Pensions Bill

Written evidence from Eileen Brown (PB 10)

Summary

Plea from a woman who will soon reach SPA to be given proper information as to the effects of the bill on her pension preparations.

Submission

1. I am a woman who was born in 1953 and so I am going to be affected by the new Pension Bill.

2. I have never been able to save for a pension other than my State Pension.

3. I was made redundant in the year 2000 and have tried to make up my NI contributions since then and now have 30 years of contributions. I have therefore thought my state pension was safe.

4. I have to use 9 years of my ex-husband’s contributions to reach my full 30 years.

5. Because of the change in Qualifying Years to 35 and, as far as I can see, the other change which means I can no longer use my ex-husband’s contributions, I am in a total quandary as to

a. How many Qualifying Years I now have and

b. How to make up my Qualifying Years to 35 which I now, suddenly, need.

6. I beg the Scrutiny Unit to make sure there is provision for women in my position so that we have a clear understanding of what we need to do to qualify for the full flat rate pension.

7. I would like to point out that I have been worried sick ever since I learnt that my ex-husband’s contributions would no longer be of use to me and that, being so near State Pension Age (indeed, having spent most of my adult life looking forward to receiving my pension at age 60), I feel it is incredibly unfair to people in my position not to be told exactly how the changes apply to us. I have read and reread the draft bill and cannot make head nor tail of the parts that apply to me and do not know to whom to turn for advice.

June 2013