Shoot me now

Dear Miss Black

Have you thought about how much money you will have when you retire?

We are writing to tell you how much State Pension you will get when you reach State Pension age. Retirement may seem a long way off but thinking about it now can make a big difference to your future . This is especially important for you, as women often have less money in retirement than men.

This is because women are more likely to have years when they are not paid in work or when they do not pay into a pension because of their caring responsibilities (for example, looking after children.) This is in addition to the glass ceiling which sees some women paid up to 41 per cent less than men for doing the same job throughout their working life. You may wish to take a part-time job in the mean time to supplement the income from your full-time job. We hear that Threshers are currently hiring, and Macdonalds often have part-time hours which particularly suit female employees.

If you retire at State pension age, we estimate your total State Pension as £78.27 a week at today's prices. As this would not cover accommodation, food, transport or bills in London today, let alone in 30 year's time, we suggest that you do not retire at State Pension age.

Many companies now are widening their recruitment criteria to include older employees. For example, many senior citizens find useful employment in laundrettes or handing out towels in nightclub toilets. Additional income could be generated by voluntarily participating in medical research.

Don't forget, it's never too early to start planning for a happy old age!

Love, the Government xxx