Pensions A text-only version of this complete section, designed for printing, is available here .
Pensions can be hard to get to grips with.
This is partly because, for many, old age seems a long way off and pension provision a low priority. It is also because pensions are complicated. But there can be a considerable period of retirement to provide for, and to ignore planning for this time could lead to hardship. Currently, nearly half of retired people rely on the basic state pension . From April 1998, the rates are 66.75 per week for a single person and 106.70 for a married couple.