Opted out of SERPS?

[croyde]

Just looked at my Pension forecast for as by this April I will have paid my full stamp.

Seems my weekly pay will be £17 down due to me opting out at some point.

Called a COPE payment.

Now I have to presume that I was young and dumb when this happened and it would be only 3 places that I worked full-time, for a short time nearly 40 years ago.

Non of those companies are still trading and I've tried the government pension finder site and have called up the providers mentioned with no luck.

Ok it's only £17 but when I'm trying to live on £200 a week, it'll be needed, plus if I live another 30 years, that's not to be sniffed at.

I'm thinking that there must be many in the same boat especially as two of the providers I spoke to say that they deal with many callers with the same problem.

The next 0800 Endowment Claims maybe?

I guess I'm wrong to expect this payment to happen automatically? After all, I have moved umpteen times since the 80s/90s.

So, anyone in the same boat? any suggestions?

Many thanks for any help.

[croyde]

Thanks, I'll have a look at that, cheers.

[croyde]

Looking at the Gov site it says I'm now at the max pension I can possibly get as I've hit 35 years of NI. I'm still working and have another 7 years until I'm 67.

Can't see anywhere about paying more in.

Yes, I have given up for now trying to get through.

[croyde]

PistonHead007 said:

If you've accrued the full £203.85pw then the COPE is in addition to that and represented somewhere in your private pensions. You're one of the lucky ones.

The younger generations will have no extra COPE, just the maximum flat rate.

No, it says the max I can expect is £185. I need to find whoever owes me the £17 to bring it up to full pension.

I have found one who took the odd payment off my invoices when self employed. Total pot £35 but it's all gone in charges.

Blooming cheek, I could have had a decent Indian or Chinese takeaway.

[croyde]

Ah, thought it was £200. Thanks for putting me straight.

Anyhow after a whole day sitting under my electric blanket and even acting old on the phone

I've tracked down the missing SERPS.

It was being paid into my very small private pension and that bit could be worth £34 a week, so double the government estimate.

Retirement in Barbados here I come

[croyde]

Just when I thought I'd finally got it sorted...

So COPE and SERPS are two different thing?

[croyde]

jeff666 said:

Electric blanket ?

pure luxury, did you have it plugged in

Yep, splashed out, on max

[croyde]

PistonHead007 said:

Yes, I know what I'm talking about.

It will say £185.15pw now but from 6th April in a few days it'll say £203.85pw with the 10.1% increase.

Cheers