To complain to DWP re:WASPI site Pension Inequality

[Scally]

Women have a longer life expectancy than men, yet have been able to retire five years younger than men for the last 50 years.
This is not right. Fact is, when the State Pension was introduced, people lived on average, about 20 years less than they do now.
It was about time it changed, but I am sorry for people who have been hit by this cliff-edge. It could have been handled so much better.

[Greta]

Yes, I was shocked by the way it was done. My pension is German. My retirement age was always 65 but it went up to 65 and 4 months for me and longer for people younger because they staggered it (I'm 68 now). When I came back to London I found a district nurse whose pension age had changed from 60 to over 65 over a very short period.

[bowlingbun]

I was widowed at 54. Then I was expecting a pension at 60. I was seriously disabled in a car crash, unable to walk properly until I had major surgery years later. Then the date of my pension went back to the age of 63, so I spent savings intended for retirement years long before retirement. I was stunned to discover there was no such thing as a widows pension any more, bereavement allowance is only paid for a year. This is going to adversely affect women who were caring for much older spouses, unable to work. Apparently I'm going to miss out again when a new guaranteed pension comes into force soon!! My husband wanted to set up my own private pension for me years ago, but then government rules said you could only have one if you were working, only I was caring. This is so unfair, and many women won't know until it's too late!

[jenny lucas]

I don't disagree, Scally, about the greater life expectancy of women, to me it's the abruptness of the 'cliff' as you describe it. The changeover should have been more gradual.

To my mind, one significant way the government could ameliorate it is by saying that at 60 women in work don't need to pay in any more NI, because that would be a real help to my mind, even if they can't collect their pension till they're 65.

[Huegatort]

This is what I read in the Daily express this week:
Older women who face working longer because of a rise in the state pension age were given no hope of help by the Pensions minister yesterday
Baroness Altmann told the work and pensions select committee of MPs that the government would not yield
to campaigners demands.
She said of the group WASPI "What they are calling for- and what I don't support-is to undo the 1995Pensions Act."
The act introduced changes to bring the state pension age for women in line with Men.
But campaigners say women born in the 1950s are unfairly penalised by delaying their retirement.

I have to say that I was infuriated by what this woman said! Like many I expected to retire and receive my pension at 60; like most I worked from the age of 15; this is not right and I don't know if it could be looked on as discriminatory!?
How is it people who are not in our position can make statements like this, he obviously isn't short of money!

[Huegatort]

The last sentence should read she and not he.

[Penny]

Women have a longer life expectancy than men, yet have been able to retire five years younger than men for the last 50 years.
This is not right. Fact is, when the State Pension was introduced, people lived on average, about 20 years less than they do now.
It was about time it changed, but I am sorry for people who have been hit by this cliff-edge. It could have been handled so much better.

It was the speed that this was rushed through that is not fair. Women born in the early 50s had no time to make financial arrangements and some didn't even receive notification. I am meticulous in keeping anything "official" and I can't find a letter telling me about the changes.

[NanaNana]

I'm 1959 and had no idea about this.

[Scally]

Its quite complicated. For many years , women were not even allowed to join company pension schemes. And I have known women in good jobs in e.g. banks, who were dismissed when they got married - it is hard to believe it now, but that was perfectly legal until equalities legislation started to come in. Whilst until relatively recently, well, only 30 years ago - men and married women were not allowed to claim Carers Allowance - So the whole field is a total mess.
https://www.carersuk.org/about-us/who-w ... ur-history

[sunnydisposition]

I was suppose to under the original legislation to retire at 60 when my husband would be also 65. Now I have to wait until I am 66. My husband will get his pension at 65. My husband will be 72 before I receive my pension. We are told to plan for retirement.