Pensions

Age UK nationally has been campaigning on the issue of pensions, both for current and future pensioners.

As part of this campaign Age UK Norfolk (then Age Concern Norfolk) ran a Citizens Jury in Diss on the 23rd June 2006.  The discussions that took place were based on the proposals in the Governments White Paper on the future of pensions following the publication of the Turner Report.

The participants raised the following concerns;

• Until the linking of pensions to average earnings in 2012 the current pensions must be increased so that for example pensioners can afford to eat "five a day".
• Something must be done to change the way that pensioners who are marginally above the limit for Pension Credit are not left worse off than those that receive it - everybody to get a decent pension and therefore there will be no need for Pension Credit.
• The Government must recognise the real costs of living in rural areas - e.g. a trip to see a doctor or get to another medical appointment can cost 10% of a pensioner's weekly income in transport alone.
• All changes in Government policy should be examined for the effect it can have on costs for pensioners.
• The Government should look at the rules relating to surviving spouse where it is a woman who does not have a pension in her own right.
• All pension funds to be ring-fenced and not be raided for other things.  This relates to all public and private funds, included NI contributions.
• If means tested Pension Credit is to remain, then the amount of savings that is disregarded should be raised.

Issues identified for future pensioners based on the proposals in the White Paper include;

• A contribution of 4% of pay is a significant amount from the pay of someones who is on minimum wage without it giving them a significant pension.  For low earners the Government's contribution should be increased.
• There is acceptance that state pension age must be increased to pay for future increases in provision and it is acknowledge that people today are generally healthier and fitter in their mid sixties than people when pensions were first introduced.
• There is concern that young people who are leaving university with high levels of student debt will not be in a position to save for their pensions for several years, especially with the high costs of enting or buying property.

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