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Social Care crisis – Four Seasons the latest casualty

December 10, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

10 December 2017 Social care crisis deepens as Four Seasons healthcare drowns in debt Debt burdens, rising staff costs, post-referendum nursing shortages and falling council payments have undermined Britain’s social care system Regulator has demanded Four Seasons agreement in 48 hours but crisis remains Hedge funds playing financial football while fate of elderly care home residents hangs on debt restructurings Four Seasons teetering on the brink as care crisis deepens: In 2016, the insolvency specialist Opus concluded ‘every part of…

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Rise in Pensioner Poverty shows triple lock faults

December 4, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 1 comment

4 December 2017 Rise in pensioner poverty deeply concerning Poorest pensioners falling behind because triple lock doesn’t protect Pension Credit More older women in poverty as they have lower state and private pensions than men Recent reductions in pensioner poverty are going into reverse: Figures released today by the Joseph Rowntree Trust point to a worrying rise in poverty among both children and pensioners. Pensioner poverty has reduced significantly in recent years, but this trend seems to have gone into…

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Government facing Lords defeat tomorrow over refusal to protect consumers

October 23, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

23 October 2017 Government faces Lords defeat tomorrow over refusal to protect financial consumers Hard to understand why Ministers are resisting changes that have widespread support Policy needs action not words – let’s not miss this opportunity to introduce cold-calling ban Cross-party amendments to Financial Guidance and Claims Bill call for: Ban on cold-calling for pensions Mandatory guidance for pension savers before transferring money out Breathing space to protect people with huge debts (vital as interest rates set to rise)…

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Inter-generational fairness

October 16, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 1 comment

16 October 2017 Don’t punish the old to help the young – panic policy changes have political dangers Let’s focus on policies that are fairer across all age ranges Better to address problems of housing or student debt directly And take the opportunity to prepare for social care costs that will burden younger people Don’t repeat Manifesto errors: Today’s newspaper reports of potential Budget measures to please younger voters seem fraught with danger. The suggestion that older people should be…

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Capitalism is the best system, but has it been undermined by QE

September 28, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 2 comments

28 September 2017 Mrs. May is right – capitalism boosts growth and economic progress but she fails to recognise central banks have distorted capital markets with dangerous political consequences Government bond markets are rigged in favour of the strong at expense of the weak as QE redistributes wealth away from the young and enriches the wealthiest groups Central Bank policies have operated as disguised fiscal policy without democratic accountability Socialism is not the answer – that would make everyone poorer…

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Government too complacent on final salary schemes

September 27, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

27 September 2017 Three million pension scheme members have no more than 50/50 chance of getting their pensions ‘Superfunds’ could ease pension pressures before more employers become insolvent As Brexit economic and political uncertainty worsens, final salary pensions are more at risk No room for complacency as closed schemes will need better ways to manage liabilities: Britain’s Defined Benefit (DB) final-salary type pension schemes are under unprecedented pressure. So far, the Government has been rather complacent about the risks, but…

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Loss of confidence in capitalism, economic policy and democracy

September 25, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

25 September 2017 Based on my letter published in the Financial Times 22 September. Recent political events demonstrate disaffection with conventional politics. The votes for Brexit, Trump, Macron and far-right nationalists in Germany and other EU countries have been a shock to the established order. Questions are asked as to whether the sudden surge in populism represents a loss of confidence in capitalism, economic policy and democracy. Unconventional monetary policies may have played a role in the rise of populism…

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One pension provider looking after low earners

September 13, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

13 September 2017 Government failing to recognise problem of low earners losing out in auto-enrolment Companies using Net Pay schemes are not treating low earners fairly Many low paid women are being forced to pay 25% more than they should for their pension One pension provider is taking the moral high ground – Now:Pensions is paying these workers their tax relief I am delighted to see that Now:Pensions has confirmed it will give its low-paid customers the tax relief that…

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Finally, a ban on pensions cold calling

August 20, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

20 August 2017 WELL DONE TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR DECISION TO BAN PENSIONS COLD CALLING AT LAST Great to see DWP will act, not just keep consulting Protecting people’s pensions from fraudsters is so important Can give clear message to the public that anyone who contacts them out of the blue about their pensions is a criminal This issue has clear cross-party and industry support Banning cold calls and tightening protection against transfers to fraud schemes: The Government has bowed…

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Banning cold calling

August 4, 2017 Ros Altmann Comments 0 Comment

4 July 2017 Government needs to urgently ban cold calling not just keep consulting Clear support across political parties and pensions firms for a ban Protecting the public from fraudsters needs higher priority Cold call ban could make it clear for the public that reputable firms will not approach them unless they have specifically asked The Government is about to issue yet another consultation on banning pensions cold calling – asking yet more questions about protecting the public, rather than…

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From Ros Altmann:economist and pensions,
investment and retirement policy expert