My employer has handed my final salary pension to an insurer

Retirement concern: My employer has passed my final salary pension to an insurer – how safe is it now? I have just read your column on final salary pensions. In common with many others, my employer passed on its scheme to an insurance company which now pays me an annuity. What happens to my pension … Read more

How do I set up power of attorney during coronavirus lockdown?

Advice on setting up a legal failsafe against falling ill while observing coronavirus lockdown and social distancing rules has been issued by the official oversight body. You can secure your finances in case you can no longer handle them by appointing someone you trust as attorney, usually a family member or friend, to take control … Read more

Should you worry about your final salary pension as deficits deepen?

Workers with final salary pensions are likely be fearful about deepening deficits, not to mention the survival of their employers, thanks to the the coronavirus markets crisis. Many savers have ditched these traditionally safe and generous pensions in recent years, tempted by huge transfer value offers, greater potential investment growth and inheritance advantages. But those … Read more

Parents are confused to find child benefit errors can hit their state pension

Parents have virtually no understanding that they could end up with a smaller state pension if they fail to fill in a child benefit form, according to government research. One mum described herself as ‘gutted’ when she realised she had missed out on valuable credits towards her pension, while others admitted they didn’t see the … Read more

Should you consider a direct cremation? It is the cheapest type of funeral

Coronavirus lockdown rules for funerals are expected to prompt a rise in direct cremations, which take place without a service. No frills cremations cost around £1,600 on average, and ashes are returned to a family afterwards, allowing them to organise their own personal memorial for a loved one at a time of their choosing. The … Read more

Will my final salary pension be affected by the coronavirus crisis?

Will my final salary pension be affected by the coronavirus crisis? Steve Webb replies By Steve Webb for This Is Money Published: 07:33 BST, 20 April 2020 | Updated: 07:33 BST, 20 April 2020 I have a final salary pension. Will it be affected by what is going on now with the coronavirus? SCROLL DOWN … Read more

Should state pension triple lock be axed to help pay for the coronavirus crisis?

Should state pension triple lock be axed to help pay coronavirus bill? It’s ‘not too much to ask’ elderly to sacrifice £4bn a year, think tank claims The triple lock guarantees the state pension rises by at least 2.5% a year A move to a double lock would base future increases on wage and price … Read more

How much state pension can you get if you are separated but not divorced?

My 73-year-old mum is separated from my dad and on £80 a week state pension – should she get more? Steve Webb replies By Steve Webb for This Is Money Published: 07:50 BST, 3 February 2020 | Updated: 10:25 BST, 14 February 2020 My mum currently receives a reduced state pension of around £80 per … Read more

Switch away from ‘flawed’ RPI inflation in 2025 would cost BT £1.7bn

A switch away from a flawed measure of inflation as early as 2025 would leave BT needing to fill a £1.7billion hole in its pension fund, a senior executive has said. Morten Nilsson, the chief executive of the BT pension fund, Britain’s largest private sector scheme with close to 300,000 members, said switching billions of … Read more