January 2026

Lords debate UK Pension Schemes Bill role in the future of LGPS

Peers have debated the UK government’s intervention in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) as the Pension Schemes Bill reached the committee stage in the House of Lords this week. After a full debate on the key principles of the Bill, which took place during a second reading on 18 December, the Bill is now being scrutinised by the members of the House of Lords. During the reading, peers discussed several clauses concerning LGPS, with amendments proposed to clarify the reasoning...

China’s one child policy ended 10 years ago but birth rates remain low

This month marks 10 years since China ended its one-child policy in order to address an aging population and a shrinking workforce. The government eventually removed all limits on how many children couples can have. But cultural and economic changes mean families in China now prefer fewer children, leaving the government to figure out ways to encourage larger families, including a new contraceptive tax that began this month. So where does the country go from here? Cindy Yu is...

Swiss regulator flags ‘acute’ systemic risks at multi-employer pension funds

Switzerland’s occupational pension supervisor, the Oberaufsichtskommission Berufliche Vorsorge (OAK BV), is tightening oversight of pension funds exposed to systemic risks that could undermine their financial stability. In a note circulated in December, the authority set out instructions contained in directive W-01/2025, which entered into force on 1 January. The directive requires cantonal and regional supervisory authorities to carry out a comprehensive assessment of financial and non-financial risks for the pension funds under their supervision. OAK BV now expects a “structured assessment...

Aging populations are redefining the value of a healthy life year

Efficient, evidence-based resource allocation using quality-adjusted life years (QALY) is essential, especially as global life expectancy rises. A recent study published in Scientific Reports examines how considering age and country-specific demographic factors in QALY estimates can improve healthcare policy decisions and resource allocation. Concerns over increased healthcare costs due to the aging population Advances in medical technology and public health have led to rapidly aging populations worldwide, which contributes to rising healthcare costs and social burdens. By 2040, healthcare spending in Japan is...

México. Avala SCJN reforma que reduce aguinaldos a pensionados de Zacatecas

 La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN) validó este lunes la reforma del 10 de agosto de 2024 que redujo el aguinaldo de 60 a 30 días a los pensionados del estado en Zacatecas, impulsada por el gobernador David Monreal Ávila y que despertó protestas y movilizaciones de los trabajadores. No obstante, el tribunal precisó que la medida no será retroactiva y sólo aplicará a quienes comenzaron a pensionarse tras su entrada en vigor. Con mayoría de siete...

Los beneficios del Seguro Social que comienzan a recibir los pensionados en enero

Durante enero se concreta el pago del nuevo Seguro Social, una iniciativa que se enmarca en la Reforma de Pensiones y se traduce en un beneficio dirigido a mejorar las pensiones del país. Los programas corresponden al Beneficio por Años Cotizados, denominado también Pensión de Esfuerzo, y la Compensación por Diferencia de Expectativa de Vida para mujeres, llamada igualmente Pensión Mujer. Según confirmó el Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS), algunos pagos se gestionan desde el viernes 9 y se irán completando durante enero, considerando como...

US. Verizon’s PRT Case Dismissed in New York

A federal judge in New York dismissed a complaint accusing Verizon and its advisers of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act through a $5.7 billion pension risk transfer. In a January 8 opinion in Dempsey et al. v. Verizon Communications Inc. et al., U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that retirees lacked Article III standing to challenge Verizon’s decision to terminate two defined benefit pension plans by purchasing group annuities from Prudential Insurance Co. of America and RGA Reinsurance Co. Hellerstein, a senior U.S....

UK. DWP pension error leaves thousands at risk of Universal Credit underpayments

A Department for Work and Pensions administrative error may have left many thousands of Universal Credit recipients out of pocket, with those affected potentially entitled to both increased payments and backdated arrears. The blunder, brought to light by pensions expert Steve Webb, centres on claimants who contribute to pension schemes while receiving Universal Credit.   Multiple benefit recipients came forward after discovering that DWP staff had incorrectly declined to subtract their pension payments from earnings when calculating their Universal Credit entitlement. Under the...

Swedish Fund Selection Agency expands use of Clarity AI in sustainability fund procurement

Sweden’s Fund Selection Agency (FTN) and the Swedish Pensions Agency have announced new three-year contracts with two analytics providers – MSCI ESG Research and Clarity AI. According to SFSA, both contracts are aimed at sustainability fund analysis and procurement. Although FTN has not disclosed the details of the specific Clarity AI product in question, a spokesperson for the agency told Net Zero Investor that Clarity AI has been used previously in fund procurement. The new contract reflects a longer, more formal contract the...

México. Se destinarán 29,936 millones de pesos a jubilados de la extinta LyFC en el 2026

Durante este año, las pensiones de los jubilados de la extinta Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC) costarán 29,936 millones de pesos a los mexicanos, de acuerdo con el Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PEF) 2026. Para el 2026, el gobierno federal proyecta gastar 2.32 billones de pesos o 6% en todas las pensiones que están a su cargo, entre ellas, las de LyFC, las cuales representarían 1.3% del gasto total proyectado para pensiones. Hay 14,073 pensionados de LyFC El monto...