Time to have YOUR say on the future of the Pensions Protection Fund levy
18/12/2008
The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) now has a far better understanding of the long-term risks it is exposed to in the current economic climate, and has developed new proposals for the long-term future of the pension protection levy. They are now consulting on these proposals which are designed to make the levy fairer – and they want to hear YOUR views.
More Stories
Deferring your pension - yes or no?
No-one is pretending that the State Pension will afford you a life of luxury. So is it worth deferring? Tom McPhail, Head of Pensions Research at Hargreaves Lansdown, weighs up the pros and cons of waiting before you draw retirement income.
Pre-Budget a "missed opportunity" say Seniors
The Senior Citizen Party has dismissed the 2.5% cut in the rate of VAT as "a waste of £12 billion," he said," which could have been much better used to increase the personal tax allowance by £1000, thereby putting an additional £800 in everyone's pocket, and by removing the 5% VAT on gas and electricity to give people the confidence that they can actually pay their energy bills and do not have to 'choose between eat and heat'.
What will the Pre-Budget mean to you?
What will the Pre-Budget mean to you? The Low Income Tax Reform Group explain the detail and pass their judgement on the report - concluding that the approach is welcome, but whether the Chancellor's measures will have the effects he anticipates is yet to be seen.
Pensioners’ boost in Chancellor’s Pre-Budget statement - or 'skinflint' measures?
Pensioners will have a delayed Christmas present from the Chancellor, who has announced an extra £60 for each person – payable in January. In addition, Pension Credit will rise from £124 to £130 in April for single pensioners, and from £189 to £198 for couples – above indexation. The single pension will rise from £90.70 to £95.25. But the announcements have received a lukewarm welcome from campaign organisations Help the Aged, Age Concern and the National Pensioners Convention.
Retirements delayed as £157 billion wiped off workers’ pensions
In the last twelve months, the value of defined contribution pension scheme assets have plummeted by nearly a third from £552 billion to £395 billion. The economic downturn is now visibly taking its toll on the money workers have been putting aside for their pension - meaning those who are close to retirement may have to work longer
Over 60? Don't miss out on extra cash
Older people are being urged to claim Pension Credit while they may still be able to benefit from up to a year’s backdated lump sum. Many over 60s are still not claiming benefits they may be entitled to and are missing out on additional help - as many as 1.8 million households.
Check your tax - you could be in for a rebate
Pensioners on low incomes may find that their usual payment on or after September 7th may be larger than usual - by about £60. It is NOT a mistake.
Pension Credit - claim it or lose it
Pensioners have just weeks left to apply for backdated pension credit payments spanning a year. If they miss the October 6th deadline, their claims can only go back three months, NOT the full twelve months - because the Pension Service have changed the rules.
Sipps can hold protected rights from October, announces O'Brien
Investors are to have more choice from October, following changes to pensions rules - allowing protected rights to be held in Self-Invested Personal Pensions (Sipps).
Fight goes on for women's pension rights
Regular MT readers will know that Lib Dem MP Steve Webb has been battling for better pension rights for women - here he reports how our readers are helping to bring about improvements for all.
Court of Appeal pensions test case: "damning verdict against the Government"
Three Court of Appeal judges have delivered a crushing verdict against the Government on their treatment of 125,000 people who were misled about the safety of their pensions. The Secretary of State's appeal against last year's High Court judicial review ruling that 'no reasonable Secretary of State could rationally disagree' with the Ombudsman, was dismissed.
Got a personal pension? Then join in the live webchat on October 1st
Do you have a personal pension? Are you one of the eight million who have contracted out of S2P (or SERPS as it used to be known) over the past twenty years? If the answers are 'yes' then you should be marking October 1st in your diary - because this is the day the government will give you the freedom to take greater control over planning for your retirement.
Pension expert Hannah Edwards joins Glenn Thompsett live online on Wednesday October 1st at 1700 to answer your pension queries.
Join today's live webchat and have your pension questions answered
Need some pension advice? Then join our live webchat on Wednesday 6th August at 1pm.
Whether it’s how much your employer should be contributing, how much the average 50 year old should be putting aside and what is a SIPP - Ian Naismith, Head of Pensions Market Development, Scottish Widows will be able to answer all of these questions and more.
More closures for pension schemes predicted
The latest annual survey of UK pensions schemes by the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has revealed that, despite a new equilibrium after many years of change, more final-salary pension schemes are likely to close to new members in the next five years.
