In response to the announcement by Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien that benefits for older people are to be made simpler, a number of organisations have commented.

Help the Aged director of policy Paul Cann states that the reforms will bring about a host of "small but significant" changes to the state pension system, noting that it is positive that the government is taking steps to pay benefits automatically.

"We hope this will represent the beginning of a process to really simplify the benefits maze for older people," he states.

He concluded that there is still work to be done on the matter and the government must "rise to the challenge".

Joanne Segars, chief executive of the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF), adds that the measures are an "important first step" in helping to secure the future of pensions.

Around ten million working people are currently in NAPF member schemes and approximately five million pensioners are receiving retirement income from such programmes.