[{"id": 142167, "created": "2020-07-02T01:11:18.872904", "project_id": 467, "task_id": 91059, "user_id": 677, "user_ip": null, "finish_time": "2020-07-02T01:16:04.130325", "timeout": null, "calibration": null, "external_uid": null, "media_url": null, "info": {"comments": "", "graphelem": "", "leafletBody": "The economic arguments for independence and the Scottish Government's pensions in an independent Scotland. "}}, {"id": 144474, "created": "2020-07-22T12:13:42.013680", "project_id": 467, "task_id": 91059, "user_id": 2162, "user_ip": null, "finish_time": "2020-07-22T12:29:22.625855", "timeout": null, "calibration": null, "external_uid": null, "media_url": null, "info": {"comments": "", "graphelem": "", "leafletBody": "Will the state pension age be the same? It could be lower. Following a vote for independence the Scottish Government will form an expert commission to review the UK's proposed pension age increase to 67, and recommend the right approach for Scotland.\r\n\r\nWhat about the new single tier pension being offered by Westminster? Will we get that after independence? Yes. The Scottish Government will pay a single tier pension of \u00a3160 a week from 2016, higher than is being offered by Westminster.\r\n\r\nWhat about Savings Credit? The Scottish Government will pay Savings Credit at \u00a318 a week. Westminster plans to abolish Savings Credit after 2016.\r\n\r\nI have an occupational pension, what happens to that? Occupational and personal pension rights will stay the same after independence - you have accrued these benefits and are legally entitled to them.\r\n\r\nWhat happens to my NHS/civil service/council pension? The Scottish Government will meet all public sector pension obligations and all schemes will be fully protected. The Scottish Public Pensions Agency already administers a lot of public sector pensions here.\r\n\r\nBut how can an independent Scotland afford better pensions? There are numerous examples of successful pensions schemes in other medium sized countries like Scotland that perform more successfully than the UK. Scotland has a strong fiscal balance providing, on average, 9.5% of the UK's total tax base from only 8.4% of the UK population. So pensions are more affordable in Scotland because we already pay more tax per head than in the rest of the UK. According to the Financial Times: \"An independent Scotland could also expect to start life with healthier state finances than the rest of the UK.\" (3 Feb 2014)\r\n\r\nBut isn't it safer to stay as we are now? Britain's pensions are the fourth worst in Europe. A No vote will mean things stay much as they are. It means retiring at 67 or even older, a loss of Savings Credit for the poorest pensioners and a smaller single-tier pension. The UK Government's track record with pensions is poor. Scotland's pension system will serve the people of Scotland. Pensions will be guaranteed on independence but, importantly, independence will give us the chance to decide pensions policy for ourselves and make  sure we can properly protect decent pensions for our older people.\r\n\r\nSee also:\r\nbit.ly/IndyPension - the Scottish Government's Pensions in an Independent Scotland\r\nbuisnessforscotland.co.uk - the economic arguments for independence\r\n"}}]