Pension schemes currently in place in the UK are unlikely to prevent retirees becoming poorer, says one expert.

Liberal Democrat shadow work and pensions secretary Steve Webb reveals that there is so far no intention to restore the link between pensions and earnings.

"Pensioners should not be forced to rely on complex means-tested benefits in their retirement, which has put many off from even claiming," he continues.

He describes the pensions as "too little to live on", suggesting a more generous scheme is required.

In May 2008, there were 2.72 million claimants of Pension Credit (3.32 million including partners), a fall of 14,000 on a year earlier.

Of these, 882,000 claimed Guarantee Credit only, 1.25 million claimed Guarantee and Savings Credit and 591,000 were claiming Savings Credit only.

The National Association of Pension Funds says that 96 per cent of pension schemes surveyed believe that the economic crisis has made the closure of defined benefit schemes more likely, while 72 per cent said closure was much more likely.