Conclusion 16

Based on the evidence we have received, there is a clear justification for providing additional social security support for those unable to keep working in the years approaching State Pension age. While pension age rises have been justified on grounds of fairness between generations— each generation should expect to spend a similar proportion of adult life contributing to and receiving the State Pension—fairness within generations is also important. As things stand, the impact is very uneven. People who are unable to keep working, often due to ill-health, disability or caring responsibilities, will have to wait another year for their State Pension. For many, this will be a year of hardship, on inadequate working age benefits, potentially depleting savings they were relying on to support them in retirement. Once they get their State Pension, they are likely to receive it for a shorter time than their wealthier counterparts. This is a direct and foreseeable impact of State Pension age policy, for which the government is responsible and which it should act to prevent. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78)