Labour could reverse pension freedoms in Autumn Budget, experts warn
Speculation is mounting that the Labour Party could target pensions in a desperate bid to plug a £22 billion black hole
Labour could potentially overturn "pension freedoms" in the Autumn Budget, according to speculation surrounding Labour Party Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This move is seen as one of many options available to Ms Reeves as she attempts to fill a £22 billion deficit.
In 2015, then-chancellor George Osborne introduced the "pension freedom" reforms, which expanded people's choices for accessing their pension flexibly. Tom McPhail, from financial consultancy firm the Lang Cat, suggested that the party might raise the minimum age for accessing your pension from 55 to 60.
He also speculated that Labour might limit your ability to withdraw cash before first securing a minimum amount of guaranteed long-term income.
Writing earlier this year he said: "We know there’s a review of pensions coming, because Labour has said so." He said it was anticipated that in the Autumn budget with the scrutiny of the Office for Budget Responsibility 'we might hear more about an extension to pension reforms, in particular on pension taxation.'
Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Evelyn Partners, stated: "The challenge for those who want to retire before they receive their state pension is whether they have adequate savings in place to fund a life without unearned income."
She added: "Studies have found that many people are simply not saving enough to fund the level of lifestyle they want in retirement and the length of the retirement they want."
Ms Haine emphasised that independent saving for retirement is crucial, with funds potentially coming from various sources such as property, ISA savings, an annuity, a private pension and a state pension, reports Birmingham Live.
Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighted the necessity for sufficient planning for early retirement: "Those who want to retire before the state pension age need to make sure their retirement fund whatever the source is adequate to fill that gap between retiring and receiving the state pension," she explained. "The last thing any retiree wants is to give up work, splurge all their retirement savings and then be forced back into work."
"You can choose to work full time or phase into retirement through part-time work," Morrissey continued. "It's also not a one-way street. Once retired you can always return to work if you feel you need or want to."
She also pointed out an often-overlooked option concerning the state pension: "If you find you don't need your state pension while you are working then you can opt to stop receiving it for a period of time in return for receiving a higher amount later on. However, you can only do this once."
