Employment, student accounts, food prices and homeowners

Ill-health or disability is forcing one in eight people to stop working before they reach the state pension age, according to the TUC.

The union found almost half a million people have had to leave work for medical reasons within five years before they were due to retire. In March the Government announced an independent review into the state pension age. The Government said it already provides support for ill or disabled workers. Research by the TUC, however, points to a significant north/south divide. In the south west of England, just one in 13 people blamed sickness or disability for leaving work. However, that figure rises to one in seven in the north of England, Scotland and Wales and one in four in Northern Ireland. Those in the lowest-paid jobs or in manual work are also twice as likely to stop working for health reasons than managers or professionals. Student accounts