Crime & Safety
State Pension Age change this month delaying payment to 67
From April 6, the state pension age will begin rising again to 67, affecting people in their mid-60s who now face waiting longer before receiving payments.
The warning comes from Centre for Ageing Better, which says the shift could push thousands into financial difficulty almost immediately.
“People will be left waiting for a lifeline”
The charity estimates around 100,000 people could be pushed into poverty as a result of the change.
Elaine Smith, Head of Employment and Skills at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “While raising the state pension age has considerable financial benefits for the Treasury, it also has negative real-life consequences for people in their 60s.”
She added: “The last time the state pension age increased, poverty for 65-year-olds doubled. This rise is likely to have even bigger effects.”
According to the charity, many people in their early-to-mid 60s already rely on the state pension as a “financial lifeline” and delaying access could leave them struggling to cover basic costs.
Why this change could hit harder than before
The increase is part of long-term government plans to reflect longer life expectancy.
But experts say the reality has shifted.
Smith said: “Life expectancy is now lower than before the pandemic, and healthy life expectancy has fallen to its lowest level in years.”
She added that many people simply cannot keep working into their late 60s due to:
- Ill health
- Caring responsibilities
- Age discrimination
- Job availability
“Working up to state pension age is not the norm,” she said. “By age 66, fewer than one in three people are still in work.”
Calls for urgent financial support
The Centre for Ageing Better is urging the government to step in with targeted help for those affected.
Smith said: “People are being asked to work for longer before they can access their state pension, but without any additional help from government to make that possible.”
Proposals include:
- Early access to Pension Credit
- Extra support through Universal Credit
- More funding to help over-50s stay in work
The charity argues that even a small portion of the estimated £10 billion savings from raising the pension age could make a significant difference.
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Inequality concerns growing
Experts warn the change will not affect everyone equally.
Those most at risk include:
- Single people
- Renters
- Lower-income households
- People with health conditions
Smith said: “State pension age increases deepen inequality. Those already out of work are the least likely to benefit and the most likely to struggle.”
As the youngsters come down off their sugar highs and the hot cross bun supply begins to dry up, families may be looking for fun and interesting things to do this Easter weekend.
We’ve rounded up a selection of pictures of Easter activities in years gone by, for inspiration.
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This gallery includes Easter trails at activity centres like Cogges Manor Farm, the crafting of displays and of elaborate Easter bonnets, and school events around the season.
There are some pictures of organised town races, like the Plastic Duck Race of Blewbury or Chadlington’s downhill Easter egg race at The Tite Inn.
Take a look back through this Oxford Mail archive picture gallery to find Easter pictures in years gone by.
Long Toll near Woodcote in South Oxfordshire is currently impassable due to the tree which is across the width of the road.
The tree is believed to have come down in the strong winds from Saturday and into Sunday, April 5.
Meanwhile, Abingdon’s Easter event in the town centre was also cancelled on Saturday afternoon, April 4 due to the strong winds.
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Parts of England have been issued with either a yellow or amber weather warning due to Storm Dave, although Oxfordshire has no warnings in place.
The strongest gust overnight was 93mph at Capel Curig in North Wales, while gusts of 75mph were recorded in West Yorkshire and in Cumbria, and one of 73mph was recorded at in Aberdeenshire, the Met Office said.
Marco Petagna, a Met Office spokesman, said: “The winds eased down a bit more quickly than forecast across Scotland, northern England and Wales.
“Storm Dave is pulling away and the warnings are easing more quickly than forecast so the yellow warnings were no longer warranted.”
Before the severe amber weather warning was lifted, the Met Office had forecast “severe gales” across central and northern areas of the country overnight into Sunday.
The Energy Networks Association, which represents electricity network operators, said on Saturday: “The storm has the potential to affect local power infrastructure, increasing the risk of a power cut and fallen power lines.
“Network operators are increasing staffing for operational teams, and moving spare equipment to where the weather is expected to be most disruptive, so it’s ready to use if needed.”
Charlotte Sullivan, of Ayres Drive, Bloxham, near Banbury, was caught on December 25 last year at Barford Road, Bloxham.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of drink driving in a Vauxhall Safira when she appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court recently.
She was breathalysed, with the result being 120 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. This is more than three times over the limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
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Sullivan was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
She was also ordered to abstain from drinking alcohol for 90 days and must comply with the orders of the responsible officer to attend appointments for a maximum of six days.
Sullivan was also banned from the road for 30 months, but this can be reduced by 30 weeks is a course is completed by November 5 next year.
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