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‘Scots pensioners are worst off in UK’

Shona Robison
Shona Robison

Pensioners across the north and north-east are thousands of pounds worse off in comparison to people south of the border, a new report has suggested.

The Scottish Government published research yesterday which showed the vast majority of men and woman over 65 get less state pension entitlement than their peers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The calculations are based on a pension entitlement of £160 per week and on the number of years people are expected to live over 65 which varies from area to area.

The figures showed that men in Aberdeen received a lifetime pension of £144,000 and £164,600 for women which is £9,000 less than the UK average.

Men in Aberdeenshire receive £151,300, £2,000 less than the UK average, and women get £167,400 which is £6,000 less than their peers south of the border.

The lifetime pension value in the Highlands for men is £148,600 and £169,900 for women which is £4,000 less than the UK average for both sexes.

In Moray, the lifetime pension values for men is £146,600, £6,000 less than the UK average, and £164,300 for women – £10,000 less than the UK average.

Pensioners Rights Secretary Shona Robison said: “The differences are stark across Scotland.

“It is very clear from all this work that the UK state pension age is not based on Scottish circumstances – it’s unfair to Scots who are not receiving a fair reward for a lifetime’s work.

“The UK plan to speed up the increase of the state pension age to 67 by eight years from the original timetable set out by the previous Labour government will only make this situation worse.

“That’s why the Scottish Government has committed to setting up an independent commission to consider the state pension age.”

Ms Robison said the commission would consider fairness, life expectancy, affordability, and equality issues to reach a decision that genuinely suited Scottish circumstances.

“Life expectancy is improving in Scotland due to measures such as free prescriptions, the smoking ban, and reducing alcohol consumption but progress will take time,” she added.

“In the meantime I don’t want any of our pensioners to be disadvantaged.”