UK Archives - Page 9 of 193 - Pension Policy International

22AprApril 22, 2026

Emma Douglas named chair of UK Pensions Regulator

The UK government has appointed Emma Douglas as the new chair of The Pensions Regulator (TPR). Douglas will take up the role at a time of ongoing change across the UK pensions landscape, with the regulator continuing to focus on protecting savers while supporting innovation and market development, it noted in a statement. Her five-year term begins on 1 July 2026, when current interim chair Kirstin Baker steps down. Announcing the appointment, pensions minister Paul Maynard said: “I am delighted to appoint...

April 22, 2026

NewsRegulation, UK

20AprApril 20, 2026

UK. Chancellor warned against tax raid on pension pots

The boss of Britain's largest pensions firm urged Rachel Reeves to rule out a tax raid on retirement pots, as she faces mounting pressure to boost defence spending. Standard Life chief executive Andy Briggs said savers needed certainty that the pension tax system is not 'going to keep changing' so they can plan properly for later life. 'My view is that pensions need a multi-decade policy approach,' he told the Daily Mail. 'If you get speculation each year, if there's any sort...

April 20, 2026

NewsPension Reform, Taxation, UK

16AprApril 16, 2026

UK. The birth of the buy-in: Reflections on 20 years of pension risk transfer

Buy-ins are now well-established and regularly dominate the headlines in the pensions press. But that has not always been the case. Take yourself back to March 2006. A small group of us at LCP was contemplating what the recent launch of a wave of new insurers seeking approval to write bulk annuities could mean for defined benefit (DB) schemes. We saw potential benefit for trustees and sponsors, and so our pension risk transfer practice was born. Today, we have a thriving...

April 16, 2026

NewsPension Management, Risk, UK

14AprApril 14, 2026

UK. Longevity risk climbs agenda as DB schemes assess run-on strategies

Tackling longevity risk is becoming an increasing priority for UK defined benefit (DB) pension schemes, as more schemes reassess their endgame strategies amid a growing focus on run-on, according to Aon. The firm explained that improved funding levels in recent years have created both new opportunities and challenges for schemes, prompting trustees and sponsors to revisit their risk management approaches. This includes considering whether to run-on for a period before buyout, or to adopt a long-term run-on strategy, with longevity risk...

April 14, 2026

NewsLongevity, Risk, UK

13AprApril 13, 2026

Older people forced to ‘unretire’ amid financial pressure concerns

Many older people are being compelled to "unretire" as the financial realities of their post-work lives fall significantly short of expectations, new research has revealed. A survey conducted for Standard Life found that one in six (16 per cent) retirees have either already re-entered employment (8 per cent) or are considering doing so (8 per cent). While social reasons, such as feeling disconnected, play a part, financial pressures are also a trigger for many seeking work again. Three in 10 (30 per cent) retirees report...

April 13, 2026

NewsRetirement Age, UK

09AprApril 9, 2026

UK. Immediate pension withdrawals hit five-year high amid IHT concerns

The number of people accessing their pension savings as soon as they are able to has reached a five-year high, amid growing concerns about upcoming inheritance tax (IHT) changes, research from Lubbock Fine has shown. The wealth management firm revealed that 116,000 individuals withdrew lump sums from their pensions at age 55 last year, up from 110,000 the previous year. The total value withdrawn by this group also increased to £2.3bn, compared to £2.1bn a year earlier, highlighting a shift in...

April 9, 2026

NewsUK, Withdrawals

07AprApril 7, 2026

UK. Benefits and pensions rise as two-child cap ends

A host of benefits and the state pension are rising as the new financial year begins, including more money for larger families on universal credit. The two-child benefit cap has now been scrapped, meaning some 480,000 families with three or more children will get an average rise of £4,100 a year. One mum told the BBC the rise was a "massive help" in dealing with the rising cost of living, while charities have described the move as a "gamechanger". But some critics...

April 7, 2026

NewsRegulation, UK

07AprApril 7, 2026

The UK needs a big debate on the sustainability of TPS for post-92s

The recent rise in employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) to 28.68 per cent – almost double that of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) – presents a genuine and growing challenge for institutions legally required to offer it. We absolutely agree that university staff deserve competitive salaries with generous benefits and high-quality pensions. The question is how universities can sustain that commitment responsibly at a time when all universities are facing financial challenges for a variety of well-documented reasons. Urgent action is needed, and many universities are looking...

April 7, 2026

NewsPublic Pensions, UK

06AprApril 6, 2026

UK state pension age begins rise to 67 with payment boost

The UK state pension age has begun a phased increase from 66 to 67, starting with people born in the early 1960s, alongside a 4.8% payment rise under the triple lock. The change, expected to save £10bn annually by 2030, has drawn concern from charities about its impact on lower-income and less healthy regions. Political pledges to maintain the costly triple lock persist despite warnings about the system’s long-term sustainability. Pension age rise begins with phased rollout From Monday, the UK...

April 6, 2026

NewsRetirement Age, UK

01AprApril 1, 2026

Iran war may increase mortgage payments for extra 1.3m households, says Bank of England

The US-Israel war on Iran could end up increasing monthly mortgage payments for more than one million more UK households, the Bank of England has predicted, adding that the conflict had dealt “a substantial negative supply shock” to the world economy. Financial market jitters over the conflict in the Middle East have resulted in banks pulling about 1,500 mortgage products, with many banks raising interest rates on their remaining 7,000 home loan products in recent weeks, the Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said. The increases,...

April 1, 2026

NewsAdequacy, UK

April 2026