'State pension won't exist in 30 years' time' - say MPs

Almost one in six MPs think that in 30 years' time there won't be such a thing as the state pension - or that if it does exist, it will be at a paltry level. Given the fact that they're the ones who are likely to be making decisions about pensions in the future, this is not a comforting thought. It's just one of the alarming findings in a recent survey of MPs.

NOW: Pensions also discovered that over half of MPs think that the state pension age will rise to 70 by 2044. It says that Conservative MPs are particularly pessimistic - with almost twice as many thinking the state pension will die out and 65% saying the state pension age will hit 70 in the next 30 years.

Morten Nilsson, CEO of NOW: Pensions, said: "In the corridors of power there is a worrying degree of scepticism that the State Pension can be maintained over the long term."

This is particularly worrying given that the same survey found that 54% of MPs felt that people will be more reliant on their state pension as a result of the changes to pensions announced in the Budget.

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What can you do?

It's why the experts say that if we are to ensure a comfortable retirement, we need to take action ourselves to be certain we are saving enough for the future. Even Pensions Minister Steve Webb says: "While the state will always provide a decent safety net so people can get by, anyone wanting to see their standard of living maintained into old age needs to make their own provision too."
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NOW: Pensions is calling on the government to make the workplace pension rules more demanding - so that employers are forced to pay more into people's pensions. But it's not safe to assume that we can rely on our employer either.

The only sensible approach is to work out what you will need for a comfortable retirement, and use an online calculator to work out how much you need to be contributing each month in order to be able to afford this.

If the monthly contributions are unaffordable, you can then revisit the age at which you planned to retire, until you find the right balance between the age when you can finally put your feet up, and the money you will have to live on when you do.

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