Scottish Pensions Association
A Brief History
The Scottish Old Age Pensions Association (SOAPA) was the first
organisation of its kind to be established in the UK, and was
treated out of need to show that the way pensioners were being
treated was unacceptable. The Pensions Act of 1908 to a degree
lessened the shadow of the Workhouse that hung like a cloud over the
elderly. Those over 70 years were to receive 5 shillings a week;
married couple 7 shillings and sixpence, but the wife had to be over
70 as well. In Scotland there was also the added complication of the
established Church, which generally argued that pensions should be
left t small enough so that the virtues of thrift and self-help were
encouraged. Pensions were fixed at a maximum rate of 5 shillings and
awarded after a means test to those whose a yearly income did not
exceed £31.00 and 10 shillings. It was almost 30 years later that
the first official meeting of SOAPA took id place, well the 16th
February 1937 m, to be exact, within the British Legion at Halls in
the Canongate, Edinburgh. It was the culmination of a general "right
to live" demand by many branches.
SOAPA has been at the forefront of the pensioners struggle ever
since as a self help, self advocacy organisation which for the last
66 years has attempted with much success, to influence Social Policy
affecting older people at local and national level. Many notable
successes have been achieved , along with a self organised Branch
Structure which enables the members to progress their aims and
objectives. The highs, and yes the lows are clearly documented in
the history of the Association, but throughout all those years, with
no paid officials, staffed entirely by volunteers, SOAPA has stood
tall and played a major role in the pensioners movement..
At the Annual Conference in the year 1999 it was overwhelmingly
agreed to drop the two words "OLD AGE" from the title as
inappropriate in today's world when people are retiring much earlier
than their predecessors, and to encourage anyone in Scotland,
regardless of age, who is in receipt of or requires information
relating to a State or private pension to join, or to seek support
and information from the Association.
The Scottish Pensions Association (SPA) is the umbrella organisation
for 72 branches and 6000 members
