Age UK responds to state pension age plans

Responding to government plans to bring forward and extend the state pension age increase, Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director, said:

"The coalition must not make any rash decisions about the future of our pensions system. Before rushing through any increase to state pension age, the government must first reduce the health inequalities between rich and poor, and create a much fairer job market for older people. Failure to do so will force millions of older people, many of them poorer and with lower life expectancies, to work for longer or face another year trapped in unemployed limbo. Any review into bringing forward the state pension age increase must take into account the full impact on these workers. Clearly there are huge challenges ahead for the new government but now is the time to renew the fight against pensioner poverty and commit to eradicating it once and for all."

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Notes to editors:

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged. The Age UK family includes Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI.

Media contact: Helen Spinney
Phone: 020 8765 7502 (Out-of-hours: 07071 243 243)