The Pensions time bomb is potentially avoidable with the introduction Basic Income Guarantee

Pension queue heroes -

How to meet minimise the 'black hole' is a supposed time bomb problem

Supposedly we are all living longer these days as the official figures hype, but I'm not sharing that view.

Look at any 1970's tv programs and one thing you'll notice is how slim the people were then. Today, it is almost the opposite, it seems the norm now that so many 'lard arses' are now on display and clogging up the NHS and using this to become signed off from working  on disability benefits.

The knock-on effect of obesity is that these people are unlikely to make old bones, but the problem should be addressed far earlier than it often is. Which may be good news for pension fund holders if the status quo pervades. They won't have to pay out on clients who snuff it before retiring.

Your contributions in taxes are what largely pays your benefits

It is YOUR money being paid back to you. It is not the Governments in the main.

So, where does your Pension or Benefit payment come from? You. Yes You.

You've paid for it through National Insurance contributions, income tax, VAT, car tax and any other number of means over many years.

So why is there this supposed 'Pensions Time bomb'? True, generations born in the 1920's have lived to a ripe old age in some cases and we now see the most centenarians in our population ever, but the reality is that for tomorrow, we may see a different story.

As I have said earlier, health is the big issue in society today. Obesity of a size (no pun intended) not seen before means that life expectancy for some of our society will be greatly curtailed. Not only obesity but diabetes will also help cull the population and load the NHS.

Robotics and automation silently are claiming millions of human jobs

from our workplace year on year

So, this leaves us with this problem of paying for old age. Or is the problem just being hyped up? True that the 1920's generation which is now heading for the cemetery will be gone in fifteen years potentially.

This means the generation that fought in WW2 will have gone, long life expectancy and all. But what of the Roswell generation that came after? Those born in the war and soon after WW2?

Yes, these boomers are now hitting their 70's and in the past generations, their life expectancy was likely to average around 80 years old as a lifespan, but there were exceptions living past the 100 barrier. Will they live as long?

The subsequent generations have become less healthy through a combination of lifestyle, diet and working environment. Many people are no longer physically active at work, much of our work is desk based, not in manufacturing as it used to be.

Basic Income will provide a financial safety net

So, what is our answer to the alleged pensions pit? A surprisingly simple and affordable one.

The proposition has been talked about for many years and is called 'Basic Income,' 'Basic Income Payment,' or 'Basic Income Guarantee.'

Whatever you call it, it amounts to essentially the same thing. The state pays out a tax free 'living wage' level payment to anyone over 16 until the time you die. Now more than ever, this is the way forward, there is no alternative as robots take our work away.

Why should pensioners pay tax on money they may already have paid tax on? This is madness! BIG gives you your state money tax free.

Essentially to do this, we scrap the current DWP benefit system which is out of date, over burdensome, nasty and sanction based and in its place, we pay a flat rate out. Tax free.

The category is all that changes in the benefit. The categories are 16-18, employed, unemployed, sick/disabled, pensioner. Easy. One payment level. untick one box, tick another when their status changes.

The BIG payment for each person is anticipated to be more than the current pension rate. This will allow pensioners who have contributed to the wealth of this country to get back a pension at a decent level. They will have more money to save or spend and the spent money goes into the economy to help boost the economy, creating jobs and further wealth.

So why is this not being done?

I have no idea. Frankly, it so bleeding obvious, but then again we are dealing with government.

In America, the Social Security department costed Basic Income and it was found to be cheaper than the present system, so the financial argument is made.

So, I urge you, regardless of where you currently are in the employment or benefits scale, to sign petitions to get the government to introduce Basic Income at a viable level.

The world of work is moving to a situation where BOE Chief Mark Carney states that 15 million jobs will be lost to automation, the problem is we are well on our way to that situation.