‘The UK state pension rule that’s left me wondering if the country is broken’ | Personal Finance | Finance

A social media influencer has blasted the pension system which she believes shows that the “country is broken”.

Speaking to her 17,000 followers on TikTok, Natalie Heptinstall, questioned why the state pension provides those who have worked for decades with a similar weekly allowance as those in receipt of benefits.

In the video which has been watched 108,000 times, she said: “Now that I am in my 50s, I have started to think about pensions and retirement a little bit more.

“The full state pension is £221 a week but if you have spent all your life on the dole and never paid any National Insurance contributions, then you don’t receive the full state pension but you receive pension credit which will top your pension up to £218 a week.

“That is just £3 less than if you have worked and paid 30 years worth of National Insurance contributions.

“And if you receive pension credit then you still get your winter fuel allowance.”

Social media users were largely in agreement with the unfairness of the system, with many of the 1,648 comments echoing similar frustrations.

One user @A J Oxford replied: “My intention is spend every penny travelling around the world, and if I run out of money I’ll return and live off the state. It’s better to have nothing.”

Pension Credit is designed to provide people who are over state pension age but on low incomes with extra money to help with living costs.

Those in receipt of the credit are also automatically entitled to housing benefit, winter fuel allowance, mortgage interest support, council tax discount, a free tv license and other help.

Pension credit tops up to a maximum of £218.15 for a single person and £332.95 if you have a partner.

Those with severe disabilities, carers and those responsible for young children might also be entitled to more depending on their personal circumstances.

According to gov.uk, the full basic State Pension is £169.50 per week although “if you have fewer than the full number of qualifying years, your basic State Pension will be less.”

Men born before April 6, 1951 and women born before April 6, 1953 could be eligible for an additional state pension depending on their work history.

In a separate video, Ms Heptinstall made clear she has no problem with disabled and sick people being provided for but questioned whether it is fair that somebody choosing to claim sick pay should end up with the same amount as those that have worked their whole lives.

She said: “Do I have sympathy for people who are genuinely sick and unable to work? Of course I do.

“But do I also think that there’s a large amount of people that are claiming sick pay when they are perfectly capable of work? Yes I do.”