West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin last week visited Malvern’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau to promote a new free and impartial pensions guidance service. Reforms which came into place earlier this year mean that pensioners can get better access to their savings and allow them to take their pension as a lump sum, keep some of it invested or but an annuity. Malvern’s CAB is now home to Pension Wise – a new Government service designed to help people make sense of their pension options, and empower them to make the right choices for them. Harriett met with Richard West and Sue Vickers to discuss how the service can help local people. As well as being local MP, Harriett is also the Government Minister responsible for overseeing the service across the country. Harriett commented: “The Government has changed the way people can access their pension pots to give them greater choice of how to access their money and still provide for the future. “There has been some publicity about this change over recent weeks and I was keen to promote this local service for those who want to get free, impartial guidance. “I took the opportunity to have a chat about my own pensions needs and I can thoroughly recommend the service.” South Worcestershire CAB CEO Karen Edwards added: "South Worcestershire CAB will be delivering Pension Wise appointments from the Malvern office at Enigma Business Park, giving easy access to Pension Wise. “Pensions can be a confusing topic and Pension Wise appointments will help people to make sense of their pension choices. South Worcestershire CAB already helps people with retirement issues and we’ll continue to offer this service outside of Pension Wise.” Photo: Sue Vickers and Richard West with Harriett Baldwin MP.