Legal news

Government to raise the state pension age

Jonathan Winston Jonathan Winston
2 min read

A new government shake up of pensions could see people regularly working into their seventies.

The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has given more details on government plans to scrap the default retirement age which currently sees companies able to get rid of staff once they have reached 65 years of age.

At the same time the government will also raise the state pension age for men from 65 to 66 from 2016, a decade before the previous Labour government was proposing to do so and it is also to consult on raising the retirement age even higher, bringing it more into line with life expectancy, meaning that by the second half of the century people could well be working into their seventies. Why men should find their state pension age raised before women is questionable and could be seen as sex discrimination in some circles.

Mr Duncan Smith also plans to give workers more generous state pensions through company schemes into which employees will be enrolled unless they opt out. The restored link between pensions and earnings will help those reliant on state pensions. He said: “If Britain is to have a stable, affordable pension system, people need to work longer, but we will reward their hard work with a decent state pension that will enable them to enjoy quality of life in their retirement.”

However the plans have already been attacked by some unions, who have accused the government of ‘class bias’. Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union said: “If you are a rich banker with a private pension you can sail off on your yacht at 55, but for working men and women retirement will be pushed further and further over the horizon in a step back to the days of Dickens. That is not sharing the pain, it is hitting the poorest hardest yet again.”

More Winston Solicitors news

Client feedback

Very efficient and very pleasant to deal with, highly recommended
Kim
Despite a protected sale, Sidraa & Tom were the consummate professionals and kept everything on track
Kate
I was dreading the probate process after my husband sadly died earlier this year. Friends who had been in the same situation warned me it could take months or even years. I didn't even know what it involved, it was a complete mystery to me!Thank good ness for Emily Spencer at Winston solicitors who talked me through the whole process and told me what information I needed to complete the paperwork. Emails and phone queries were answered very promptly and once I'd submitted all the figures the grant of probate was applied for by Emily and was returned within a few weeks, not months! Great result and nothing like the trauma I was anticipating.
Patricia
Very quick response time and very helpful answering all our questions. Will definitely be using Winston Solicitors again!
Yasmine
Excellent communication and fast efficient service, would recommend them.
Hannah
Really helpful advice
Anonymous
We used Winston's (Samantha) for our house sale & purchase. Very impressed with her dealings with us, keeping us up to date with progress and always happy to answer any questions we had. Nothing was too much trouble for her. Colleagues who asisted her, were equally helpful. Would have no hesitation in using them again or recommend the firm. First class service.
Anonymous
I cannot recommend Winston's highly enough. My case in question was extremely long, convoluted and complex. Yet Winston's and in particular Harriet Reid and Emily Bell, proved to be more than up to the task. Sticking to and sifting through the facts and presenting the evidence, despite volumes of irrelevant information being thrown at them. The results achieved in court, were a true testament to their skill dedication, knowledge and understanding of the subject at hand.
David
Contact us