pensions

Claiming Council Tax benefit is being made easier for pensioners thanks to a new form launched today by the Department for Work and Pensions.

EMPLOYERS AND pensions experts attacked a deal announced yesterday by the government and trades unions to raise public sector retirement ages as "a feeble climbdown", according to this morning's papers.

The Pension Policy Institute (PPI) has released a briefing note discussing why the coverage of the Basic State Pension should be improved in a bid to lessen the number of people who fail to qualify for it.

The Association of Consulting Actuaries has proposed a tax framework for residual pensions in response to a HM Revenue and Customs discussion paper on inheritance tax and pensions simplification.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has released new guidance on basic advice which aims to help providers understand and interpret FSA regulation and improve consumer knowledge and confidence.

The situation concerning tax-free cash and transfers of pensions after A-Day appears to have been resolved by HM Revenue & Customs after representations from pension and life companies.

DAVID WILLETTS, shadow trade and industry secretary, last night called on the government to "socialise" part of the pensions burden for business or risk the prospect of zombie companies struggling to meet payments to former workers, says the Guardian....

THE ACCOUNTING Standards Board (ASB) is reconsidering its controversial method for reporting pension deficits, though it says it is "not flawed", according to this morning's papers.

Scottish Equitable is offering advisers an A-Day education package combining roadshow presentations from 27th October and computer-based training.

New research from Norwich Union (NU) suggests that older workers are prevented from working as long as they wish because of barriers in the workplace.