Pensions

This briefing sets out the background to Spring Budget 2020 which will take place on 11 March 2020. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.

Covers arrangements for uprating public service pensions.

Looks at rules under which some occupational pensions have historically been adjusted to take account of the State Pension introduced in the late 1940s

Looks at the application of the "section 75 employer debt provisions" to multi-employer pension schemes - such as the Plumbing Pension Scheme

Looks at the change in the rules to allow all people in receipt of a War Widow(er)s' Pension in April 2015 to keep it for life (regardless of remarriage or cohabitation) and at the campaign for reinstatement of pensions already surrendered

Looks at the debate on pension tax relief reform

Looks at the debate around the equalisation of GMPs and the recent High Court judgment in relation to the Lloyds Bank pension scheme

Between 1978 and 1997, contracted-out defined benefit pension schemes were required to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP). This note looks at the arrangements for index-linking GMP rights for people reaching State Pension age before and after 6 April 2016 and for members of public service pension schemes

Covers the arrangements made for mineworkers' pensions following privatisation of British Coal in 1994.

Looks at the main benefits available to pensioners, in addition to the State Pension, and the debate on whether they should be reformed

Both Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (which is replacing DLA) provide help with the extra costs disabled people face when getting around. The DLA or PIP mobility component can continue to be paid indefinitely, but there is an upper age limit for new claims - now the State Pension Age. This means that some older people cannot get benefits for mobility needs and cannot access linked schemes such as Motability.

Looks at the rules which came into force in April 2015 giving people more flexibility about when and how to access their defined contribution pension savings

Looks at the changes to the normal pension age as part of the Coalition Government's reforms to public service pensions