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17 January 2013 09:22
The new state pension plans are intended to simplify the present system by introducing a single flat rate pension from 2017
A new overhaul of the state pension could leave more than 50% of those who reach retirement age after 2060 less well-off, according to new research. The proposals are intended to simplify the present system by introducing a single flat rate pension from 2017, worth approximately £144 a week in today's currency.
While the Government's White Paper acknowledges that some groups will lose out, there has been fierce debate about who will be hit hardest by the reforms. The coalition claims the burden will largely be borne by high earners, while the changes will benefit women, low earners and the self-employed. However, Labour has warned that the plans will hit more than 400,000 women who are close to pension age, while men in the same position will be spared.
The proposals represent a cut in pension entitlements for the majority in the long-term, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said. Campaigners fear the changes could make it impossible for pensioners to enjoy their retirement by eating out or taking holidays, especially once extra costs like seniors' travel insurance are taken into consideration. However, pensions minister Steve Webb said there were "far more winners" under the new scheme.
19 April 2018
A self-injected smart drug may be the key to easing and preventing pain for migraine sufferers.
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17 April 2018
Despite its reputation as a party drug, ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic. A recent US study found use of the drug via a nasal spray led to "significant" improvements in depressive symptoms in the first 24 hours.
Simple brain-training exercises carried out at home have been shown to reduce emotional stress in female breast cancer survivors, it's recently been revealed.
13 April 2018
Drinkers who consume more alcohol than UK guidelines suggest could be cutting years off their lives, according to new research.
12 April 2018
A recent study has revealed that people who sustain brain injuries are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.
11 April 2018
Scientists have announced their latest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, after neutralising a high-risk gene in a human brain cell for the first time.
07 April 2018
The Philippines is set to shut its most famous holiday island of Boracay for six months, after the President described it as a "cesspool".
05 April 2018
Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco - nicknamed "sin taxes" - could be a powerful step towards combating rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide, research has suggested.
New "one-stop shops" to speed up cancer diagnosis are being trialled across the country for the first time.
30 March 2018
Doctors should tell patients that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking but not without risk, according to new national guidance.
29 March 2018
Young people suffering from mental health problems are finding it hard to get the support they need, a survey has revealed.
28 March 2018
Children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb may achieve poorer test results at school, a study has suggested.