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09

Actuaries call for alternative options for early access to state pension

Open-access content Wednesday 7th September 2016 — updated 5.50pm, Wednesday 29th April 2020

The UK government should consider different measures for those who want to access their state pension before their qualifying age, the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) has said.

2


In its response to the government's review into the state pension age (SPA), the ACA acknowledged that there are differences in life expectancy between sectors of society but identifying them is difficult.

"We think that there are practical difficulties in identifying specific groups for differential state pension ages," said the organisation.

The ACA paper rules out giving all individuals within a certain age range a right to draw down their state pension as they wish. 

"This was judged to be impractical and likely to mean that too many would exhaust their state pension unless there were constraints on annual withdrawals," it said.

A number of models were proposed to maintain a universal SPA, such as encouraging people to use non-state pensions before reaching the qualifying age or allowing "broadly actuarially neutral" early access, although the ACA said there could be costs associated with implementation and means-testing implications.

Government benefits for those in ill health or early access to state income based on the length of working life were also suggested.

ACA chairman Bob Scott said: "We would be very happy to work with the Independent Review of State Pension Age in developing the thinking around the models we have explored or others that might be proposed via the consultation exercise. 

"We would also underscore the need for any future changes to take proper account of the need for state reforms to be considered alongside the pension regimes and rules applying in respect of private pensions. A joined-up approach that simplifies both state and private pension rules would represent a welcome statutory innovation."

The review into the state pension age is being led by John Cridland. He will report to the secretary of state for work and pensions to allow the government to consider the recommendations by May 2017.

This article appeared in our September 2016 issue of The Actuary.
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