SNP submission to Pensions Commission calls for end to Means Testing

De rechtvaardige rechter · 25 januari 2005, 11:22

Shadow Scottish Minister for Work & Pensions, Mike Weir MP, has today submitted the Scottish National Party’s response to the First Report of the Pensions Commission. The submission contains the SNP’s proposals for a Citizen’s Pension and pension saving reform.

The SNP’s Citizen’s Pension would eliminate means testing, which the SNP believes is an unfair system with an incomplete take-up. It is also expensive with the Department of Work and Pensions estimating that it costs ten times more per case to deliver means tested pension benefits than it does for the Basic State Pension. The Citizen’s Pension would tackle pensioner poverty and provide a solid foundation on which to save for retirement.

Mike Weir MP said:

“The current system of pension provision is outdated and inadequate with UK pensions being amongst the least generous in the developed world. One in five of Scotland’s pensioners currently live in poverty.

“Much of the problem lies with the unfair system of means testing. It is expensive to run, a means tested pension costs ten times more than the basic state pension to administer and many pensioners do not take up their entitlement.

“Women are also discriminated against with only 13%, receiving the full basic state pension in their own right, mainly because they take time out in their careers to care for children and other relatives.

“The SNP would propose introducing a Citizen’s Pension, payable to all pensioners based on simple residency requirements. The pension would be set at £106 per week for single pensioners and £161 for couples. This would give single pensioners £26.40 a week more than at present and couples £33.75 extra every week.

“Pensioners have spent a lifetime working hard and contributing to the wealth of the country. They deserve a decent standard of living. The current unfair pensions system lets our pensioners down. It is time to introduce a decent Citizen’s Pension so that we can tackle pensioner poverty and give those in work the opportunity and foundation to build for their retirement.”

www.snp.org

25 januari 2005, 11:22	#1
De rechtvaardige rechter Parlementslid Geregistreerd: 25 november 2004 Berichten: 1.666	SNP submission to Pensions Commission calls for end to Means Testing Shadow Scottish Minister for Work & Pensions, Mike Weir MP, has today submitted the Scottish National Party’s response to the First Report of the Pensions Commission. The submission contains the SNP’s proposals for a Citizen’s Pension and pension saving reform. The SNP’s Citizen’s Pension would eliminate means testing, which the SNP believes is an unfair system with an incomplete take-up. It is also expensive with the Department of Work and Pensions estimating that it costs ten times more per case to deliver means tested pension benefits than it does for the Basic State Pension. The Citizen’s Pension would tackle pensioner poverty and provide a solid foundation on which to save for retirement. Mike Weir MP said: “The current system of pension provision is outdated and inadequate with UK pensions being amongst the least generous in the developed world. One in five of Scotland’s pensioners currently live in poverty. “Much of the problem lies with the unfair system of means testing. It is expensive to run, a means tested pension costs ten times more than the basic state pension to administer and many pensioners do not take up their entitlement. “Women are also discriminated against with only 13%, receiving the full basic state pension in their own right, mainly because they take time out in their careers to care for children and other relatives. “The SNP would propose introducing a Citizen’s Pension, payable to all pensioners based on simple residency requirements. The pension would be set at £106 per week for single pensioners and £161 for couples. This would give single pensioners £26.40 a week more than at present and couples £33.75 extra every week. “Pensioners have spent a lifetime working hard and contributing to the wealth of the country. They deserve a decent standard of living. The current unfair pensions system lets our pensioners down. It is time to introduce a decent Citizen’s Pension so that we can tackle pensioner poverty and give those in work the opportunity and foundation to build for their retirement.” www.snp.org __________________ Tiocfaidh ár lá! Links en Vlaams