Age UK responds to the Cridland Review

Age UK responds to the Cridland Review - State Pension Age needs to increase from 67 to 68 by 2039 together with new help from those most affected.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

'At Age UK we think the most pressing and immediate concern is the hundreds of thousands of 50 and 60 somethings who are unable to carry on working TODAY, and who are really struggling financially as a result. We are thinking, for example, of life long manual workers crippled by arthritis and carers who have given up work to look after an ailing parent, and who face hardship as they wait to claim their State Pension. The Government needs to do much more to help people like this now; enabling those who can work longer to do so, for example, by improving re-training opportunities for older workers and increasing the practical and financial support on offer for carers and people with severe health problems who are not able to get back to work.

"In our response to John Cridland's consultation paper we said that on the figures we had seen, we do not believe that the case has yet been made for raising the State Pension Age for those now in their mid-40s or younger today, so we are disappointed that he is recommending that SPA rises a year from 2039.

'As to the position today, Age UK is firmly of the view that the triple lock needs to stay in place, because it is not yet 'job done' when it comes to eradicating pensioner poverty. 16% of older people are still poor and figures published just last week suggest a rise in pensioner poverty. Looking ahead to 2039 and beyond, we think it is crucial that the State Pension continues to retain its value so that the people who retire then can look forward to their later lives with confidence, not fear. Research has shown that abandoning the triple lock would reduce the chance that someone with low earnings retires with an adequate retirement income. The same older people who also stand to lose the most from any rise in the State Pension Age.'

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Ref: CAJVSKSW

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Notes to editors

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). 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 believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six 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.

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).