#WePaidInYouPayOut
The Coalition Government accelerated the women’s pension increase to 66 using the excuse that there was a ‘sharp increase in life expectancy……………’ This booklet tells a very different story.
Many men and women haven’t lived long enough to enjoy retirement, prolonging working lives will only compound this.
This booklet is a collation of quotes from members of the above group who have lost loved one’s before their time and will argue that there is no such thing as a ‘Sharp Rise in Life Expectancy’ as they see loved one’s pass away before they reach pension age.
Talking to members I have found that this ‘Sharp icrease in life expectancy’ is a myth, its been created on forecasts and assumptions, rather than seeing what is happening in the real world.
This booklet will give an insight into that real world and will make the reader aware that in fact people are dying earlier than our parents generation, many of us have parents well into their 80’s and doing very well, yet we are surrounded by school friends, siblings, relatives, work collegues dying many years sooner.
This is Rachels Story, presented by her friend.
Here is my friend Rachel Richards’ story.
She isn’t able to send it herself because she passed away in February 2016, unable to access her desperately needed deferred pension. This is going to be hard to write without breaking down many times. I have been grieving her passing, but I am also saddened, angry and disgusted at this callous government’s treatment of her.
When you read Rachel’s story, you will also become sad, angry and disgusted.
Rachel ( born January 16th 1954) worked as a phlebotomist for the Welsh Blood Service ever since she was 21 years old, that same year she married her husband. They both worked and paid into the system. We all called her “Welshy”, she lived in Carmarthen.
Rachel discovered in 2014 that her pension had been deferred and instead of retiring she had to continue working. She was upset and disappointed.
For some time she had been feeling off-colour and had been back and forth to the GP’s who initially told her to go home and take paracetamol.
Eventually she was diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This treatment made her feel sick and unwell, her doctor advised her to claim ESA, because she couldn’t access her pension and stop working. She filled in the ESA form and had a face-to-face assessment, she said the assessor was highly unsympathetic about her cancer. Following this assessment, the DWP found her “fit for work”, despite the cancer and cancer treatment.
So she continued working as a phlebotomist. She cried to me, saying she was too sick and ill to work, she was shaking and missing patients’ veins regularly, this upset her. I told her to appeal the DWP decision. She cried again, saying she was too sick and ill to cope with filing an appeal. She said she couldn’t give up work, because without her added income they would lose their house. She was diagnosed as terminal. She was told at work that she simply wasn’t well enough to continue her job; she stopped working, no income. Her husband helped her file an appeal against the DWP decision. He gave up his own job to nurse her and spend what little time they had left together, they lived off their meagre savings.
In autumn 2015 they sold everything they possessed on eBay, wedding gifts, presents, jewellery etc just to fund a last holiday together….a weekend for two in a little B&B on the Welsh coast. Rachel went into hospital just before Christmas 2015 and passed away on 10th February 2016. Her DWP appeal was never heard and her claim for ESA terminated because she’d died. She was a lovely, lovely woman. What a terribly terribly sad end.
Please, please don’t let her death pass by barely noticed…..why couldn’t her pension have afforded her some end-of-life dignity?
Just one of the stories from the #WePaidInYouPayOut paperback book, a collection of personal testimonies from women affected by the 6 year pension age increase. Link to Ebook here https://wepaidinyoupayout.wordpress.com/
Here you will find further testimonies from members of the group who have lost friends and loved one’s before their time, before they were able to enjoy retirement……
LH – Father died at 63 mother was paid 1000 to comp for loss of his pension
RC – my daughter in law’s mum who died this year , age 60
Michelle Wilson Father died aged 57. Mother died 62. Mother in law died 54. Sister died 51. Nephew died 31. Niece died 30.friend died 34 another friend was 51. I don’t mind you using my details.
HD – Both my parents passed away before they reached 67 /68. It was back a while when we could get our pension by the age of 60 and 65 , but my poor dad worked hard doing two or three jobs to support us all and didn’t live long enough to receive his . He was at Dunkirk on D-day with many other splendid men , doing his bit to keep us all safe. I feel sad that he didn’t get more rest time as he so deserved X X
GL – My dad died when he was 47 and my wonderful husband died aged 55 both hard working men x heartbreaking x
JC – My dad was 65 when he died. Only just retired. I’m 62 and wonder if I’ll even get to 66 to collect mine. Had enough now
Angela Dey – I dont mind you using my details. Father died at 50, sister 32 and mother 68 x
Lynn Morris – I’m happy for you to use my details. My late husband died in 2004 aged 46 and bizarrely my ex husband died 6 months later also aged 46.
Joyce Peacock – My husband Graham Peacock died at the age of 60. Please use whatever information you think pertenant
Valerie Killow –I’ve had cousins die before reaching 65 , here goes , 38, 41, 42, and 54 I’d be happy for them to be used in your book
Julie Watts –My dad died age 57, happy for you to use my name
KG – my husband died 2012 aged 58. He’d contributed all his life and didn’t make pension age.
PD – My sister was only 49 when she died from breast cancer. There was an item on news at ten a few years ago informing us that women who have had breast cancer usually only live ten years after diagnosis. I was really annoyed at them saying this as that means I have three years left!! You can use my details if you wish.
KW – Parents sudden deaths in their 50s (aneurysms heart & brain), sister in law glioblastoma (terminal brain cancer tumours) early 40s, work colleagues 20s/30s/40s/50s
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JP – Mum and aunt both 38, man 54
LM – Brother in law died aged 63. Friend aged 60. Friend aged 39. Friends daughter 15
JPR – Sister 51, brother in law 63 at least 6 friends/colleagues between 40-50. I friend just before Xmas 62 and I friend 1 month after Xmas 60
MC – My husband died aged 54, and at least 6 schoolfriends died in their fifties
JD – My Dad 55 and my Sister 62
LWB – I live in a small village and we have just lost 4 people under 66 in the last month plus a few more at the beginning of the year – Another one gone before 60
PD – My beloved sister died aged 49 and she worked all those years from 16 years old.
JH – Mum 59, Dad 62
SAF – Helen, 34. Maggie, 55. Pat,63. Sue Mac, 59. Rachel,64…..all paid in……..
MW – My dad at 50, sister at 58 and another one at 65 had one weeks pension, my husband at 62, next door neighbour at 61.
JW – My husband passed away at 42. My best friend at 46. Both worked hard and paid their ni
and taxes
JB – 3 People from school
MW – My dad at 50, sister at 58 and another one at 65 had one weeks pension, my husband at 62, next door neighbour at 61.
ANON – In memory of my four friends Liz, Sue, Gaynor and Brenda who all passed in their fifties and therefore never received a penny of their pensions, bless them….always in my thoughts!!
LM – Likewise my husband in 2004 aged 46
JH – Mum 59, Dad 62
Anon – I live in a small village and we have just lost 4 people under 66 in the last month plus a few more at the beginning of the year
ANON – My Dad died aged 47 and my lovely husband died aged 55 both worked from a young age xx
ANON – My Dad 62 yrs
ANON – Mum 56 , Dad 62 , husband 62 , son 21
ANON – My Dad 56, my Sister 57
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ANON – Sister 53, Brother 56, Dad 65
ANON – Grandma 65, Aunty 65, Uncle 32, Uncle 59, Uncle 63, my Son’s Girlfriend 22.
TB – My Mum at 45, my Cousin 63, Nana in her 50’s. Ex-Husband 63. Uncle 55,
ANON – My lovely Dad 60 years old xxxxx
GL – My husband Roy 55 when passed in 2010, my dad 47, my nephews 9 & 10 weeks, my stepson 16, my sister in law 17 x
JP – My husband Graham 60years old when he died on29/2/2016.
LM – My husband aged 46, My ex husband 46, My friend aged 62,Two friends aged 60.
Anon – My brother 59 MY DAD 50 MY AUNT’S 49 55 62
ANON – My friend Wendy who would have been 63 today
PT – Two sons who both served there Country died aged 39 & 42yrs. Mother 60yrs. Grandmother 60yrs. Auntie 47 yrs. Cousin 59 yrs. Husbands first wife 33yrs.
RMB = My mother in law 52 my father in law 64, My aunt 60.
GD – My sister died at 52 from Breast Cancer, it took 3 years to take her. A childhood friend died in her 50’s from Cancer. Her operation didn’t take all of her Cancer sadly.
My younger cousin died in a car crash, several members of my family have had Cancer, some still live fighting it.
JF – a childhood friend died in her 50’s from Cancer. Her operation didn’t take all of her Cancer sadly.
My younger cousin died in a car crash, several members of my family have had Cancer, some still live fighting it.
WHB – Grandad 63, two uncles 61 and 54, two aunts 34 and 60, three cousins 20, late 40s and 54. All hard workers, and an Uncle who was 50.
LH – My Brother in law died aged 52(10yrs ago) ,my brothers partner died at 36 (4yrs ago )A customer where I work died at 62 (2mths ago )A 37 year old man who lived near my Boss died (3wks ago)There`s got to be so many more not making it to there pension .And our younger generation have to work even longer.
RMC – my daughter in law’s mum who died this year, age 60
HD – Both my parents passed away before they reached 67 /68. It was back a while when we could get our pension by the age of 60 and 65, but my poor dad worked hard doing two or three jobs to support us all and didn’t live long enough to receive his. He was at Dunkirk on D-day with many other splendid men, doing his bit to keep us all safe. I feel sad that he didn’t get more rest time as he so deserved X X
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GL – My dad died when he was 47 and my wonderful husband died aged 55 both hard working men x heartbreaking x
JC – My dad was 65 when he died. Only just retired. I’m 62 and wonder if I’ll even get to 66 to collect mine. Had enough now.
PD – My beloved sister died aged 49 and she worked all those years from 16 years old
EA – In memory of my four friends Liz, Sue, Gaynor and Brenda who all passed in their fifties and therefore never received a penny of their pensions, bless them….always in my thoughts!!
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I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this booklet. It can’t have been easy for themselves
Collated by Trudy Baddams
Spokeswoman for #WePaidInYouPayOut
25th July 2018
We Paid In You Pay Out 
My husband died at 65 in 2008 recieved 3 months pension
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My father aged 60 when he died from cancer no pension paid worked hard all his life to provide for family of 8 children.
Young sister 45 years died cancer no pension paid worked hard to support her family.
Another sister died cancer aged 59 years worked all her days to provide for her family.
Doubt I will make my pension age of 67 disgusting injustice just turned 60 was looking forward to retirement but not to be it angers me so so much.
Feel free to use above
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sorry to hear this, would you like this to be added? We are planning an addendum to the booklet and an annual Role of honour 10th October
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