Age UK responds to state pension age debate

Age UK responds to state pension age debate in the House of Lords

Age UK has pledged to step up its campaign against government plans to force many women to wait longer for their state pension following the House of Lords debate on the Pensions Bill yesterday (30 March 2011).

Members of the House of Lords showed strong support for reversing the Pensions Bill proposals which will force millions of women to wait longer for their state pension, costing the worst affected as much as £10,000 in lost pension income.

An amendment tabled by Lord McKenzie of Luton and supported by Baroness Howe and the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds aimed to stop the increase in the state pension age from 65 to 66 before 2020. During the debate, many Peers spoke passionately in favour of the amendment, arguing that it gave women more time to plan for a delayed state pension, and highlighting the impact on particular groups of women affected such as carers. The vote was narrowly lost, with 214 votes in favour of the amendment and 226 against, but the close result shows how the level of support for changes to make the Pensions Bill fairer for women.

Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director, said:

'We are extremely encouraged by the strong support shown in the House of Lords to halt the speeding up of the state pension age rise, and will now be stepping up our campaign to fight these proposals. With increasing numbers of people joining our campaign to give women a fairer pensions deal, it's clear that there is growing opposition to the Government's plans. If given the green light these changes will deny millions of people the chance to plan properly for their retirement and will condemn the poorest to even more hardship. We urge the Government to reconsider its plans to increase the state pension age to 66 before 2020.'

For more information on Age UK's campaign please visit www.ageuk.org.uk/spa

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Age UK

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over five million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity). 

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