[garinda]

I know where you are coming from Marg about not wanting to live on benefits when you are older. I played the game and took advice, and paid into a private pension for many years.

Last year though, aged thirty nine, to be told I won't be able to work again, I realised I had no choice but to get used to living on benefits.

After a great deal of fighting on my part, including having to undergo an independant medical, I managed to persuade the pension company to release my pension earlier than I had anticipated.

Of all the thousands of pounds I'd paid in, I get £200 per year, guaranteed for five years after which it will go down. By the time I'm sixty five it will probably buy me a newspaper.

I don't know if I'm sad or happy I didn't blow the thousands I paid into my pension, slightly more and it would have affected the benefits I receive now.

I'll be quiet happy in the poorhouse, as long as we don't have to play bingo.