Tag Archives: Pensions Bill

Queen announces landmark legislation for older people

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Age UK | 23 Comments

We have repeatedly called for improvements to the pensions system and for urgent changes to the shambles that passes for our system of social care and today in the Queen’s Speech two of our proverbial buses arrived at once. The speech contained two pieces of landmark legislation: A Bill to simplify the legislative framework and funding of social care, and a Bill introducing a flat rate State Pension. Both these measures are very much welcomed by Age UK.

Improving the care and support system in England is long overdue. The complexity of the legal framework, the raft of regulations to plug gaps and the confusion many people experience when trying to navigate the existing care system tells us that care and support need reform. The Care Bill is a vital part of the changes that are necessary. However the current and future funding of adult social care is likely to be the elephant in the room throughout the progress of this Bill. Social care funding has declined by £710 million in real terms since the Government came to power in 2010. This is at the same time as the population of over 85, who are most likely to need social care, continues to rise. Budgets are falling while demand is rising. Continue reading →

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Posted in Government, Home and Care, Income, Money Matters, Public Policy, Queen's Speech, Social care

Tagged #carecantwait, #careincrisis, Age UK, Age UK blog, Ageing, ageing population, ageing society, Care and Support Bill, Care Bill, Care in Crisis, Care in Crisis campaign, Draft Care and Support Bill, draft Pensions Bill, Government, Home and Care, Incomes, money matters, National Employment Savings Trust, NEST, older people, pensioner poverty, pensions, Pensions Bill, pensions reform, Queen's Speech, Single-tier pension, social care

A single-tier State Pension

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Sally West | 35 Comments

Last week saw the publication of the long awaited White Paper on State Pension reform. This sets out plans for a single-tier State Pension of around £144 a week for people reaching State Pension age in the future (probably from April 2017 onwards). The reforms aim to create a simpler system, reducing the need for means-testing and making planning for retirement easier. They are also intended to produce a fairer system with a better State Pension for those who have had years of low earnings and caring responsibilities.

Age UK supports these aims and we have welcomed the reforms as an important step forward for future pensioners. However we are aware that there are criticisms. In particular many older people with State Pensions of less than £144 are angry that they will not benefit. Continue reading →

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Posted in Income, Money Matters

Tagged Age UK, Age UK blog, Ageing, ageing society, draft Pensions Bill, Income, Incomes, money matters, pension reform, pensions, Pensions Bill, retirement, Sally West, saving, Single-tier pension, single-tier State Pension, state pension, State pension reform, State Pension reform white paper, state pension system

Working together to support older people

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Michelle Mitchell | 5 Comments

The Autumn Statement announced bleak growth figures and more cuts ahead, reminding us all, once again, we face hard times and unprecedented and prolonged pressure on public services many of which older people rely.

This is why now, more than ever, we all need – the government, public, private, and voluntary sectors and individuals – to work together to meet the challenges and maximise the opportunities our growing ageing population presents.

Age UK, together with our national and local partners, is playing its part. In 2012 we reached over 7 million older people with our information and advice services, our handy person service visited nearly 14,000 homes and we helped more than 65,000 older people keep active and healthy through our Fit as a Fiddle programme. In tough economic times we understand supporting people in later life to make informed choices and maximise their wealth, health, independence and wellbeing is important for the individuals and helps drive down inefficient and unnecessary costs in our public services. Continue reading →

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Posted in Autumn Statement, General, Income, Money Matters, Queen's Speech, Social care

Tagged #carecantwait, #careincrisis, #Dilnot, Age UK, Age UK blog, Ageing, ageing society, Andrew Dilnot, Autumn Statement, Care and Support Bill, Care and Support Draft Bill, care homes, Care in Crisis, Care in Crisis campaign, Commission on Improving Dignity in Care;, Dignity Commission, Dignity in Care Commission, Dilnot Commission, Fit as a Fiddle, hospitals, Information and Advice, Michelle Mitchell, Michelle Mitchell Age UK, Michelle Mitchell Charity Director General, NHS, older people, pensions, Pensions Bill, Queen's Speech, social care

Party conferences 2012

Posted on September 24, 2012 by ageukpublicaffairs | 11 Comments

As this year’s conference season commences, we’re clear about what the Government should be focussing on for older people: A firm commitment to Dilnot and social care reform, and the publication of a white paper and bill to introduce a flat-rate single tier pension.

Care is in crisis with many of those who need help and support in later life being badly let down by a faltering system, while others find themselves having to sell their homes in order to pay for the support they need. Of the 2 million older

Age UK’s party conference stand

people in England with care-related needs nearly 800,000 receive no support of any kind from public or private sector agencies. At the same time, the legal framework of the social care system is not fit for purpose. There is a range of legislation, case law and guidance leading to a legal maze that fails to give people the support and clarity they need at what is often the most vulnerable times in their lives.

Age UK has therefore very much welcomed the Government’s White Paper and draft Care and Support Bill which were published in July. Together, we believe they have the potential to significantly improve the quality of care available and help create a care system that is fairer and more straightforward for older people and their families. Continue reading →

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Posted in General, Income, party conferences, Social care

Tagged #Dilnot, Age UK, Age UK blog, Ageing, ageing society, Care and Support Bill, Care in Crisis, Care in Crisis campaign, Conservative party conference, Dilnot Commission, Government, Labour party conference, Liberal Democrat party conference, older people, party conference 2012, party conferences, pensioner poverty, pensions, Pensions Bill, poverty, social care

Tag Archives: Pensions Bill

A single-tier State Pension

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