It's official, I'm a pensioner

Norkie

Norkie

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Yes, It's official, I'm a pensioner!

Received my bus pass last week and today I received my first state pension payout!

In a strange way I'm quite chuffed! Especially with my bus pass, I'll give that a whirl today :cool:
 
Norkie said:
Yes, It's official, I'm a pensioner!

Received my bus pass last week and today I received my first state pension payout!

In a strange way I'm quite chuffed! Especially with my bus pass, I'll give that a whirl today :cool:
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Congrats I've still 18 months to go. Enjoy.
jerry12953 said:
Maybe that's the one i was thinking of..... not the nicest of birthday presents!
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I'm not yet 66, my pension age, but Ive already had the Bowel cancer kit.
 
What about the "aortic aneurysm' ultrasound scan?

PS as for the bus pass....... didn't occur to me to apply for mine :thinking:
 
Norkie said:
Yes, It's official, I'm a pensioner!
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And it won't be long before you think to yourself, how the hell did I ever find time to go work? :)
jakeblu said:
but Ive already had the Bowel cancer kit.
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I've been getting those since I was 60.
I had to renew my driving licence at 65.
But I guess that was because my HGV ran out at that time.
I still have to renew at 70, like everyone else though.

Box Brownie said:
PS as for the bus pass....... didn't occur to me to apply for mine :thinking:
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Nor me, but I doubt I will, the bus service around here is atrocious :(
 
I stopped using the bus a few months ago when people stopped wearing masks on the bus. OK they are wearing them again now but the bus company are now short of drivers so there is no certainty that a bus will turn up.

Your first problem will be that people start to readily accept that you are a OAP without checking or even asking.

Dave
 
Box Brownie said:
What about the "aortic aneurysm' ultrasound scan?

PS as for the bus pass....... didn't occur to me to apply for mine :thinking:
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Yes, had that one :)
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
No sooner said than done :naughty:

View attachment 338142
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They look like they bring the average age of Sidmouth residents down a decade or 2!

Personally, I'd rather pay extra for a cab than use the bus here. About the same price if both of us want to go to/from town to home. It's cheaper to drive down and park than take the bus.
 
I have a year+ till my old age pension but got my bus when I hit 60, is this another x border difference?
 
If you're in Scotland or Wales Martin, yes. 60 there, 66 in England though.

Quote:
To get an older person's bus pass you must be:

  • aged 60+
  • resident in Scotland
You can also get a bus if you have a disability. You can also apply with a disability if you're under 60.
 
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Norkie said:
You can also get a bus if you have a disability. You can also apply with a disability if you're under 60.
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Before I got my bus pass I hadn't used one in almost thirty years. They've improved a bit - not much, but some.

Don't get me started on just how difficult they make using a bus with a wheelchair though. Pushchairs, suitcases, prams, grumpy and impatient drivers . . . :facepalm:
 
Buses around here are very good. Grumpy drivers occasionally. You can stick your hand out anywhere and they’ll stop for you.
 
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Congratulations on surviving this long.
Don‘t forget, what you might do today can always be postponed until tomorrow.
 
Re: increase in state pension age

Can't recall exactly when I got 'the' letter from DWP....but think it was when I was between 50 to 55years old...... telling me that they added 6 months to it i.e 65 & 6 months.

There has been much in the press, especially regarding a specific cohort of women who were adversely affected by those initial changes, and yes the age will likely rise progressively as lifespans increase.

One potential outcome within the next 50 to 100 years will be no state pension but an adoption of life long UBI....... assuming we get over the hump of global warming!
 
Alive.jpg
 
Living in Norway, where the retirement age is currently 67 for both (all) sexes. I've been receiving a police pension from the UK since I turned 55 and when I turned 65, the UK pension kicked in. Despite living here since 1988, I had paid my NI contributions annually to maintain my pension rights. So at 65, I retired, taking advantage of an early retirement scheme that guaranteed full Norwegian pension. I now receive UK pension, UK police pension, Norwegian old age pension plus job pension from the Norwegian employer I worked for 25 years...far better off now financially than at any time in my life previously!
 
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Norkie said:
Yes, It's official, I'm a pensioner!

Received my bus pass last week and today I received my first state pension payout!

In a strange way I'm quite chuffed! Especially with my bus pass, I'll give that a whirl today :cool:
Click to expand...

You're now what the bus drivers call a "Twerly"

"Something to do with the first bus pass riders in the morning I think, saying to the driver "Am I Too Early" :)
 
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Congrats, enjoy that pension (both financial and time)
With another 3 yrs to run, I'm still enjoying the time in diapers...
 
Box Brownie said:
affected by those initial changes, and yes the age will likely rise progressively as lifespans increase.
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It’s a big assumption to say the lifespan will continue to increase (though maybe some regions might catch up).

It may do, or it may not.
 
Excellent, I hope you enjoy it!
 
Dave Canon said:
I stopped using the bus a few months ago when people stopped wearing masks on the bus. OK they are wearing them again now but the bus company are now short of drivers so there is no certainty that a bus will turn up.

Your first problem will be that people start to readily accept that you are a OAP without checking or even asking.

Dave
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Oh dear me, Dave. I was so pleased that Norkie just said 'pensioner' rather than 'old-age pensioner' and then see that you have with OAP. :) 66 is not considered to be 'old' these days.
 
G.K.Jnr. said:
You're now what the bus drivers call a "Twerly"

"Something to do with the first bus pass riders in the morning I think, saying to the driver "Am I Too Early" :)
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I remember them, always tried it on although they knew it was between 9.30 and 16.00.

In London it was the conductor saying you are too early that gave them the name.
 
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Norkie said:
Yes, It's official, I'm a pensioner!

Received my bus pass last week and today I received my first state pension payout!

In a strange way I'm quite chuffed! Especially with my bus pass, I'll give that a whirl today :cool:
Click to expand...


First off you'll love it,especially if you're in rude health. Secondly, make every day count as time flies.

Goodness knows when you'll feel comfortable travelling by train but check out the Senior Rail Card. Cheapest is a 3 year card. We've travelled from Gloucester to Paddington first class many times and the lowest we each paid was £45 return. With first class you are entitled to go into the 'First Class lounge at Paddington where you can have biscuits ,cakes and fruit along with coffee/tea,hot chocolate free of charge. They used to have salted peanuts,too but no longer. I assume re allergies. Get there early enough in the morning there are free newspapers,too. When we went to concerts at the RAH and home games White Hart Lane (Spurs old ground as you'll know) we stayed overnight so I used to get a newspaper in the First Class lounge the next morning. When you get on the train (first class) refreshments including coffee/tea are free. I always put on weight..lol . It's really worth it

www.senior-railcard.co.uk

Senior Railcard for Over 60's | Official Retailer - Senior Railcard

Senior Railcard can save an average of £98 a year on train travel. Eligibility is from 60th birthday - Find Out More.
www.senior-railcard.co.uk

Re First Class with your train operator....LNER .. https://www.lner.co.uk/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/first-class-travel/
 
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G.K.Jnr. said:
You're now what the bus drivers call a "Twerly"

"Something to do with the first bus pass riders in the morning I think, saying to the driver "Am I Too Early" :)
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I don’t think we have restrictions here, anytime, any where. Never been reused although there will undoubtably far smaller amounts of work commuters.
 
Do not assume that Shingles is just associated with old age; I had Shingles when I was 40. Just try to keep fit and in good health but do NOT give up all treats.

Dave
 
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7 months to go for my bus pass and I havent been on a bus in 30 years.. ...No.. tell a lie.. two.. Oxford park'n'ride on way to football and one in london... Probably stick my pass in a drawer for ever more..

PS got the bum kit a couple of months ago.... Funnily enough I felt older at 60 when I was taken off the anthony nolan bone marrow donation thingy list.. felt really old when i got a letter saying...too old:(
 
sphexx said:
It’s a big assumption to say the lifespan will continue to increase (though maybe some regions might catch up).

It may do, or it may not.
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Yes, my post might have included some crystal ball gazing.......but on average AFAIK globally lifespans have been increasing. Optimist that I am I perceive that this will continue to edge upwards and logic is that there is likely to be a plateauing, though I doubt we are there yet.
 
Box Brownie said:
Yes, my post might have included some crystal ball gazing.......but on average AFAIK globally lifespans have been increasing. Optimist that I am I perceive that this will continue to edge upwards and logic is that there is likely to be a plateauing, though I doubt we are there yet.
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Extrapolation is dangerous! The advances in vaccines are very encouraging but the advantages of antibiotics have been squandered and few new ones are being developed. Advances in public hygiene have even been ignored or, as currently, opposed so I’m a bit pessimistic.
 
Re pension age increasing - I'm concerned that my wife, born 1971, will miss out by a year so am hoping she can squeeze in at 67 (202038, but knowing our luck...

I've mulled over rail pass but sadly we never go anywhere! Probably the case with the bus pass too.
 
lindsay said:
Re pension age increasing - I'm concerned that my wife, born 1971, will miss out by a year so am hoping she can squeeze in at 67 (202038, but knowing our luck...

I've mulled over rail pass but sadly we never go anywhere! Probably the case with the bus pass too.
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We use the bus pass only to get into town. If you can get somewhere not too far by bus I'd give it a go and it feels great not to be driving. Very relaxing. When things get back to normal a train journey is even more relaxing...but in First Class. On connecting routes that option hasn't been available and it's a case of grin and bear...lol .Not going anywhere isn't really an option,Lindsay. Have a day out, with lunch, somewhere nice.
 
sphexx said:
Extrapolation is dangerous! The advances in vaccines are very encouraging but the advantages of antibiotics have been squandered and few new ones are being developed. Advances in public hygiene have even been ignored or, as currently, opposed so I’m a bit pessimistic.
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Even taking into consideration the points you raise ,Richard, every measure shows lifespan could increase..to 130 by 2100. I think a proviso there has to be 'for the fortunate few'. Of course, not everyone thinks such longevity is even desirable. Queen..'Who wants to live forever ?.' .....:)
 
My wife and I are retiring tomorrow at the right old age of 58 and 59, both worked hard all our lives and are in a position to give retirement a try.
She is a bit apprehensive but I can't wait. We'll see how things go and may look for part time work if we get bored or want to supplement our retirement income but for the moment we are just going to enjoy ourselves.:banana:
 
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