State Pension Age Rise Brought Forward

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40658774

Let me say, right from the start, that the Government had little choice but to do this, given the increasing life span of the population.

But if you are between 39 and 47, its not very good news. It could even get worse, if the age is extended to 70 !

[Garaman]

I don't see the issue of life expectancy as a red herring, it is the main reason the system won't continue to work in the same way it once did work. We have all known for a long time that it couldn't but successive governments haven't done anything about it, probably because it would be an unpopular move.

[mikey4444]

Garaman....not quite true. Government have made changes to the OAP ages, and also other changes as well.

On the issue of why they didn't do this many years ago, you may have a point.

[douglas9401]

The whole country's heading for retirement. Nothing but a few piles of mouldering stones for tourists to gawp at, legions of fit and relatively healthy citizens happy to lie in bed all day and take one benefit or another while the 'bloody foreigners steal our jobs' and a high speed rail line up the middle while everything else crumbles or rusts as the final insult to reason.

We're doomed!

[mikey4444]

lol Dougie !

[douglas9401]

Och.

Aye!

[Garaman]

As regards pensions, we are doomed in 2069 according to Wiki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_State_Pension_age_in_the_United_Kingdom

[youngmafbog]

Hordes of immigrants who then bring their elderly relatives(who have contributed nothing and are often ill too) that get the handouts have crippled the country. Add that to the longer lifespan some are now enjoying and it is a recipe for disaster.

State Pension is classed as a benefit and at some point will need to be means tested. No sure any Government will be willing to do that, as May found out - muck about with pensioners at your peril!