The UK Government’s new flat-rate pension, introduced in April this year, has been central to Chancellor George Osborne’s much-vaunted reforms to the system. The impression he has consistently given while discussing the changes is that most people who have worked hard during their lifetime will benefit from the new rate of £155.65 – and fully deserve to do so.
The more details revealed about the new arrangements, however, the clearer it becomes many will not be receiving anywhere near this amount, often through no fault of their own.
According to the Commons’ Work and Pensions Committee, 55 per cent of people reaching pension age won’t get the new flat rate, in most cases because they have not accrued the 35 years of national insurance contributions required. There is likely to be a range of reasons for not meeting this criteria, of course. For many women, the time they took out of the workplace to bring up children will count against them; for others, short periods of unemployment throughout a working life will add up and prove expensive in retirement.
The fact the government is unable to say how many Scots fall into this category is extremely concerning. This comes despite experts recommending that all those who will not receive the full rate should be contacted in good time so they can digest the situation and, if necessary, make alternative arrangements. Sadly, many will currently have unrealistic expectations about their future finances.
The least all those who have paid into the system deserve is to be given accurate and timely information so they can plan for their retirement. By not doing so, the Government is letting down the very people it claims to be helping by introducing the new rate in the first place.
New Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb should make communicating with all those concerned one of his first priorities.
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