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The Under-pensioned 2016

Report type
Research and reports
Issue date

This TUC-sponsored report The Under-pensioned 2016 carried out by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), shows that women have, on average, £7,500 in savings in defined contribution schemes, compared to £14,500 for men. And women typically have £32,000 in pension savings in defined benefit schemes, whereas men have £62,900.​

In 2003 and again in 2008 the PPI explored current and future pension incomes of women, disabled people and people from ethnic minority groups. The research concluded that women, disabled people and people from ethnic minority groups are more likely to have many of the “alarm bell” characteristics that are associated with lower pension incomes. The reports identified current and future differences in pension income between these groups and a median-earning, traditionally employed, male pensioner. This report examines whether and by how much differences in state and private pension entitlement have changed since the 2003 and 2008 analysis, in light of reforms, and investigates how income differences may be reduced in future.

Chapter one introduces the under-pensioned, runs through the high-level results and methodology from the 2008 under-pensioned report, and looks at relevant policy developments since its publication.
Chapter two explores the labour market characteristics of people who belong to different groups.
Chapter three explores differences in pension savings, entitlement and income, and explores differences in eligibility for means-tested benefits, between people from the under-pensioned groups and the median earning male.
Chapter four explores the future pension incomes of the under-pensioned and how policy levers might affect differences in pension income.

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