Later Life Ambitions are alarmed to hear of Government initiated proposals that potentially open the door to means testing of the state pension and other benefits. We are, of course, opposed to this.

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Our collective membership, and all current and future pensioners, will be rightly concerned by legislative amendments to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which gives the Government access to pensioners’ bank accounts.

 

Whilst the DWP have sought to deny that changes to the universal nature of the state pension was the motive for these unprecedented data protection changes, we urge Ministers to put a statement on the record to this effect and properly explain why pensioners’ bank accounts are to be scrutinised in such a way. 

 

We’re pleased that Sir Stephen Timms MP, Chair of the influential Commons Work and Pensions Committee, has identified the risks posed by these policies and has spoken out publicly. 

 

It’s important to note that the Bill still needs to pass through the scrutiny of the House of Lords, so is not law yet. We urge Peers to review these amendments and revise the legislation when they have the opportunity and protect pensioners rights. We also call on MPs to ask Ministers directly what is the purpose of these changes through parliamentary questions and to insist they properly and straightforwardly debate issues around pensions as we approach a general election in 2024.

 

It’s clear that those in later life now and in the future deserve honesty, transparency and fairness. Ministers should provide assurances immediately on this vital issue and we will continue to call for politicians of all parties to consider the vital importance of the views of people in later life in all their policy decisions and manifestos going forward.