Equity release impact on means tested benefits

With the financial crisis leaving the UK facing up to the prospect of a prolonged period of fiscal austerity, the government has been praised for taking stringent steps to address the deficit through its Comprehensive Spending Review. With an ageing population and greater longevity, combined with one of Europe’s lowest private pension provisions it is not surprising the government has sought to tackle the deficit by targeting state pension provision. But while the biggest headline grabbing announcement was the changes to the State Pension age, the government could find that by addressing t...