Age UK response to new state pension proposals

In response to the Government's proposals around introducing a flat-rate state pension, Andrew Harrop, Director of Policy at Age UK, said:

"At this early stage we do not yet know what the final proposals for state pension reforms will be. However, we expect eligibility would be based on the national insurance scheme or long-term residency, and therefore we would not anticipate that older people entering the country for the first time would be eligible for the state pension.

"In terms of anyone worried about how it will affect their current pension, it is important to point out that these are long-term proposals which could be implemented over 20 or 30 years and may well have no effect on people currently claiming a pension. Many of these proposals will be for people who are working now and who will be claiming a pension in years to come. Age UK will argue that no one should be left worse off as a result of the pension reforms. This is likely to mean that some people will still need means-tested support, for example to cover housing costs, but they will be far fewer in number than today."

- ENDS -