The Unfathomable Language of Pensions

A MORI poll, commissioned by the Plain English Campaign on the language used in pension information, has revealed that over four in ten of those contributing (or preparing to contribute) to a pension scheme thought the language used was confusing.

• Only 10% think the language in pension literature is very clear
• 32% view it as only fairly clear
• 31% think it is fairly confusing
• 12% think it is very confusing
• 10% rate it as neither clear nor confusing, or don't know

The language used in company / employer sceme literature is thought to be clearer than that used in State Earnings Related Pensions Schemes (SERPS) or Personal Pension Plans (PPPs).

• 40% of British adults currently have a pension, or are preparing to contibute to a pension scheme
• The most common types of pension are company / employer schemes (about 25% of British adults contribute to one, or are preparing to do so), followed by personal plans (15%). Only 9% mentioned SERPS - it may be that some people did not realise thay are making these payments.
• More than 60% of 35-64 year-olds have a pension or are preparing to contribute to one
• Southerners (44%) are more likely to have a pension scheme than Northerners (33%).
• People in the London TV region (49%) are the most likely to have one, while those in the Granada region are the least likely (31%).

Technical details

The survey involved 1,928 adults, living in 168 constituencies across the United Kingdom. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in their homes.