Austerity means a pension is a luxury
I read with great interest your recent report on pensions and that millions could struggle to retire, even having to work past 80 (October 19). Despite being of pensionable age, due to this atrocious Tory Government’s cuts and changes to the pension age, I cannot afford to retire. My wife is 63 and is unable to claim hers until next year.
It seems this Government doesn’t want pensioners to enjoy their later years, despite all their hard work over a lifetime. I am going to have to continue to work until I’m physically unable to do so, as I won’t allow my wife to live in poverty.
If I retired tomorrow we would have to give up everything. Arthur Gray, Isleworth, Gtr London # So, people may have to keep working until their 80s due to the austerity policies of this Tory Government. But with so many workers on zero-hours contracts and the minimum wage, they can’t afford to save any for their pensions. People are living hand to mouth and poverty is rife because wage rises are failing to keep pace with inflation. Theresa May boasts about the fall in unemployment, but they are not ‘real’ jobs with security. I fear for the young people of this country with this lot running the show. Dave Mellor, Warrington # It’s all very well for financial experts to recommend workers put at least 12% of earnings towards their pensions. Never mind those on the minimum wage, even someone on an average wage with a mortgage and other outgoings, would find it very difficult to contribute that amount. It is, therefore, understandable that a great number of people can’t afford to put anything aside. Sam Johnson, Blackpool, Lancs # How exactly are today’s young people expected to pay rent, bills, student debts, save for a mortgage and, on top of that lot, put money away for their retirement? My grandson has a job and works very hard but he has nothing left over with which to enjoy himself.
What a miserable existence this Government is condemning our young people to. The younger generation need to stand up and make their voices heard. Carole Wiggs Crewe, Cheshire # The news that 15 million workers are not paying into a pension scheme comes as no surprise because of the way wages have stagnated both in the private and public sector. It is simply impossible for the majority of working people to afford to pay anything out of their salaries into pension schemes. Ken Pennington, Stalybridge Cheshire # Millions of workers do not earn enough to pay into a pension scheme. Millions are on minimum wage, agency work or short-term and zero-hours contracts.
One person in my family works for the minimum wage. He has a mortgage, council tax and all the utilities to pay. If he’s out of work due to sickness, the only money he receives is statutory sick pay. David Smith, Eddington Birmingham # I see Robert Devereux, the Permanent Secretary for Department for Works and Pensions, who was responsible for increasing the state pension age to 67, is retiring at 61 with a £1.8million pension pot. So we can work until we drop while they can retire on gold-plated pensions. Delys Wallace, Bradford # After reading Mikey Smith’s exclusive report about Tory MP Tim Loughton claiming £662 in water bills and £640 for electrictiy (October 19), when are these greedy MPs going to be stopped from claiming expenses? It’s an insult to expect taxpayers to fork out for them when many of us struggle to get through each day. Pam Daden, East Sussex # At least Donald Trump is doing one good thing – he is enhancing the reputation of previous US presidents, especially Barack Obama. How the American public must be yearning for the halcyon days of a normal, intelligent man in charge. NS Beresford Bolsover, Derbys