 16 September 2027, a full nine months after her 66th birthday. She’s currently on Universal Credit with LCWRA, which stops the day before she turns 66. That means she’ll be left without Universal Credit, without her State Pension, and without access to Pension Credit for nine months. No income. No entitlement. No transitional support.

The DWP has not put anything in place to bridge this gap created by the staggered retirement extension. The rules are clear: Universal Credit ends the day before your 66th birthday, even if your State Pension is months away. In my friend’s case, that leaves her stranded, without support, without options.

This may only affect a small cohort next year, but for those caught in it, the impact is profound. It’s not just a policy oversight. It’s a structural exclusion, quietly stripping vulnerable claimants of support at the very moment they need it most.

Scooby222

I have reached State Pension age, but that does not mean that i have retired! I am still working and plan to do so for the next couple of years at least. I have tried 'not working' but got so bored after two days that I was crawling the walls! Luckily I am self employed so can continue until it is no longer enjoyable or doable, but I can cut down my hours as I want to.

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend MW123, that sounds appalling! I had no idea that the systems are so badly aligned, what a nightmare for her.