Mitch, I was in the same situation, when I retired fully paid up two year ago and found out that I would not get the full state retirement pension of £203 a week but a state pension of £171 per week (nothing to do with tax or contribution’s), due to me being a civil servant and unknowingly opting out of my full state pension, without any option or knowledge that this was going to happen. My pal was the same and I assume most, if not all of my working colleagues.
I think that most people assume that paying into the new workplace pension will give them an extra pension. I fear that the Government will just see it as an excuse to lower the state pension.
