Has the Coalition strengthened older people's rights?

The Coalition one year on...

Last May the Coalition Government was formed. Since then, Age UK has worked to ensure that the views and needs of those in later life have been recognised in the Government's plans and policies. To mark the one year anniversary of the Coalition, we look at what the Government has done so far to better the lives of older people and where we think it could do more.

Reform of the NHS, pensions reform, and fuel poverty are some of the big issues that the Government has sought to tackle in its first year against a backdrop of economic austerity. Overall the Coalition has taken some positive and welcome steps towards creating a better later life for older people, but there remain issues of concern for older people that it has yet to address.

Abolishing the Default Retirement Age

In the face of very vocal opposition from certain elements in the business community, the Government has held firm in abolishing the Default Retirement Age.

This is a great step forward for two reasons:

1. It allows individuals greater choice in being able to work longer rather than being forced to retire when they reach 65
2. It should also help change society’s perception of older people. Not having a 'use by' date, allows older people to remain a useful part of the working community for as long as they need or want.

However, it is projected that, by 2020, 1 in 3 workers in the UK will be aged over 50. Greater support for older jobseekers and those in employment who may want to change careers later in their working lives must be provided. Negative perceptions of older workers still persist and age discrimination is still common, especially in recruitment.

Uncertainty over the Equalities Act

The Equalities Act provides essential rights for some of the most vulnerable in society. It is disappointing that it continues to be equated with meaningless bureaucracy as part of the government red tape challenge, rather than an expression of core values in our society.

Older people continue to face discrimination in financial services and the Government’s proposal to widen the breadth of exemptions for age discrimination regulations beyond risk-related financial products such as insurance is concerning.

Though progress has been made so far, much more can still be done to improve the lives of older people. Age UK will continue to campaign for a better later life for all and ensure that the Coalition does more to achieve a better report card rating next year.