People on low incomes and self-employed workers should be encouraged to save for their retirement, says Citizens Advice.

Responding to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s (WPSC) report on automatic enrolment, the national charity welcomed recommendations to help people on low incomes and the self-employed save into a pension.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice said:

“Millions of people are missing out on the financial security of a pension.

“People on low incomes who aren’t automatically enrolled into a pension scheme often don’t pay into a pension at all. The Work and Pensions Select Committee has heard our call to lower the threshold for automatic enrolment, so more people can save for their retirement.

“Self-employed people need the same support to save as employees. Our evidence shows that many self-employed workers don’t know how to pay into a pension, and being given the chance to opt-in while reviewing their tax return is a good first step.”

View report: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news-parliament-2015/auto-enrolment-report-published-15-16/

Notes to editors

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.
5. Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication Advice trends.
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.