Pensions Bill

Written evidence from Jay Ginn (PB 51)

In the context of debate on the Pensions Bill, I would like to comment on
behalf of older women (50+).

They have had a raw deal from a pension system originally designed by and
for men. Although there have been great improvements for women in state
pensions since then, many older women were born too early to benefit from
the full effects of HRP and care credits, or indeed from the Equality
legislation of the 1970s that helped narrow the gender gaps in pay and
occupational status.

It would go some way to recompense women for this legacy if they were
allowed to opt in to the new STP from 2016 once they are over SPA
(irrespective of their date of reaching SPA). This would have several
advantages:

1. It would avoid the 'cliff edge' affecting several hundred thousand women
who reach SPA just ahead of April 2016 and who feel they have lost out
badly by this.

2. It would reduce pensioner women's disproportionate reliance on means
testing and their excess share of poverty in old age. As is well-known, a
large proportion of older women eligible for means tested benefits do not
receive them.

3. Automatic eligibility for older women to receive STP instead of their
usually partial existing NI pensions could greatly reduce the complexity
and cost of administering Pension Credit and passported benefits.

July 2013