End the pensions logjam

CHECKING your state pension forecast takes ‘ a matter of minutes’, a rather optimistic public servant told me last week. If that’s true, why then are we hearing of families waiting months to get hold of this vital information?

Without it, you won’t know whether you can take advantage of the fantastic offer to top up your state pension by filling in gaps in your National Insurance record over the past 16 years (see pages 30-31).

Thousands of people could boost their retirements — but when they call to find out more about the scheme, they’re stuck in a telephone logjam.

Our reporters tried the official Future Pension Centre phone line this week — with no success at all. Every call we made was dropped after two minutes listening to an automated list of options. Which, annoyingly, warn you to take action before the impending July 31 deadline for using the current top-up scheme.

What the honchos at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) fail to realise is just how distressing this is for anyone coming up to retirement.

You only have until the end of July to fill in National Insurance record gaps dating back to 2006. After that, you will be limited to the previous six years. Yet, with so little help at hand, some are finding it impossible to act.

If you miss the deadline, you could be forfeiting tens of thousands of pounds in later life. No wonder many are panicking.

The Government already extended the applications deadline once after being swamped by a tidal wave of calls from savers who feared they would miss out.

One reader told us she’d been trying to top up her state pension since January without success. Let me know if you can beat that.

Once (or should that be if) you get your forecast, you have to request specific information and codes from HMRC and the DWP before finally buying that extra income. It’s time this byzantine top-up scheme was made a whole lot simpler.

Flying high

WHAT a pleasant change to hear of an airline going out of its way to make life better for customers.

One reader, James Smith, tells me airline Jet2 went above and beyond to help his mum get to his grandmother’s deathbed before it was too late. James called the airline to warn it of the urgency of the situation when his mother was mid-flight. His grandmother had just hours left to live.

To James’s amazement, the crew prioritised his mother’s disembarkation, saw her through customs and swiftly arranged a taxi for her from Leeds Bradford Airport. Her luggage was delivered safely at the care home just a few hours later.

Hats off to those in charge at Jet2 for pulling out the stops to help a customer in need. James and his family were moved by the act of kindness. Airlines are so often guilty of losing mountains of luggage or denying refunds for cancelled or delayed flights. But Jet2 has shown just what they can do when they put their minds to it.

Dementia debit

WATCHING a loved one with dementia deteriorate over time is awful. My own grandmother has battled with Alzheimer’s in recent years, so I’ve seen it firsthand. Even simple tasks become tricky — especially where money is concerned. Counting change at the tills is a challenge, let alone managing a pension or investments.

It is a sad reality that those with dementia are an easy target for callous scammers who go out of their way to identify them. They put them on a ‘suckers’ list that is circulated by criminal gangs so they can be repeatedly targeted.

So the new debit card for people with dementia launched by Sibstar (see page 34) is a step in the right direction.

It’s a much-needed option for families worried about their loved ones’ spending. The big downside is the hefty fee.

Now let’s see the big banks follow in its footsteps with similar cards (and, please, make them free).

There is so much more banks, retailers and the Government can do to make spending safer for a rapidly growing number of families who have to manage life with this horrendous affliction.

LEE BOYCE IS AWAY