Age Concern's response to government survey on state pension age

The Government is today publishing a survey showing that only 42% of people were initially in favour of the state pension age increasing, but once the arguments were set out (during National Pensions Day), the proportion rose to 57%.

Age Concern’s Director-General, Gordon Lishman, comments:

“The Government has the right ingredients for successful pensions reform but the proof will be in the eating.

“A trade-off between having a more generous state pension in return for an increased state pension age is right. But the Government must be very clear about what a better state pension actually means. If the Government is to win widespread public support for reform, people will need to see the connection between what they pay in and what they get back in retirement.

“The level of the basic state pension must be increased to a decent level¹ and its real value maintained between now and the proposed restoration of the earnings link in 2012. Reform must also ensure near universal provision so that women and low-paid or part-time workers are not penalised by an outdated, inflexible system.

“In return, any increase in the state pension age must take into account that poorer people do not live as long as wealthier people. Policies must be put in place to support the most disadvantaged. People should not be forced to spend all their additional years in work but should be encouraged to work longer through better opportunities and support and through tackling age discrimination in the workplace.”