Thanks Gary. Pensions are not my speciality either. The only thing I know is that I'll probably end up working until I drop because I joined the council way too late to get a massive pension and have made the fatal mistake of buying my house. So I can't see me getting a state pension by then if I already have provision and, although the provision is inadequate, I have property that I could sell so that I can pay rent for the rest of my life.
Depends on your age -- break it down in to 1/4
every ten years equals a quater - so if you work for the council for 20 years you have 1/2 your pension sorted (ish) - if you can top this up by a small percentage (depending on your age ) you can actual make some vast differences -
as to the State pension - in my opinion this is what will happen
the basic pension will be there - minimal amount
then there will be additionals that will be means tested
The intention of this Goveremnt is to reduce the dependance of the state pension - currently 50%+ rely on this pension and the Goverement want this down to 25% ( thats a long term aim -ovre 25-30 years)
the 25% is down to those that Cannot get a pension - disabled/less abled -