It surprises me that the low paid’s income is portrayed as state pension when those who have nothing else coming in have a strong hope for pension credit.

Achieving state pension age ought to be something to be congratulated upon. A combination of pension credit and income from the state pension protected from tax by the Pension Tax Allowance makes state pension age something to look forward.

Do we really think that reaching state pension age should not be rewarded? It is something that men have waited two years past what was once 65 and it’s something some seven years since WASPI.

We say that we are pension professionals. That means considering the economics of the IFS as mean spirited. There has always been an actual metaphorical “carriage clock” as a reward for surviving. For some the length of being a pensioner can be a few years of even months but at least they will be improved by the Pension Tax Allowance which undoubtedly be replaced when the review of state pension age is completed and acted upon.

The Pension Tax allowance is only “for now”, let’s not begrudge a decent act by a Government which is showing itself on the side of the low earning pensioner.