Is it just me or

[Grommit]

Has the government gone potty?

I have received a letter from the Pensions Regulator which states inter alia that because Jean is receiving Direct Payments I am employed by Jean and she has to arrange a Pension for her carers.

The thing is, Jean is unable to arrange anything for anyone as she cannot communicate in any way shape or form which is why I am holding Power of Attorney on her behalf and am her main and sole carer.

Ok, so I arrange the Pension for myself. No real problem except that I am 69 years old and have been drawing my State Pension since the age of 65 years old.

So I arrange another pension for my self but the Pensions Regulator Office that I phoned cannot tell me at what age I should retire and start drawing my pension. Is 70, 80, 90 or the day after I pay into the pension i.e. pay it in Monday and draw it out Tuesday?

Next question was where will the money come from? “Ahh,” said the Regulators Office, “it is possible that the organisation which is paying the Direct Payments will increase the payments to cover the extra needed for the pension.”

I can just see that happening given that the Direct Payments have not risen in line with inflation since Jean started receiving them in 2009.

The payments themselves are made up of two contributors, the NHS and Social Services. I can forsee the chances that either of those organisations lining up to pay the pension of a 69 year old carer given the parlous financial state of the Council and the NHS.

The advice from the Pensions Regulators office at the end of the conversation was to “Wait and see because we are still trying to work out what the new rules will mean.”

I have until 2017 to register for a Pension and just hope that there is an Opt Out alternative before that date.

[Rosalind]

It sounds if no one knows what it is all about. ++!

[maureenho]

It sounds like a minefield and no one knowing the guidelines, good luck with sorting that out.

[wendy]

I will ask someone who is in the same postion as you Derek, what they think to this, and if they have received the same letter as yet?

[wendy]

Is it possible for you to put a copy of the letter on the boards?
So we can help, but if not I would put it in the hands of your local MP
Good luck

Is this it
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pens ... abled.html

[annie]

Unbelievable!!!!!.Hope you can get it sorted , but suspect there is no answer Derek

[wendy]

It is a very poor way and an insensitive way of dealing with carers by the pension service.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pens ... abled.html

the above explains what is happening.

[wendy]

I expect you have realized by now that this only means paid carers.
If you employ any paid carers then you now have to arrange a pension for them because they get paid so little.

[Misspears]

Hope you get it sorted soon

[wendy]

The BBC are looking into this and would like to speak with anyone concerned who has received the letter!
Please get in touch before Monday if you are interested.