Attitudes to Pensions Survey, 2012

The <i>Attitudes to Pensions Survey</i> series aims to investigate attitudes to pensions and private financial preparations for later life in Great Britain. The baseline survey was conducted in 2006 with a follow-up conducted in 2009. These two surveys were both conducted by NatCen Social Research on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The 2012 survey was conducted by TNS BMRB on behalf of DWP. One of the key aims of the survey series is to examine continuity and change in attitudes to financial planning for retirement over time so a large number of the questions have been repeated over all three surveys.<br>
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The <i>Attitudes to Pensions Survey, 2012</i> is the third survey in the series. Although the survey retains key questions from the previous surveys in the series, the sample definition and questionnaire are two key areas of change in the 2012 survey. <br>
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For the 2012 survey, the upper age limit for participation in the survey of 69, in place in the two previous surveys, was removed so that anyone aged 18 or over was eligible to take part. This reflected the need to research issues around policies aimed at redefining retirement, encouraging more flexible working and extending working life. <br>
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The questionnaire was changed to reflect the changing policy environment in particular:<ul><li>inclusion of more attitudes to reflect automatic aspects of behaviour</li><li>questions included to reflect changing circumstance/policy interest</li><li>less emphasis on some details (e.g. provision)</li><li>a new section on automatic enrolment</li></ul>