Self-employed urged to save for old age

NFU Mutual has expressed alarm at the gap in retirement savings for the self-employed – including many farmers.

The Cridland review, a government review looking at the state pension, also said people aged 30 and under face working until the age of 70 before they can draw a state pension.

Separate recommendations published at the same time by former CBI boss John Cridland could also mean people in their 40s see the age they start receiving the pay-out pushed back a year.

The Cridland review calls for the state pension age to rise from 67 to 68 between 2037 and 2039, seven years earlier than planned.

Experts said if the recommendations were taken up it would see nearly six million people under 45 face the date they receive their state pension pushed back a year.

Ministers will decide in May whether to go ahead with the proposals from both reports.

Sean McCann, chartered financial planner at NFU Mutual, said it is “frightening” to see that 35% of selfemployed people who are approaching retirement age have no private pension provision.

“This group will include many in farming and agricultural work,” he said.

“Anyone in their 40s and 50s without retirement savings needs to take action immediately as relying on the state pension to come to the rescue is wishful thinking. The clear calls for change in the latest report may result in a smaller state pension which will be delayed until many working people are at least 69, perhaps even older.

“The state pension should not be relied on as a main source of income in old age.”