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NEWS WRAP – Shadow Foreign Secretary’s Plan for Public Sector Pensions

Her solution? Giving former public sector workers with less than two years of established pension rights the ability to immediately access 75% of their fund as a lump-sum.

She further suggested a staggered expansion of the proposed scheme. If the initial programme proved successful, it could be extended to those who had four years of service, then six years, and then eight years, finishing at ten years by the end of the Parliament.

Ms Thornberry stated that the scheme should be tax-neutral and provide no tax advantage. She acknowledged that although it would prove relatively costly in the short-term, it would make economic sense in the long-run.

Such a scheme may make economic sense for a future government, but if it were to be taken up, recipients of the potentially only small to medium pension pots would need pensions advice in order to make the right choices in respect of their savings.

There is an obvious danger that offering lump sum payouts may see that money removed from individual retirement strategies and this could deplete retirement income in the future.

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* https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/opinion/house-commons/109907/emily-thornberry-mp-government Accessed 21-02-20

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

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Many Grandparents missing out on full state pension

Grandparents and FamilyThe ex-pensions minister Steve Webb is urging the government and the HMRC to do more to alert grandparents to all the pension perks they’re entitled to after it was revealed that the overwhelming majority are not receiving the full state pension. By missing out on a particular benefit, unknowing eligible grandparents are missing out on £231 a year. Over the course of their full retirement, this could possibly lead to a loss of thousands of pounds.

It is a scheme called the Specified Adult Childcare Credit. It is thought that only 1,300 grandparents are taking advantage of it despite 100,000 being eligible (a mere one per cent). The scope of the problem was found out by Webb when he sent a Freedom of Information request to the HMRC.

The purpose behind the Specified Adult Childcare Credit is to allow grandparents who give up work completely to help raise their grandchildren the chance to claim National Insurance (NI) credits.

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