pension reform

Pension reform is continuing at a relentless pace but can the industry keep up? Helen Morrissey reports

Labour shadow pensions minister Rachel Reeves explains to Sebastian Cheek why the government's indexation switch needs further thought.

Upping the earnings threshold for auto-enrolment into occupational pension schemes will hit women and part-time, agency and temporary staff, shadow pensions minister Rachel Reeves says.

The annual contribution cap and pension transfer ban should be retained in NEST's initial period but it is essential they are both reviewed in 2017, David Yeandle says.

Failure to reduce the upper age limit on auto-enrolment into workplace pensions from state pension age (SPA) may mean workers near retirement will lose their savings to means testing, Aegon says.

Pensions minister Steve Webb offered reassurance auto-enrolment and NEST would not lead businesses to ‘dumb down' their pension schemes.

The auto-enrolment review has proposed radically simplifying the certification process for existing workplace schemes.

The controversial bill to raise the French state pension age from 60 to 62 will face a vote in the lower house of parliament today following approval in the senate yesterday.

Pensions minister Steve Webb has admitted over 500,000 women would be excluded from NEST under plans to raise the earnings threshold for inclusion from £5,035 to £7,500.

Over 100,000 civil servants will qualify for retirement aged 50 on final salary pensions as part of the coalition's cuts to public sector jobs.