Pensions: ensure the young do NOT cop for a double whammy

This is my letter to Ms Dorries, my MP:

I am emailing as one of your constituents, regarding the issue of the State Pension Age.

I am asking you NOT to vote against the Pensions Bill at its Second Reading on Monday.

While these proposals do not give those affected much notice to plan for their retirement, it's a darned sight more that the student 2012 intake whose tuition fees are being hiked.

While they hit women much harder than men, as no men will have to wait over a year longer for their pension, we women have to admit we've had it cushy compared with men for a long time on pension age. Do we want equality? Yes!

They will also hit those with the smallest savings and no occupational pensions hardest, as they are most reliant on the State Pensio. Some will have been feckless; others will be people who need help and that is society's/HMG's job to provide for at base level.

Of concern to me, is how you communicate equivalence: the plans break a clear commitment in the Coalition Agreement.

In the Coalition Agreement, the government said they would "hold a review to set the date at which the state pension age starts to rise to 66, although it will not be sooner than 2016 for men and 2020 for women". The proposals in the Pensions Bill mean the state pension age for men and women will now be starting to rise to 66 in 2018, so fine, bite the bullet but keep pointing out that silver surfers are not the worst hit. The half of young people who aspire to go on to higher education will be, as pensions have always been paid for by the current young, not by what past generations put in.

So the young cop a double whammy: pay up to £9k p.a. for their higher education AND therafter be hit by higher taxes to pay for the oldies not wanting to take a share of the pain.

These plans break the government’s own promise, but then much else has had to be broken, not least the start for our young people. Please vote for the Bill on Monday.