January 15, 2013

State pension reform – some people are never satisfied!

The White Paper proposes a flat-rate pension of £144 a week for everyone from 2017.  Naturally this pension has qualifications – you only receive the full £144 if you have paid National Insurance contributions for 35 years – but no-one ever got something for nothing.

There will be a vast saving in administration costs, as the complicated State second pension, which was related to earnings, disappears.  National Insurance contributions will now be the same for everyone.  This does mean some workers will now pay 1.4% more than they used to – but that goes to pay for the difference between the current basic State pension (£107) and the new amount of £144.

It seems the only real losers will be the higher-paid, who will no longer be able to earn State pension over the £144 limit.  But shouldn’t those people be in a position to provide for themselves?

If you have any queries in relation to this blog please contact Roger May, Pension Consultant [email protected] or 020 7583 2222

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