Dont forget your bus passes

It goes with women's pension age in England so has been creeping up gradually. I was one of the first to have to be 66 years old so it seems I have another 5 years until I get either. Not p' d off by the change at all 😉. 

I have to say lots of rules are different in Scotland probably similar for Wales and NI too. 

Gosh that does seem very unfair, think I would be p'd of too, I would have had to work an extra 3.5 years if I hadn't taken a package and early retirement, however I did have to wait until 63.5 years to get my state pension.  there are lots of things that allow you concession rates from the age of 60 yet others that are tied in with retirement age, I wish they would just standardise it all and stop messing folk around. Rant over for the night bed is calling 

Yes. Planned to retire together.  Born 5 years apart. Hubby was forced to retire at 60 under a new rules, when there were lots of unemployed. Never checked that out for real as he got package at 56. That made it seem even longer before we could enjoy retirement together. Saved planned etc but still thwarted. Decided to do what we can now whilst we're still fit and active, and I deprive Te government of any income tax from me - some protest 😂😂 hurts me more I fear! 

Apologies for taking get this off thread. But I am grievously miffed.

Yes there's no consistency with age concessions at all.

Don't blame you for being miffed, Bakers2 - we are in the same boat. No state pension until 66, so that's 7 years of payments we were diddled out of.

Same with the bus pass, which you get at same age as state pension age. Whilst I'm no big fan of public transport, it would be handy (and would save a fair bit of money in diesel and parking charges) at some of the places we go to.

As David says, it is also good ID for getting reduced entrance fees etc.

I have to wait till I'm 67 and that's being considered for a rise. Seeing as when I started work the age was 60 and pension calculations were based on that assumption I feel miffed too. 

I am pretty sure that there'll be nothing left in the national pot when I get there. 

Gosh even worse for you JayEss 😲. 

If I see that advert one more time about do you know how much your pension will be I'll hit someone 😉. Within a little I knew what mine would be when I was in my 40s. I'm double miffed cos my work pension, if I'd stayed, would have to wait until I reached state pension age, 60 once, 65 then 66 now . As I decided against returning after last NZ trip, seemed a good time to make a fresh start, still not decided on what and when new start will be 😉. I was pleasantly surprised on returning home to find letter offering me reduced pension now. Did I jump? You bet who knows what local government pension pot will be like in another 5 years. A bird in the hand and all that 😆

I'm the first to say we should save and provide for ourselves but that should be honoured. Can you imagine if a bank or building society said that x year bond you've saved into will be extended and you'll continue to pay in but get nothing extra out? Or maybe even that it was a huge jump for the male of the species, theyve only had 2 year increase not 7 - so far, If they can adjust to suit themselves why should I trust them again? I feel sorry for our son, making him save into a pension but I'm wondering why. Maybe he should just enjoy his money while a £ is worth a few p rather than a minus £ by the time he gets it back.

Sorry this thread is being taken off topic 😔

I'd use my local bus. That would help keep it running too. I walk into town about a mile or so no hardship, but walking back with heavy shopping after a good walk around isn't funny. I haven't tried a trolley 😲 but I have backpacks very limiting and panniers on a bike. Bus far home when I last tried was £1.50 😂😂. When the children were little we often took the car because parking was cheaper than one and two halves bus fare and they couldn't always cope with walking both ways and activities. Despite youngest coming up to 29 I still forget I don't have the pram or buggy to put shopping on 😂😂. Luckily I've sussed now and do shopping then M&S shopping and collect by car. Walk home drive back 😉. Or phone hubby for a lift home.

Our local bus runs once an hour and stops at 6.30. It costs £3.50 to travel 3 miles into the city or £4.50 return. Driving is better value. 

If I ever get a bus pass I'll move somewhere with a bus service. 

It's good to hear that passes are used as proof of retirement though. 

I was perhaps lucky that I got my bus pass at sixty (ten years ago). Men only got them at 60 because of the European Court ruling told the UK they could not discriminate against men as the ladies got theirs at sixty which in the end worked against the ladies as they equalised the retirement age. We make quite a lot of use of ours, although not so far as an ID card. It is a shame that it can't be used UK wide but I suspect that is never going to happen now. 

David