As reported by the Independent, SNP MP Mhairi Black is leading tomorrow's parliamentary debate which centres around the fact that 2.6 million women had their state pension age delayed – in some cases twice, and by up to six years in total – without proper notice. As a result, many will face financial hardship.
Campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality says the government must make fair transitional arrangements for all women born on or after 6 April, 1951 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA). The 1995 Conservative government's Pension Act included plans to increase women's SPA to 65, the same as men's. Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI), agree with equalisation, but don’t agree with the unfair way the changes were implemented – with little/no personal notice (1995/2011 Pension Acts), faster than promised (2011 Pension Act), and no time to make alternative plans. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences.
The coalition's move in 2011 to raise more quickly the state pension age for women in their 50s has exacerbated the position.
Many supporters
Their petition, promoted on the PCS website, has gathered more than 100,000 signatures on the parliamentary website, which means the government must also consider it for debate.
PCS has campaigned since 2012 against the changes to state the pension age under the 68 is too late campaign and has raised the issue again with the Treasury in the autumn, as part of the TUC delegation, particularly in relation to the key issue of the review of the state pension age due in 2017. We have consistently argued that evidence of life expectancy inequalities and actual capacity must be included in that review.
