Prudential Reveals One in Three UK Workers Don’t Have a Pension

LONDON, September 15, 2011 -

Prudential has revealed that more than one in three (35 per cent) workers in the UK admit that they don’t have a pension, meaning that they will have to rely on the State Pension and any savings in retirement.

The survey of 1,600 working adults also found that those who do contribute to a company or private pension pay in an average of 6.2 per cent of their annual incomes. Women are far less likely to save for their retirement with 41 per cent saying they do not have a pension, compared with 29 per cent of men.

To make matters worse for those who do not save into a pension fund, as well as facing a sharp drop in income at retirement, they are also missing out on significant tax relief during their working lives. Office of National Statistics figures suggest that the average worker in the UK earns nearly £1 million over the course of their working lives. An individual making the average pension contribution of 6.2 per cent of this income could receive a total of more than £15,000 in pension tax relief.

While the average tax relief on pension contributions is £334 per year for a person paying the basic rate of tax, higher rate taxpayers stand to lose substantially more by not paying into a pension scheme.

Vince Smith-Hughes, head of business development at Prudential, said: “Failing to save into a pension means not only having to rely solely on the State Pension in retirement, but also missing out on the ‘free money boosts’ which come with pensions, such as tax relief and employer contributions.

“Making regular pension contributions is a vital part of securing a comfortable retirement. Although saving for retirement may not be a priority for young people, the more money which is stashed away from an early age, the more likely that significant rewards will be reaped later in life.

“When coupled with the benefits of any additional employer contributions or gains through fund performance, a pension is the best way of saving for retirement, for many people. In order to maximise pension benefits, to understand the impact of tax relief, and ultimately to secure a decent retirement income, it’s important to seek professional financial advice.”

Notes to Editors

- Prudential’s insights are based on a survey of 1,602 non-retired adults in the UK, conducted by Research Plus in August 2011

- An individual earning £60,000, and making a typical pension contribution, will receive £2,480 a year in tax relief; someone earning £100,000 will receive £4,133. Analysis of lifetime earnings and total UK working population based on the Office for National Statistics 2010 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE)

- Tax relief calculation based on median earnings taken from the 2010 ASHE across an individual’s lifetime, based on current tax rates and thresholds, and a typical pension contribution of 6.2%

About Prudential:

‘Prudential’ is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including pensions, life assurance, advice on planning for retirement, which includes pension advice and annuity service.

PR Contact:
Jo Field
3 Sheldon Square
London
W2 6PR
+44(0)20 7150 2047
www.pru.co.uk

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