Petition for transitional state pension arrangements

[Originally written October 29, 2016, there is one update "DWP response to state pension petition" which was received early November 2015 and the latest which was received January 13, 2016. The government has now said that it will debate this petition on February 1, 2016. You'll be able to watch online at parliamentlive.tv]

U.K. Petition: Make fair transitional state pension arrangements for 1950’s women

The Government must make fair transitional arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA). Hundreds of thousands of women have had significant changes imposed on them with a lack of appropriate notification

The 1995 Conservative Government’s Pension Act included plans to increase women’s SPA to 65, the same as men’s. Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), agree with equalisation, but don’t agree with the unfair way the changes were implemented – with little/no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans.

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Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences.

In April 2015 NEWTEK posted the following report, shown below: New pensions bad news for many pensioners

The new flat rate State Retirement Pension was touted by the coalition government as much fairer than the old system with additional claims that it will help lift pensioners out of poverty.

But once again either the coalition got their figures wrong or they are simply telling lies.

Existing pensioners will stay on the old rate of pension with a lesser tax code adding to the financial pain. While younger pensioners will have had to work longer to get their new pension they will not have had to stack up as many years paying national insurance contributions as some existing pensioners.

But now we are learning that only 45% of all new pensioners will be eligible for the new flat rate increased pension.

It took a Freedom of Information request for the problem to come to light. Expect a future right-wing government to try to get rid of the Freedom of Information Act.

BBC News reports "A freedom of information request submitted by investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown reveals that 45% of those retiring between 2016 and 2020 will get the full amount."

That of course means that 55% will not be eligible.

The government has tried its usual damage limitations exercise claiming the 55% will not be worse off in real terms with means-tested top-ups for the poorest.

However as welfare reforms continue to bite and more cuts come into play that is another untruth.

Who can rely on State benefits in the UK remaining and at a decent level? The answer is no-one.

Cameron made vague promises previously about protecting pensioners from the austerity axe but with so many broken promises don't hold your breath.

Hot on the heels of attacks in Paris security and snooping was stepped up in the UK.

That will cost and it will not be the uber-rich who fund such measures. Not if we have a Tory led coalition in power.

But the two men who massacred people at the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris were already on Special Forces radar. That indicates enough information is being gathered but the problem lies with what security forces do with the information.

There are no indications that resurrecting the so-called snooping law in the UK would have led to a different outcome.

As for pensioners the Tories agenda has been slashing what it calls non-working benefits though I would argue most have been paid for over years of contributions into the system. I certainly do not class the State Pension as a 'welfare payment' not after paying into the system for too many years.

They will not want to alienate the 'grey-brigade' before the May 2015 General Election. After that time Cameron and Osborne have millions of pounds worth of further cuts planned--that is if they are returned to office.

What will a different government do about pensions? Time will tell.

The BBC report carries plenty of information to analyse and assess. Including:
Some with a private or workplace pension provision are contracted out of some of the state second pension, which is being integrated into the new flat-rate state pension. This means they will receive a lower amount. Others have a gap in their National Insurance contributions.

After April 2017, people will also have to work longer, making 35 years' worth of National Insurance (NI) contributions, rather than the current 30, to qualify for the full pension.

[Note at one time you needed 40 odd years and some older workers will have paid much more than 30 or 35 years worth]

Anyone who has paid NI for just a few years will not qualify for the new state pension at all. However, some carers receive NI credits despite being out of the workplace.

September 2015 update;
According to AOL "New state pension blow for women: hundreds of thousands miss out"