BFTD Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 4 hours ago, Hedgecutter said: We have an enormous Bassett Hound across the road from us. My other half tells me the horrible winding tar marks along the middle of the pavement are the result of broadband cable installations, but I'm convinced it's the council infilling the trough caused by this lump of canine flab* getting taken out for a walk. *not a hate crime I'm having a Mandela Effect moment with this - I swear Bassett Hounds were a small breed in the dimension I used to live in. Then again, I could probably count the number of them I've seen in person on one hand. The owner was out in the garden earlier with their other dog, the breed of which I'd forgotten, but it's a smallish Labrador and it gets dwarfed by Kaiju Droopy. Really hoping he's not on P&B 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 11 hours ago, scottsdad said: I've found the quality of butcher meat has dropped everywhere. Used to be a clear difference in quality with supermarkets, but no longer. Campbells sausages in particular are dreadful now. ^^^ pining for the "Special Stuff" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 Bit miffed my pension increase didn't take effect today. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 44 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said: Bit miffed my pension increase didn't take effect today. I got my very first pension payment today! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt n Vinegar Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 Mrs Salt and Vinegar just started getting hers... as she's what used to be called a "cradle snatcher" I don't get mine until next year. Bit of concern though. I heard a phone in yesterday where the right of those with private pensions to also get the state pension came up. Means testing etc. If a head of steam gets behind that idea, there'll be trouble ahead. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richey Edwards Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 IT'S A RAT TRAP JUDY 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 2 hours ago, Salt n Vinegar said: Bit of concern though. I heard a phone in yesterday where the right of those with private pensions to also get the state pension came up. Means testing etc. If a head of steam gets behind that idea, there'll be trouble ahead. Don't see how they could make that one fly. If you've been paying your National Insurance as well as into a private scheme then how can they refuse to give it back to you? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 1 hour ago, GordonD said: Don't see how they could make that one fly. If you've been paying your National Insurance as well as into a private scheme then how can they refuse to give it back to you? Not dealt with politicos much, have ya? Look at what happening to us. There's been yammerings for years about cutting Social Security for people with high income (hey've been doing it by stealth for years too, by taxing pensions, that should sound familiar). So, just wait, any bad idea that generates income is worth considering, and I'd be very surprised if they didn't look at something like you're hearing proposed too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 3 minutes ago, TxRover said: Not dealt with politicos much, have ya? Look at what happening to us. There's been yammerings for years about cutting Social Security for people with high income (hey've been doing it by stealth for years too, by taxing pensions, that should sound familiar). So, just wait, any bad idea that generates income is worth considering, and I'd be very surprised if they didn't look at something like you're hearing proposed too. State retirement pension isn't social security. The UK government have been making changes to reduce the burden, but it would take generation, at least to do away with it and none of them think that long term. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiegoDiego Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 3 hours ago, GordonD said: Don't see how they could make that one fly. If you've been paying your National Insurance as well as into a private scheme then how can they refuse to give it back to you? I wouldn't rule it out. It wasn't that long ago the Greek government was helping themselves to money from citizens' bank accounts and refusing to pay public sector workers. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 Seem ideal for @scottsdad 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 3 hours ago, Sergeant Wilson said: State retirement pension isn't social security. The UK government have been making changes to reduce the burden, but it would take generation, at least to do away with it and none of them think that long term. It's not massively different either...you pay more at first, less later, then more again. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsdad Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 1 minute ago, TxRover said: Seem ideal for @scottsdad My missus once bought me a pen with a drawing of a cock on it. Apparently to remind me "not to be a knob" I never did take it to my office. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 Just now, TxRover said: It's not massively different either...you pay more at first, less later, then more again. I was thinking more about social security is non-contributory, a safety net if you have nothing. They could do away with that tomorrow. Retirement pension, in theory, is paid for and is proportionate to your contributions. We pay in to a government guaranteed scheme. I realise, with an aging population, present day pensioners are being paid by those currently in work, as their contributions were used a while ago. I think it the government reneged on contributory state pension, they'd be as well declaring the country bankrupt. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thane of Cawdor Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 22 minutes ago, Sergeant Wilson said: I was thinking more about social security is non-contributory, a safety net if you have nothing. They could do away with that tomorrow. Retirement pension, in theory, is paid for and is proportionate to your contributions. We pay in to a government guaranteed scheme. I realise, with an aging population, present day pensioners are being paid by those currently in work, as their contributions were used a while ago. I think it the government reneged on contributory state pension, they'd be as well declaring the country bankrupt. I don't know if this is still the case, but it certainly was back in the day. I think this example is quite close to the idea of means-testing a benefit that has supposedly been earned through National Insurance contributions. Contribution-based JSA and pensions Contribution-based JSA is not means-tested as such, but the amount of JSA payable is reduced on a pound for pound basis by any regular income the claimant receives from an occupational or private pension in excess of £50 a week. At current JSA rates (£73.10 a week from April 2015), contribution-based would therefore be withdrawn completely from those with pension payments totalling £123.10 a week or more. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 1 hour ago, scottsdad said: My missus once bought me a pen with a drawing of a cock on it. Apparently to remind me "not to be a knob" I never did take it to my office. Would it have leaked in your pocket....? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 1 hour ago, Sergeant Wilson said: I was thinking more about social security is non-contributory, a safety net if you have nothing. They could do away with that tomorrow. Retirement pension, in theory, is paid for and is proportionate to your contributions. We pay in to a government guaranteed scheme. I realise, with an aging population, present day pensioners are being paid by those currently in work, as their contributions were used a while ago. I think it the government reneged on contributory state pension, they'd be as well declaring the country bankrupt. Social Security (FICA) is certainly contributory. I paid 6.2% every year I worked on all of my earnings at first, and toward the end I'd get a peek above the cap for a month or two. There's also Medicare, with the total rate being 7.65% on every dollar until you reach the FICA cap ($168,800 for 2024), and then it drops to 1.45% on the rest. The pension payment from Social Security is a arduous calculation that heavily weights the first dollars versus the last dollars, so someone hitting the cap can net about three times what someone paying about 20% of the cap every year does. Also, employers have to pay the same amount as employees...which is why identifying workers as "independent contractors" is so popular, they have to pay 15.3% in taxes then. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted April 10 Share Posted April 10 We have the red and green man here. In Skopje they have... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 7 hours ago, TxRover said: Social Security (FICA) is certainly contributory. I paid 6.2% every year I worked on all of my earnings at first, and toward the end I'd get a peek above the cap for a month or two. There's also Medicare, with the total rate being 7.65% on every dollar until you reach the FICA cap ($168,800 for 2024), and then it drops to 1.45% on the rest. The pension payment from Social Security is a arduous calculation that heavily weights the first dollars versus the last dollars, so someone hitting the cap can net about three times what someone paying about 20% of the cap every year does. Also, employers have to pay the same amount as employees...which is why identifying workers as "independent contractors" is so popular, they have to pay 15.3% in taxes then. We're talking about 2 different systems in 2 different countries. The Main difference between us, is I won't go mental with a gun if my giro doesn't turn up. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanius Mullarkey Posted April 11 Share Posted April 11 How much is the pension these days anyway? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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