Interesting discussion on #BBCBreakfast about @mariecurieuk proposals to enable terminally-ill people of working age to claim state pensions and/or Pension Credit. While I understand the reasons for this proposal, I don't think it is the right solution. 1/
@mariecurieuk Firstly, the argument appears to be based on the idea that NI contributions are payments into a pension fund. But NI contributions are taxes, not pension contributions.
Secondly, according to @mariecurieuk, terminally-ill people have on average paid 24 years of NICs. But this isn't enough to entitle them to a full state pension. Most terminally-ill people would thus also need to claim Pension Credit (which the charity also proposes).
If Government introduced a means for some people of working-age to claim state pensions because they have paid NICs, it would be very hard not to make the case for ANYONE to be able to claim state pensions once they have paid more than the minimum 10 years.
And indeed for relatives of people who died before reaching state pension age to claim state pensions as an inheritance.
Enabling terminally-ill people to claim state pensions purely on the grounds that they have "paid in" would open a Pandora's box.
Enabling terminally-ill people to claim state pensions purely on the grounds that they have "paid in" would open a Pandora's box.
It really is time this issue was put to bed once and for all. NICs are not contributions to a pension scheme. They are taxes. There is no fund, no investments and nothing to draw on.
The state pension is a welfare benefit intended for the relief of poverty in old age.
The state pension is a welfare benefit intended for the relief of poverty in old age.
That said, @mariecurieUK is right to highlight the appalling treatment of terminally-ill working-age people under the present system, which results in many of them experiencing abject poverty.
A wedge has been driven between working-age benefits and the state pension in the name of forcing people to work. Demonisation of benefit claimants has led directly to policy changes that intentionally cause poverty among working-age people, including the terminally ill.
Poverty among terminally-ill people is not a bug, it's a feature of a harsh and callous system. State pensioners are excluded from the misery of this system. No wonder @MarieCurieUK wants the state pension extended to people who aren't old enough to claim it.
But the solution is to be more generous and compassionate towards working-age people who through no fault of their own are unable to work. Raise benefit levels, end stringent fitness-to-work tests, eliminate harsh sanctions. This is what @MarieCurieUK should be campaigning for.
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