I did it by the book – or so I thought.

I was lucky enough to have been able to take the opportunity to retire early in 2007 and in a way make a swipe beating the clock so to speak.  Why work and die when you can relax and they die at your leisure? – Fingers crossed!  I had been drawing an “occupational pension” since 1996 so was able to plan sufficiently not to end up destitute and wishing I'd stayed at the madhouse called West Sussex County Council.

So, on reaching official retirement age this year I only had to make some simple plans that were all thoughtfully laid out in the Governments own web pages.  It would all be so simple (cue freaky music).

Four months before your retirement date the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) advises is the time to “Claim your pension”.  Here is my story.

I call the pensions claim line in February and after the usual jumping though the various security hoops I get make the magic statement. “Hello, I am 65 in June and I would like to claim my state pension” I state confidently.  “Yes sir, this is the right place to call but I am afraid that due to a backlog of claims I can’t handle your claim at the moment”.  Hmmmm I though, what next.  “You will be better calling back at the on the 3rd May and make your claim then”. So, given my naivety at this stage of the process I thanked the nice man on the phone and waited for three months until the 3rd May.

3rd May…. Leapt out of bed and called the DWP Claim line…. perfect, and it only took about 10 minutes to make the claim and then a month later I would be unbelievably rich!! (Perhaps not, I am just exaggerating a bit).

Come the end of May I have still not been told the actual amount or date that I will receive my pension.  Mind you I have a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reminding me I am going to be 65 and that I should complete the form P161 to ensure that I am allocated the correct tax coding and personal allowance.  I even receive a letter from my occupational pension provider notifying me that they have noticed I reach normal retirement age and adjusting my pension accordingly.  Yipppeeee!   However, still nothing from the DWP and another letter from the HMRC chasing me up for my form P161…. I make several calls to the Pensions Service at DWP and get no where.  I draft a long complaint to my MP and the Minister for Pensions – I didn’t intend to post these letters unless I didn’t hear about my pension until AFTER my birthday. 

Finally, on the last week of May I receive a letter from the DWP detailing my pension, telling me the day and date I will receive it and paying me a week to make sure I do not get in arrears over the 4 weeks that is normal.  Wonderful, now I can send my P161 to HMRC so that I can get my new coding and allowances.  After all I don’t want to pay more tax that necessary.

Last Friday I received a letter from HMRC with my new coding.  It’s WRONG!!

Monday I call the Help Line and discover that despite being chased twice and then sending my form as soon as I knew my pension totals they hadn’t seen it.  “It is probably sitting in an inbox somewhere” the poor bloke on the end of the phone thought.  Anyway, he sorted out my coding on the spot and assured me that I would receive my new coding and allowances soon. I live in hope but am quite looking forward to see how much of a tax rebate I receive one the new codes are in place.

“I did everything by the book” I told Neil at the DWP …. “I’m really sorry” said Neil, “these things do happen but we do our best to keep up and make sure that everyone gets helped”.  What a nice chap. 

It’s been a long and frustrating slog to get here but I have decided to hold on to my two letters raving at the MP and government Minister until I have seen the end results of all this rigmarole. 

For the time being I am happily retired, once and for all!

Cheers!!!