Thursday 23 August 2007 4:30 pm
I am calling on the government to review the introduction of pension changes to avoid millions of women nationally missing out. The changes, which come into effect in 2010, will reduce the number of years' National Insurance contributions that women need to make before they can get a full state pension. That change has been widely welcomed; but the way it's being introduced means many of the women who should benefit are missing out.Normally pension and benefit changes are phased in, but this time the Government has gone for a 'big bang' approach, with no phasing. That means that women who turn 60 on 6 April 2010 or later will benefit, but any women reaching 60 before then - even those whose birthday is just one day earlier on 5 April - won't get a penny extra. I estimate that around 6,500 women in Islington could be affected - each losing on average £25,000 over the course of their retirement, compared to women born later.
Women are at greater risk of pension poverty than men; women tend to live longer, earn less and have more interrupted working lives than men. Reforms to women's pensions to take account of this are long overdue. But why should women now in their late 50s miss out compared to younger women£
Government ministers should be fully aware of the problem - with Prime Minister Gordon Brown born in 1951 and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain born in 1950, it's women of their generation who are losing out.
I am calling for the Government to phase in these changes, so that more women will benefit. You can read more at . It's not too late for Gordon Brown to allow the changes to be phased in. It's a small change for the Government, but would make a huge difference to millions of women.
Printed, designed & hosted by The Creative Organisation of 76 Holly Lodge Mansions Highgate London![[spacer]](/rsrc/furn/sidebar_base.png){kind=small}
