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    From Ros Altmann:economist and pensions,
    investment and retirement policy expert

  • pensionsandsavings.com

    High Court ruling on women’s state pension age

    High Court ruling on women’s state pension age

    • 1950s women disappointed as High Court says Government did not discriminate against them.  
    • Equalising pension AGE does not mean pension equality – women still get much lower pensions than men.
    •  Many women have been pushed into poverty and did not know about the changes.
    • Government should help those in hardship – perhaps allowing early access to State Pension or Pension Credit for those hardest hit. 

    In a landmark ruling today, the High Court has dismissed the claim brought on behalf of 3.6million women whose state pension age has been increased sharply, often without their knowledge. The judges ruled that the Government was correcting a past inequality against men, rather than discriminating against women, and was entitled to change pension ages at short notice and without due warnings.

    This may not be discrimination, but it has caused real hardship: It was always going to be difficult to prove that a policy intended to equalise men and women’s pension age was discriminatory. But many of those affected are suffering real hardship because successive Governments failed to properly inform women of the original 1995 Act changes, so they were expecting their State Pension at age 60 and had inadequate chances to prepare. That is perhaps more like maladministration than discrimination.

    Equalising pension age, does not deliver equal pensions: They may start their State Pension at the same age, but this is far from pension equality as women generally have much worse pensions than men. Not only do older women have lower State Pensions, those in their early 60s are estimated to have just one third of the private pension wealth of men too.

    Women lose out in pensions due to social norms and past disadvantage: Social norms caused women to lose out in pensions throughout their lives. When they were younger, they were often excluded from occupational schemes, were paid less than men and had to take time out for childcare. That meant their lifetime incomes are lower than men’s and the increase in divorce rates also means women have lost the husband’s pension they might previously have relied on.

    State pensions are a state benefit, not a property right: The High Court concluded that Government can change State Pension rules, with Parliamentary approval, just as it can change other National Insurance benefits. Adjustments to social policy and controlling benefit expenditure are valid policy decisions. Of course, with an aging population, rising longevity and pay-as-you-go pensions, the Government needs to control state pension costs, to protect younger generations of taxpayers.

    Increasing State Pension age saved huge sums to Exchequer: Estimates suggest the rise in women’s State Pension age between 2010 and 2016 saved over £5billion in public spending. There is a three-fold benefit for the Treasury. Firstly, not paying their pensions. Secondly, higher tax and national insurance receipts as women keep working while waiting for their State Pension. Thirdly, the additional should boost the economy.

    But rising State Pension Ages have increased poverty: Many of the women waiting longer for their state pension have been pushed into poverty. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies found one in five women aged 60-62 were in income poverty when their state pension age was increased to 63 by 2016. The study showed that men have been affected by rising poverty too, as the starting age for receipt of means-tested Pension Credit has increased in line with rising women’s state pension ages.

     Governments failed to properly inform people about their state pension age rising: Obviously, policy changes of such magnitude need to be communicated well in advance, so the women are given time to prepare for delays in starting pension receipt. Unfortunately, as the BackTo60 and WASPI campaigns highlight, the failure to communicate clearly and effectively has caused real problems for many of the women affected.

    Continued rise in pension ages makes no allowance for those who cannot work:  If older women can stay in work, they can probably manage without their state pension, but many are caring for loved ones, or in poor health, or facing ageism in the workplace so they are unable to do so. There is a stark cliff-edge between the benefits available to people below state pension age and those above it. Although this is designed to encourage more people to keep working, it makes no allowances for the significant minority of older people who genuinely cannot work. If they have no private pension or other savings, due to being disadvantaged throughout their lives by lower earnings and pension rights, then will be struggling.

    I believe Government should help – perhaps with early access to state pension and pension credit if needed: Although it is not realistic to give all the 1950s-born women their State Pension back to age 60 – the cost would be over £150billion – I do believe Government has responsibility to help. As Pensions Minister, I proposed allowing early access to State Pension for those in poor health. This would finally recognise the significant differences in healthy life expectancy across the country, which mean some people genuinely cannot work. Also, those who are caring for others may need to retire. Yet, under current rules, even if they have paid decades of National Insurance, they cannot get a penny of their State Pension early. Another potential reform would see Government allowing people to claim Pension Credit before State Pension age, to help the poorest who would otherwise be in poverty. In light of the cost savings from increasing the State Pension Age, it should surely be possible to offer some mitigation for those worst affected. This could help both men and women.

    I do hope the Government considers these proposals seriously.


    85 thoughts on “High Court ruling on women’s state pension age

    1. It applies to us all. I will not be the poorest but I did not know I was not going to get my pension until I was 56. I thought it was a mistake I’ve lost48000 over the 6 years and had to work for years longer with an arthritic knee and back problems. My husband is 6 years older and has cancer. We hoped to retire together but as I have no other income as I was a divorced mum and my ex husband died abd I had no support I couldn’t save. I didn’t know I needed to!! It’s not just the most poor who have suffered it’s all of us. Please look for compensation for all of us. I’ve worked since I was 15 and it is unfair and has ruined our retirement plans.

      1. I was born February 1961. I’m not a WASPIE, but life and pension benefits didn’t change as soon as 1 January, 1960 arrived. I don’t think women born in 1961 are really any better off. Why didn’t the government leave a clear generation age gap in order to allow women to provide for themselves. The whole system is mean, and unfair.

        1. I agree with your comments as a 1960s born women. I worked from the age of 16 full time in low paid work . I thought I would retire at 60. However it’s 67 I will be working and paying national insurance and tax. I unfortunately did not have the income to put money into a private pension to retire early . I will have to continue struggling on working until 67. I suppose I am lucky I have a job at the moment .

          1. Yes I agree June I’m a 1960s born and not a WASPI. I have worked all my days, I’m tired now but need to work until I’m 67 and struggling. As an NHS worker my body hurts now. I don’t understand why WASPI’S only go to April 1960 because surely it affects all 0f 1960s born & more? Infact pension for all is awful. I have paid NI all my days & still paying for what ?.

    2. I’m a 1950’s born woman and as far as I am concerned the State Pension is NOT a benefit it is an entitlement. I paid NI Contributions for 39 years. If compensation were to be paid it should be to EVERY woman born in the 1950’s. No question.

      1. I totally agree it is not a benefit !!!
        Like you I believe if there is compensation to be had it should be paid to all 1950s born ladies, we have and are all suffering in different ways, we have all paid our NI and taxes, therefore, there shouldn’t be any differentials !!!!

      2. Well said we paid NI to get our pension it is our money not the governments and we should have it at age 60

        1. If you gett your pension from the age of sixty then I want five vears of pension back pay. Fairs fair.
          The pension was, Nd is, based upon contributions just like any pension insurance. Womem did not normally work full time paying full contributions , many left employment to become housewives and lapsed thier contributions.if they had kept up the contribution yhrn they would have got full pension.

          1. Men recieve a higher amount of pension money at the end
            than women..working longer… and women only recieve money due to their number
            of years paid in. Not all will get the full pension accordingly….
            I wonder how many men would have swapped with women and have stayed home…trying to fit in work amongst everything else!
            Then be told the carrot dangling is continually going to be moved!!

            1. Yes I agree . I wanted to retire at 60 and I couldn’t ,it’s one rule for one and one rule for another, it’s all wrong

          2. Men were given extra payments by the government which only stopped in recent years.
            Woman had to take low payed jobs which did not allow you to pay into the pension as you didn’t earn enough

      3. I totally agree with you there, I’m a 1950’s lady too, we paid into our pension all our lives and the government contributed nothing!!
        Why would they think its OK to keep our money we worked hard for!!! Very disappointed on the High Court decision and having to wait until I’m 66 years old is an outrage!!!

      4. Why just the 50’s women?
        I was born Feb 1961 and started working at 17yrs full time. I too was going to receive my state pension at 60yrs old and was never informed differentials by DWP

    3. When this pension apparently accelerated in 2011 8 years is not enough to sort out pension requirements to live on until state pension would be paid . No notice was sent to me about all this . Worked since 16 brought up 4 children whilst working full time and for what ?

      1. I took out a 37 year endowment policy with the co-op for a guaranteed £2000 in June 1972. It cost £22 per quarter year. In 2009 it paid out nearly £15000. That’s the kind of notice you would have needed to pay yourself 2 years (approx) of state pension payout in my experience.

    4. you dont mention anywhere how much money we have individually lost on average.. you also dont mention that at 64years old, and failing health, we have another 2 years to go before we can retire we are all still having to pay into a pot that many of our colleagues paid into and sadly died before getting one brown penny.

    5. The WASPI case needs to take a different approach to their rights. On average women live 4 years longer than men. Therefore on this basis women should receive their pensions 4 years after men. Men are discriminated on this basis. However, if women have OTHER reasons such as being a mother, part time work and lower pay thus placing them in a poorer position in retirement then they need to use that argument for a alternaitve subsidy.

      1. Not to mention the descrimination faced in the workplace. I was passed over for full-time hours in favour of a man because “he had a family to feed” I had a mortgage to pay!
        It’s those kinds of disadvantages over the years that have meant women have not had the level playing field when it came to saving for a pension.

    6. Great sadness at the result. Brought 3 kids up alone and claimed no benefits even had a mortgage. Worked from 15 and devastated at having to work more years. 64 now and had cancer, multiple fractures from a car crash including plates and pins, 2 crush neck fractures just worn out now! Heartbreaking I cannot retire.😪

      1. Yeah I have Ra disfigured hands . Other problems I still work part time due to disabilities I’ve got to have hip elbow knee replacement and hands need pinning . I was hoping to get to 60 to be able to have my hands done as I can’t afford not to work . Or have time off for operations . Do don’t know what I’m going to do . My husband works but my money helps . Really sad I had two kids sometimes two part time jobs but still couldn’t afford private pension my husband has one . But he had it before I meet him .

    7. Why should women be paid less than men regarding pensions? I care for my elderly mum, i receive £66pw and have to work 36 hours for that money. Without my pension I can’t manage. I have rheumatoid arthritis and other things and am struggling myself. How is this right? Give me back my pension I earned and paid for.

    8. I am a 1950’s woman. I found out about this massive increase of almost 7 years on an LEA payslip back in around 2011. Born in April 59 1 should have received my state pension pot in April 2019, however it will be April 2025.
      Whilst teaching for 15 years, a career move, I was uninformed that the NI CONTRIBUTIONS had been partly opted out.
      I had to retire at 56 due to ill health and was awarded early retirement due to ill health.
      My teacher pension is inadequate, even more so when I was informed that part of my pension incorporates the opted out component.
      This was a surprise tbh, but disappointment too as I thought my teacher pension was from that pot only not the opted out component too.
      Yes, lucky to get the opted out component earlier than 2025, but still didn’t fully understand why I cannot get my state pension at 60 years old when my pension is 39 years, the qualifying period for a full pension is 35 years now and not the 30 years.
      Why, if you have fully paid up, should tgere be a cap on the age you receive it?
      For if you pay more into the pot, you do not receive more.
      If you have paid 35 years, then WHY is more money taken but does not increase the value of the pay out?

      THE INCREASE IN STATE PENSION AGE WAS NOT FOR EQUALIZATION, IT WAS FOR SUSTAINABILITY.

      THE STATE PENSION IS NOT A BENEFIT, IT ONLY BECOMES A BENEFIT IF YOU HAVE NEVER PAID IN.
      This whole set up is wrong both morally and financially.

    9. I cannot understand why 1950’s women were singled out as the the deserving group. Surely no coincidence that so many of us have had no indication of this move. I received carers allowance before my newretiremt age then had thousands of pounds taken from my pension back payment. Had I known about the fact that pensioners weren’t entitled, my husband who is three years younger could have claimed carers allowance for our son & my pension years late already would not have been taken from my delayed entitlement as well as waiting 6 years for my pension.

    10. 38 years plus working and still have one year yo wait. I was not told of the changes until I called DWP. so unfair to all the 50’s women.
      Very disappointed with the outcome.

    11. It’s not about equality for men and women it’s about what we all accepted as an agreement with the country that if you pay ni for the require length of time women would get their pension at 60 this agreement had not been met with him the government I would also like to mention that in the 1980 the government agreed for men to finish work the government would pay 5 years ni for them so that they would still get their full pension at 65 also at the time it reduced the unemployment figures now how is that equal

    12. You seem to have forgotten the men born Inthe 50s, we are going to wait a further year, the.covid19 pandemic had left many dead in this age group , millions of pounds will be saved by these deaths. We should reduce this new pension age back to 60 for all.

      1. Yes, I agree. The pension age should be reduced for all. I’m a 1950s woman and have been badly affected by pension age rise. But it is crazy, nonsensical, to keep raising pension ages, for women and men, when so many young people are unemployed. If youngsters are left out of work they will never achieve the work ethic. Leaving school, having years without work, being on benefits, it’s all creating a generation who will feel its unnecessary to bother, so might as well stay on benefits. Where does that leave us in the future? Men generally die earlier than women, so their pension age should have come down to 60. Madness to put everyone’s up to 67. Meanwhile teens and 20s unemployed!

        1. I semi retired at 65 and a half instead of 60 and to add insult to injury you dont get the pension on your birthday but 6 months after, in Total i paid in for 49 years but didnt receive any extra for the extra i paid in, and i was never informed personally about the changes, all i could do was keep on working for the extra years

    13. I retired in 2018 due to my buisness closing. I look after my granddaughter as my daughter is a teacher. I have no income, my daughter pays me expenses to cover transport. I have worked for 44years. I am very angry that i cant have my state pension. Its not my fault people are living longer.

    14. I thought I was getting my pension at 60. I have a very pressurised job in social care which I should not have had to continue in at my age. My daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 2014 and died 3 years later but throughout I had to work full time as I still had a mortgage to pay and without the pension I was expecting I couldn’t meet the repayments. I feel very bitter about the time I couldn’t spend with my daughter.

    15. I was gutted to learn from others, I couldn’t claim my pension at 60 ( my husband was 63). Six months later, my husband passed away. I went into panic more. I was unable to work as I had medical issues, also coming to terms with the loss of my beloved husband of 40 years. I had worked since I was 16. I had paid Tax and Insurance 41 years. After six months I had to sell our home which we had lived in 36 years. It seems so unfair, I am not well enough to work. I try to economise as much as possible, during September to April, it’s a choice between eat or heat. It is always heat. I would never let my Son’s know how I struggle, in fact, I don’t tell anyone. It’s another two years before I can claim, but having lost 5 girlfriends, who knows what will happen.

      1. To Mrs A Evan’s, my reply. I am very much in your position. But if it’s heat or eat, you really should eat. Eating will provide inner warmth and enables you to keep moving about more, which in turn keeps you warm. Putting heating on, and not eating, is going to make you feel more cold and less inclined to move. If you go out you will feel the cold more. I have lived without ANY heating, of any sort, for several years. You very soon get used to the drop in temperature. Keep eating a diet of carbs, fats and protein. Keep moving about as much as possible, inside or better still outside. And of course, an extra jumper (or three!), a rug over knees when sitting, even gloves if extreme cold spell. But please believe me, you do get used to the cold, nature helps us adjust, and it is far, far more important to keep eating. Aside from warmth, it is essential to get your vitamins/minerals and other nutrients.

    16. Many of these women complaining have failed to mention the injustice of men having to work 5 years longer than them to receive their state pensions, when their life expectancy is 4 years shorter on average, they would have been shouting from the rooftops if it had been the other way round and they had to work five years longer than men, you want equality now you have it stop moaning.

    17. I am 65 years old and will receive my state pension in February 2021 on my 66th birthday. I was originally advised I would receive my state pension on 6th November 2019 on the staggered scale and then with less than 9 years notice the date was changed. Even though I have over 45 years of NI contributions I will receive a reduced pension as I worked for the local authority and was ‘contracted out’ although I was not made aware of this status, but I’m sure it saved my employers money over the years. I believe that if we are to be treated by the new rules in being entitled to our state pension at the later date of our 66th birthday we should then be entitled to the new higher rate pension as the contracted out rules apparently ended in 2016.

      1. I’m in the same situation as you.
        I checked my pension recently and also discovered a contracted out portion. So having put all that work in I now discovered that my wife will receive a bigger pension even though she hasn’t worked for more than 10 years.
        Thanks to the government.paying in her N. I. when we had children, and child benefit.
        Anyways it will all work out in the end.

    18. Woman don’t retire.They just go on to look after grandchildren,parents and many volunteer for charities.
      My generation were expected to work,look after the children and house .Not a lot changes when they technically finish work.
      My generation have faced sexism in the workplace lower wages,poor childcare,Woman in their 60s are made redundant before the men in my experience.When I asked for my pension statement they told me I had opted out but couldn’t tell me when.It leaves me with very little pension.It is just a scam by the government.Just like the tax credits.When they have spent too much they randomly tell people they owe them money.Pushing many people into poverty.

    19. At 61yrs old I sign on and receive £74.35 a week jsa . This is my only income . I pay £23 of that to my rent and council tax each week and after essential bills I am left with £17 A week for food clothing bus fares and anything else I need. If it wasn’t for my daughter helping me I would not be able to live in my home as I could not afford too on £74.35 A week. The social housing tell me to downsize from my 2bedroomed upstairs flat .. oh yes that’s all said and done if I was given a property in a decent condition and didn’t need decorating or buy new carpets to fit curtains . I couldn’t even afford a remove van ..or pay to have my washing machine and cooker dissconected then refitted not with no money. If I had my pension I would get over double to what I get on had and then you have the worry of if you’ve applied for enough jobs are you doing enough to find work and attend any classes which they say to help you into work.. the stress of it all has me worn out and I often think is it all worth it..for what .I am existing not living and will be nearly 67 when I get my pension if I live to that age.

      1. Hello Elaine, I read your comment with interest. Can I please suggest a couple of things to you. Your energy supplier runs a scheme called”the warm home discount scheme”. There are two groups, the core group, in which you have to receive pension credit, and the broader group, for someone like yourself where your income is low. If you look on your statement from the utility provider there is a reference to it,usually at the bottom of the bill. Contact them,they will tell you when you can apply, usually around July time. The govt pays your utility provider £140 and they apply it to your bill.
        Secondly, make sure you check out the benefit advisors on gov.uk such as “turn2us” . It will give you a breakdown on all the benefits you can apply for,and has a list of charities who are extremely helpful. One in particular called “newStraid” got people who worked in any capacity for the paper trade. There is much more available to you than the money you have. Also your landlord should know about “the big difference scheme” where your water rates can be reduced dramatically . Or you can search online for that yourself. I have been in your situation, I thought” it’s either sink or swim” and I wasn’t going to sink. Use any energy you have to get what you need, don’t let it drain you. Fight. You are worth it

    20. At 61yrs old I sign on and receive £74.35 a week jsa . This is my only income . I pay £23 of that to my rent and council tax each week and after essential bills I am left with £17 A week for food clothing bus fares and anything else I need. If it wasn’t for my daughter helping me I would not be able to live in my home as I could not afford too on £74.35 A week. The social housing tell me to downsize from my 2bedroomed upstairs flat .. oh yes that’s all said and done if I was given a property in a decent condition and didn’t need decorating or buy new carpets to fit curtains . I couldn’t even afford a remove van ..or pay to have my washing machine and cooker dissconected then refitted not with no money. If I had my pension I would get over double to what I get on jsa had and then you have the worry of if you’ve applied for enough jobs are you doing enough to find work and attend any classes which they say to help you into work.. the stress of it all has me worn out and I often think is it all worth it..for what .I am existing not living and will be nearly 67 when I get my pension if I live to that age.

    21. I am 64 .I started nurse training in the seventies.We were not offered any private pensions back then .I have brought up 3 children while working and paid NI for all these years.I had no letter and only found out a few years before I retired that I would have to work till I was 66.I have now been diagnosed with Osteoperrosis and live every day in pain.It is getting harder month by month to carry on with my work in the care sector.Which is mentally and physically hard without the delibatation of the Osteoperrosis.If the goverment want equality then the pension should show this by providing women withe same pension rates as men.In the 1950s many women had more than I Job.Just to make a reasonable living.The reason there is no jobs for the young is we had our pension rights taken away.As others have said Pension is not a benifit.We have paid into it all our life.

    22. I’m just 64. I retired last October due to age discrimination and being bullied out of my job. I received a statement a few days ago telling me I have 48 FULL years of N.I. payments. I still have to wait for two more years. My payments won’t be any different to someone who has only paid 35 years. So I feel I should be entitled to claim my pension now.

    23. I was born in 1954 and received my pension at the age of 65 years 9 months. Women born a year earlier received their pension at 63 years of age and were paid winter fuel allowance from the age of 60. This seems so unfair.

      1. I was born in 1953 and I received my state pension when I was 65 and 3 months. I am lucky enough to have worked full time all my working life and receive an occupational pension. My issue with what happened to women born in 1950’s is the way it was brought in at very short notice, indeed, no notice at all for some. I viewed my contributions for my state pension as part of a contract with the government and I feel that they broke that contract.

    24. When I retire I will have paid ni contributions for 51 years but i only get the same as someone who has paid 30 years .my wife also will have paid for 51 years and will get the same amount of pension as myself so if some women think they should retire at 60 then it should be at a reduced rate. my wife has known this for over many years so these women who think they should receive their pensions early will they also agree that my wife should be payed pension back pay for the extra 6 years she has had to work

    25. This all boils down to one thing the fact the the government’s did not invest or look after the pension pot. So to make up for there bad management they made Scape votes out of the 50s women. They could pay the 50s women all they have to do is cut forgein aid for a year, I always thought charity began at home. It’s about time they took into account the fact that women had to take time of to have children which is never taken into account. Also women were not allowed into company pension in the 70s again this has never been taken into account. So if state pension is not a right why do we pay into it then, surly the government should stop taking the money and let the future generations pay it into a private pension.

      1. I was born into poverty, I grew up hungry there was never enough food for myself and my brothers. My father worked 2 jobs 7 days a week. I married a farm worker and he was paying into pension so my children grew up in poverty. When we divorced he took his pension with him at that time i had no right to any of it. I am now in my 60s crippled from working in care homes. I am now again living in poverty.

    26. I was born in 1952 and my pension started 2 yrs 2 months after I expected. However I personally think that the pensions for women should be brought inline with the men. Men tend to have a shorter life span and most will work 45 years plus years before retiring. Many women work far fewer years due to child rearing although N. I. Contributions are added during this time . This is not to say I agree with the time schedule of the pension change.
      I do not view my pension as a benefit but it is only partly funded by us. The government add to these contributions . I depend on my state pension but thankfully I have a very good work pension as well so have a reasonable standard of living in retirement.
      I hear lots of people saying that this change in pensions is unfair and it does seem rough that our year group was affected but I do feel it needed to happen. It was grossly unfair that men should have to work an extra five years.
      My biggest concern by a long way though is the rise in pension age. How it can be deemed safe for people to work to 67 in many professions totally defeats me.

    27. I was born in 1952 what I don’t agree with is when they brought the new pension in which I missed by Six months and my friend had the new pension and she is on £150 a month more than me it is like the rich and the poor pensioner we should all be brought in and be on the same person

    28. The Government continue to inform us all that this a benefit . Plus to remind us the cost to reimburse back are pension to us Government scare mongering how much it will cost to tax payers . I paid my taxes ,I paid my national insurance and my employer paid into my pension . Thats my money that paid it . If I made an agreement to invest into an ISA for 5 years the bank do not turn around at 5yrs . Then tell me u cannot have your money and investment for another 5 years . Breach of contract .This is not a benefit from government to us women. Our money with held when u do accounts that money was set aside for our pension . Where is that money ?They argue we knew no we did.not . The goverment did not tell anyone that men at 60 had 5yrs free National Insurance Payments made for them . This is our money and women will fight to get justice .

      1. Well if u women had worked till u were 65, instead of 60, then u would have had ur ni payments made for u as well, u can’t pick and choose the bits of equality u want I’m afraid, the wrongs have now been put right ie pay and retirement dates.

    29. I was born in Sept 1954 and i cant retirer until sept 2020. I have worked full time since I wad 16. Paid full stamp and contributions. Brought up a family and the last 10 years looked after my mom and dad. I am tired and can’t wait to retired. I have lose exactly 6 years pension money which adds up to quite a lot. I was going to retire at 60 whick was what I was told I could do. Then they changed it without much notice. I think after working all those years and by just missing all the retirement dates by a few months I should be compensated for a little bit of what I have lost out on.

    30. I am 65, my retirement is Feb 2021. I will have worked for 48 years and paid full contributions., I remember my parents telling me to make sure I paid full stamp when I got my first job at 16.1/2.
      I have been made redundant 4 times in my work life, but never been out of work for more than 2 weeks so never been paid any benefit. Companies I worked for initially had no pension for under 18s or were to small to have company pensions for my level of work.
      No I didn’t get any notification of the age increase. Yes I do have an elderly parent to care for as well as my 40 hrs week job and my own household.
      This is a lot of money to lose, but it is our money. Benefits are claimed when they you are entitled to them, pension is already paid.
      Refund partial lump sum and a top up by all means, but don’t just tell us we can’t have it.

    31. I’m am a 69 year old woman I was born in the 50 this is so bad the way the 50 people gets treat I got my pension at 61 .4month it the next people to claim there pension gets 175.00 pound this is very wrong we women born in 50 should be treat like every one else .because they are saying women live longer than men then we got to suffer the women who was born in the 50 just want fairness and what owed to them so could the court be fair and give us what we owed we have worked has hard has men and let the women have there bus pass at 60 why because every think get moved around we have to wait to over 60 not right

    32. I was born in 1955 and although some women have had their pension phased in why weren’t we all treated the same. The age rises to 66 on October 2020 yet l now have to wait another year for my pension that should have been paid in 2015. I am single & have been unable to work since October 2005 with many hospitalizations. I was not kept up to date in hospital so l knew nothing about this. But l would like to know why parliament are making acts like this at 7.40am in the morning when Brexit decisions were being made these were made and were not announced. I understand that my NI contributions are paid for BHS & Pensions which l should receive as a right. Why have l not been contacted. How can the people in Parliament know what it is like to be living on their own without an income that is due to them. The pension in England is one of the lowest in Europe. Yet we are the 5th richest country. Neither my grandfather or my mother drew their pensioner as they had died before they could draw it. My father did not get any of my mother’s pension. The pension l have paid into is not a benefit it is my right!

    33. I was in 1954 I had to wait an extra 5years and 6months I never had warning about this change until it was to late to get a private pension, it is keeping the Young out of work, I paid 35 years N.I. I also missed out on the bus pass thought I was going get bus pass at 60.

    34. Thankyou for information about this as like many I’m a 50 s born woman I’ve had cancer and I am a survivor of it but now I’m 62 Can not get pension TIL I’am 66 an I was looking forward to my retirement I am very tired believe it’s unfair for this government to treat us this way I have worked all my life since I was 15 took 6 years off for kids and 1 year 6 months due to bowel cancer I deserve me pension and I have other issues so work ha ha please release my pension I’ve never asked for much only what is mine .

    35. I was 59 when i learned i wasnt going to get my pension in march when i was 60yr ..im still having to work part time with a bad shoulder bad back swelling legs an ankles..but when i go to doctors he just says old age..i cant walk far..as my back hurts like mad. I should.nt have to rest up on my days off so im ok to go to work..i have no savings now as i had to use my savings to help me make it through the month..ive had to work through this virus as well..i defo wont have a good retirement no money to do anything nice..what an existence working till you can walk through ill health an ive worked all my life fr 12yrs old Discracefull

    36. I’m now looking after mum and dad but with no money coming in very depressive I feel I no longer can go on without any monies coming in so if I was to hand over to government this would cost them thousands so paying back pension would not cost them looking at the bigger picture I’m sure there are many like myself it is discusting how they treat oap in this country

    37. I worked from the age of 15yrs only stopping to have my family and after that back to work fitting in with my family needs when I was in my late fifties after coping with a few medical conditions I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis eventually paid off work due medical reasons then I found out I wasn’t disabled enough to get any benefits and wouldn’t get my pension till I was 66yrs devastated my husband was still working then but we still had to sell our house to compensate for the loss of my pension we had to downsize due to my health issues but now rent so we have some quality of life .

    38. If you all where informed earlier What difference would it have made (None) You would be in the same position now. In fact this is a benefit to you all as now you have a further 6 years to enhance your state pension. Think your self lucky Men had to work 5 years more to get the pension

    39. Women lose out all round…even as an ex-civil service employee, we were advised (wrongly as it turned out!) that we could have a marriage gratuity and it would not affect out works pension. Oh it did, lost 7 years of my work pension. Also I had to resign (yes really!) andvre-apply for my job! Another practice was stopped just before I applied, but those before me even lost their seniority as well! All for getting married! This pension fiasco is both ageist and sexist…note well paid ‘personalities’ and MPs not complaining!

    40. I am 66 years old and only started receiving State pension last year when I turned 65yrs, however, the money is not enough to sustain me, and had to continue working to top up and at least make my ends meet. I do feel that at times the government is misleading people when they make comments that State pension is a benefit, which is not true as you have to contribute towards it. On the other hand it’s unfortunate that should one die the contributions cannot be paid to your family unless you were married. This means that the money goes to the government. I feel it is unfair. My hope is that the pending appeal court case will be in our favour and the government should bridge the gap between 60yrs and 65 or 66, and then they should stop deducting NI when one reaches 60yrs. Not many especially women are able to continue working after 60yrs and it hurts so much to imagine running around as one did in the younger age.

    41. Trust a man to come up with the idea of how badly they have been treated! What age, may I ask did u start working? Was it aged 15 like me? Are u now 64, having worked at low paid jobs all of your life, because your parent’s WOULDN’T let u stay on at school, as they needed your contribution to help the family to eat etc? NO! You have always been paid more than us women. WE are the one’s who bear the children, the one’s who go back to work whilst juggling children’s illnesses, school holidays, and more. WE are the one’s who were paid a pittance and I certainly, do not remember any information about how the pension age for women will be moved higher and higher, and having to work more and more years, with nothing in savings!
      DON’T U DARE tell me how badly u have been treated as men! UTTER RUBBISH.
      We women have worked and worked and a lot of us can work no more, due to ill health or caring for a loved one. BUT, It’s ok for the government to take away OUR money that WE have paid in NI contributions all these years! It’s ok for MP’s to be given £50 for their breakfast….
      Just un bloody believable, that women have to fight for everything that BY RIGHT’S
      is OUR’S. Shame on u government! Pay us what is owed.

      1. I couldn’t have put it better myself Marian, totally agree with everything you say. Most men work hard but they have no idea what we go through and have been through and the amount we do for nothing, not even appreciation. All of my jobs paid a pittance . We must fight for what is rightfully ours 😡

    42. I am so upset people comment and do not know the real situation a comment on if women paid the NI contributions they would be paid full pension I have paid more than enough and will eventually get full pension however and this is the point women did not get equal pay as men back then I started as an apprentice right thing to do so far years I received a low wage in hairdressing,and if I had asked to join a pension scheme know one would have known what I was talking about?? they didn’t exist in those jobs, only chance you had if you worked for a large company,people need to realise it was a different time women were openly discriminated against it was normal practice, the raising of pension age should have been graduated to recognise the differential in pay,we are not saying it should not have been equal to men it’s the way it has been done! Lose out on equal pay back then and lose out again when your wages are still lower for years and lose out again when you are told to work longer when it’s to late to have a chance to make those years back up do your research look at the facts then comment,while you’re paying in to your pension scheme you don’t know how lucky you are…which maybe just maybe will be enough unless they make drastic changes again in your time, I sincerely hope not for your sake.

    43. Hi my mum was born 7 may 1957 she can’t work due to asthma and all she is getting is my dad’s pension my dad passed in 2014 due to aspestos the coroner said after the funeral they found traces on his lungs we tried to speak to a solicitor but we couldn’t prove he had picked up the aspestos from working in dunlops factory and my mum is still saddled with their mortgage she had an endowment mortgage that she took out when I was 3 now I’m 35 ad she found out all she was doing right up until 2014 when dad passed was paying off interest not even touching balance so she is left with the stress of 8000 to pay she only got bereavement for 12 months and she can’t claim any benefits coz she is too young she needs her roof fixing and her floorboards fixing the house is stressing her out she can’t even afford to replace the carpet in her house she has had the same carpet down since I lived at home

    44. I was born March 1954. I had to wait 5years 4months 4days then a further week I think before my pension was paid into my bank. I also live in an area where Local Council do not give ladies their Bus Pass until the 4 months 4 days after your birthday. Unlike some parts of the UK where they issue it at 60. It is unfair that our birth decade has been used to make the changes in retirement age. I roughly estimate loss of £47.000 using the new rate of Pension. I hope that October brings good news for us ladies that lost out. That’s when the Court of Appeal recovenes after their summer break. We do deserve recompense. Thank you the Ladies who are fighting on our behalf.

    45. This is outrageous. I am now 65 and still working! I am so tired as have been working as an online shopper all through the pandemic. I have lost thousands of pounds that I paid in national insurance payments. Gutted!

    46. I was born in 1962. I started working full time at 16 years old then worked part time after having 2 children. The notice given was not enough time for us women to start trying to save for our retirement. My husband is 8 years older than me and I was hoping to retire at 60 to try and enjoy some retirement together. We have paid into the system all our lives and have to wait an extra 7 years for our pension yet some people have not paid a penny and claim everything, so wrong

    47. In reply to June Harrison who was born in 1954 and gets her pension at 65yrs and 9 months. June, you state that women born in 1953 got their state pension at 63yrs. You are wrong on that one. I was born in November 1953 and I didn’t get my pension until I was 64yrs and 10 months. My sister was born in 1949 and complains that she gets a smaller pension than me, but my argument is that she got it for 5yrs more than me. I had always expected to retire at 60 the the goalposts were moved and I was informed that it would be 63yrs. I didn’t receive any other information from the DWP after that and it wasn’t until I checked on the government website that I found out I would be 2 months off my 65th birthday before I would receive my pension.

    48. Also has any one thought about the free bus pass age which has gone up to 65 also another benefit we ladies of the fifties have to wait for.

    49. I was fortunate I retired at 60 however I like many others had several jobs being a single parent and I have overpaid NI currently trying for a rebate via the government website. Start a campaign and attack the government to introduce a flagging system to automatically block taking further contributions when you have achieved the year’s necessary for your state pension and claim any overpayment back. The NHS has a flagging system. The whole system is a mess both HMRC & DWP are failures

    50. What about the women born in the 1960s? I’d already worked 14 years before they added 5 years to my retirement date. I worked 30 years before they added another two years. We’ve been affected too as we fall into an age group that has had 7 years added onto our SPA. I should have been retiring in 4 years but I now have to work another 11 years. Even men the same age as me, who have had their retirement date increased, only have to work an additional 2 years! People who were already in work and indeed had already worked many years, should not have had so many additional years added on. I feel I’ll be lucky if I ever live to see retirement!

    51. ask high court, for equal pensions, like £175 per week same as men how can they refuse after saying they want equal pensions for men and woman. at least when you do get your pension you will get £40 per week more. extra £2000 per year better off you only have to live until your 90 to get your money back.

    52. I was born in 1952, I received no warning about retiring at 62 . I have 35 years full stamp and I am upset to find out not only have I lost 2 years pension I have also lost the new state pension so lost out both ways. Man borne on the same day gets new state pension this is unfair. at least women born in 1953 get the new state pension. I think all women born in the 50’s should at least have got the new state pension not just some of them.very disappointed on how this was worked out bet it didn’t have a women input!!!!!

    53. People born in 1961 received the same treatment as those born in 1960 that is lack of communication about the pension age changes. Why should people born from 1950 to 1960 be given compensation when people born later than those dates received identical communications. Having paid the full quota of national insurance contributions I should be rewarded by receiving my pension when I was told I would at the age of 60 like previous pensioners rather than having to wait another 7/8 years. Why are people born in 1961 still not being given fair treatment? Unfair on many levels ie. Excluding us from the payout when we received identical treatment.

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