WORKERS fear dying before ever getting their pension amid a bleak forecast that could see millions worked to the grave.
This week The Sun revealed the Government are planning to hike the retirement age to 68 as early as 2035.
6Residents in Glasgow are concerned about the pension hike newsCredit: Tom Farmer
6Scots construction worker Nigel Love said he was ‘worried’ about the pension age hikeCredit: Les GallagherIt means Brits born in the 1970s and later are likely to be told they must work for longer as early as the March Budget.
This comes despite the state pension age already due to rise from 66 to 67 by 2028.
Nowhere is this grim forecast felt more heavily than Glasgow.
Here, the average remaining life expectancy after 40 is 34.8 and 39.8 years for men and women respectively.
In comparison, women in London’s upmarket Kensington and Chelsea can live an extra 9.3 years than those in Glasgow.
The grim figures coupled with news of the pension hike have left residents in the Scottish city reeling, stressing it is the working class that “suffer”.
“Worried” Scots construction workers Nigel Love, 55, and Steven Munro, 28, say they would be furious if the age was increased on state pensions.
Nigel blasted: “Life expectancy means the working class will suffer and they won’t benefit from the pension.
“I’ve worked my entire life and paid my taxes my whole life but if I injure myself or I’m out of work tomorrow I get nothing.”
Steven added: “You just don’t know what’s going to happen especially in our job.”
Both said they feared being forced to secure money later in life, or even having to go back to work in old age just to make ends meet.
Retired amateur photographer Robin Miller, 67, said he thinks the proposed raise is “outrageous”.
He explained: “There’s a question for the people who do survive to it being left with nothing unless they’re on some kind of benefits.
“That’s the way the world is: ‘look after yourself because we won’t’, money is more important than people’.”
‘PLAYING WITH FIRE’
While videographer Kaitlin Wraight, believes the move is more political with a disregard for those who may need it the most.
The 22-year-old added: “The NHS is in such a crisis, by the time our health deteriorates we won’t be able to work as long.
“It’s just atrocious.”
Ministers are planning to move the pension hike date forward as the population gets older and birth rates plummet.
The plans, which could come in the March budget, would mean fewer young people forced to pay the tax bill.
But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and PM Rishi Sunak have been warned they were “playing with fire” if the huge change came before the next general election.
Despite the backlash, retired Anne Brown stressed how people pass away every day before they can claim their pension and said the hikes were “reasonable”.
She said: “There are two ways to look at it: Young people are preparing to pay into it now and pensioners have already paid in for it.
“People like me, in their 60s, definitely deserve it.”
A rise from 67 to 68 is not due to happen until 2046, but an upcoming review of pension ages is set to say it should be brought forward.
6Retired amateur photographer Robin Miller, 67, said he thinks the proposed raise is outrageousCredit: Les Gallagher
6Anne Brown stressed people pass away every day before they can claim their pension and said the hikes were ‘reasonable’Credit: Les Gallagher
6Kaitlin Wraight says the pension age plans disregard for those who may need it the mostCredit: Les Gallagher
6Steven Munro, 28, said the future is uncertain following the news on the pension hikesCredit: Les Gallagher
Story Credit: thesun.co.uk