YOUNG AND SKINT, OLD AND SKINT

It should come as no shock for many workers to learn of the following. "Millions of older workers face ­poverty in retirement as they look set to have less than the minimum wage as their pension. More than a quarter of over-50s have no ­retirement savings. And those who are putting money aside cut back by more than ­£8billion last year on the amount they are saving. With no financial cushion they will be forced to rely on the basic state pension which offers just £5,587 a year – 51 per cent lower than the £11,477 a full-time worker on the minimum wage earns." (Daily Express, 16 May) The only thing that will seem strange is that the writer seems to think that retired workers will "face poverty" as if this was a new experience for those who have lived in poverty throughout their working life. RD