Women's state pension age announcement response

Age UK response to Government's announcement to changes in women's state pension age

The Government has announced concessions on the changes to women's State Pension Age costing £1billion.  Under the proposed changes contained in the Pensions Bill, 330,000 women would have had to wait between 18 months and two years longer to receive their state pension.

But the Government announcement which delays by six months the rise in the State Pension Age to 66 in 2020 means that no one will have to wait more than 18 months. Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director of Age UK said:

'We welcome the changes that have been made, they have listened to our concerns and we appreciate that it is a significant financial commitment from the Government at a difficult time. This will give a much needed 6 month respite to all the women who would have had to work an extra two years.

'We would have liked the changes being made to have gone further. Having faced uncertainty twice already these women must not be affected by any further changes to their state pension age again without sufficient notice.'

'All of us at Age UK would like to thank the thousands of women that have helped our campaign.'

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Media contact: Anne-Marie Doohan
Telephone: 020 8765 7511