Age Concern welcomes pensions report

Healthcare News
30/11/2005
Reforming the pensions system will provide new opportunities for older people and improve the situation for women and carers, according to Age Concern.

Reforming the pensions system will provide new opportunities for older people and improve the situation for women and carers, according to Age Concern.

Responding to the release of the Pensions Commission's report, the organisation believes that the current pensions system needs reforming and will benefit from the suggested changes.

"The Pensions Commission has provided us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform our pension system for today's and tomorrow's needs and has highlighted the difficult decisions we face as a society," commented Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England.

"We support Turner's emphasis on having a more generous state pension system and the recognition about the need to improve the situation for women, carers and lower income groups."

Despite some criticisms regarding the extended retirement age, Mr Lishman argues that longer working lives and more savings will help to increase the wealth of pensioners and allow older people to carry on working.

"A clear timetable for action is now needed to protect future generations while continuing to tackle poverty among today's pensioners," he added.