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General Discussion

Lynne
Lynne
10 Aug 2016 10:27

There is also an article in the Gazette (see bottom page 6) about the the above.

The article omits to mention that as well as the 1995 Pensions Act the Conservative/Lib Dem

coalition government also passed a Pensions Act in 2011 that speeded up this process even more.

I remember writing letters to the press about it at the time and also contacting every woman I knew who would be caught up in it to alert them to the changes and to ask them to tell others.

I suspect I started a thread on here about it as well. 

It seems however that some are still unaware of the increase in the age for when women will reach their state pension age. 

I hope the table below will help. The first column shows date of birth the second when women with those dates of birth will reach their state pension age.

Please can you draw the attention of women in their early 60s to this information.

Ta.

 “6th April 1953 to 5th May 1953

6th July 2016

6th May 1953 to 5th June 1953

6th November 2016

6th June 1953 to 5th July 1953

6th March 2017

6th July 1953 to 5th August 1953

6th July 2017

6th August 1953 to 5th September 1953

6th November 2017

6th September 1953 to 5th October 1953

6th March 2018

6th October 1953 to 5th November 1953

6th July 2018

6th November 1953 to 5th December 1953

6th November 2018”

 

 

“Period within which birthday falls

Day pensionable age attained

6th December 1953 to 5th January 1954

6th March 2019

6th January 1954 to 5th February 1954

6th May 2019

6th February 1954 to 5th March 1954

6th July 2019

6th March 1954 to 5th April 1954

6th September 2019

6th April 1954 to 5th May 1954

6th November 2019

6th May 1954 to 5th June 1954

6th January 2020

6th June 1954 to 5th July 1954

6th March 2020

6th July 1954 to 5th August 1954

6th May 2020

6th August 1954 to 5th September 1954

6th July 2020

6th September 1954 to 5th October 1954

6th September 2020”

 


         

 

 

 

       

Lynne
Lynne
10 Aug 2016 18:22

Note that a woman born on 6th April 1953 reached her state pension age when she was 63 years and 3 months old. Whereas the woman born but only 12 months later on 6th April 1954, does not reach her state pension age until she is 65 and 7 months old.   

 

Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
10 Aug 2016 18:45

And some of us will be 66 years old before we get our state pension. A radical change brought in by the coalition of the scumbag Cons and the waste of space Lib Dems! 

2 Agrees
DJ
DJ
10 Aug 2016 21:46

Well it is just how it has to be. People are living longer and for a huge number they are starting work later due to staying on in education. So probably the number of years actually in work is similar to years ago.  And it was in the press so much I can't believe anyone was completely unaware of it. 

Also for years there has been the demand for equality - well now we have it. Men and women have their pension ages the same.  I know the process of parity was sped up, that's what living beyond our means during the Blair years and a worldwide recession did for us. 

And yes it is a pain in the butt for women caught up in the changes, but it was always going to hit someone. And before anyone shouts foul at me having my say on this I will state that I am female; when I started work I was told I would retire at 60, but it has now shifted to 68. So it has affected me but I also realise how lucky I am to have lived in the era I have, with the health and work opportunities I've had, the ability to get onto the housing ladder before it went totally bonkers etc. In the grand scheme of things, with how pensioners were in years gone by, waiting a few more years is just something we have to live with to live with what the country can afford. 

2 Agrees
Lynne
Lynne
10 Aug 2016 22:20

Remember this DJ - if you are due to retire at 68 that figure could be altered in an upwardly projection yet. And at very short notice. That is what happened to 1953 and 1954 born women courtesy of the 2011 Pension Act.

Lynne
Lynne
10 Aug 2016 22:40

And from what I can gather the age 68 figure is presently due to start on 6/4/2046 (yes, 2046!). .

So...... if you're that young you've plenty of time to prepare for a State Pension Age of 68.

Just be prepared for the goal posts (your State Pension Age) to get shifted anytime between now and then.

Click on this link and then scroll right to the bottom for table 5.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310231/spa-timetable.pdf

Lynne
Lynne
11 Aug 2016 07:32

and on the matter of equality in the workplace and related matters please do not think that because things have

improved that therefore: 1) women have achieved equality (we haven't), and that 2) that women's lives back in the 1970s were as they can be now.

 

Compared to women of other generations: the policy was implemented against a background of inequality for this decade of women.  “Today’s women may be adopting similar working patterns to men, but back in 1970, most women’s lives were a patchwork of working sometimes, caring sometimes and often doing both.  The targeted women grew up in a time of inequality with none of the workplace advantages young women have today”.

http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/blog/the-gender-pension-gap/

 

from: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/understanding-the-new-state-pension/written/25211.html 

 

and

  “The fact is women of our generation didn’t work the way women do now. They may not have worked at all, or they may have worked part-time or in between raising their children or looking after elderly parents. “In that way, women didn’t have the same opportunity to build up an occupational pension. “So 1950s women think this is unfair. It’s terrible as many are now struggling and physically tired.”


Read more at: http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/pension-change-with-sting-in-its-tail-for-women-1-4164711

1 Agree
BEE9
BEE9
11 Aug 2016 08:54

I have inserted a link below that goes into great detail over mortality in male/females in England and Wales. It gives an incite into the dilema the 'governement' has about finding the money to pay future pensions. An interesting read, if you have the time.

 

http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/mortalityinenglandandwales/2012-12-17

Lynne
Lynne
11 Aug 2016 10:03

and on the issue of part-time workers and pension schemes I've just remembered this.

That many occupational pension schemes back in the 1970s did not allow part-time workers to be members

and which of the two genders mostly worked (still work) part-time?

I don't think this discrimination got altered until sometime in the mid 1980s (via European Court I think).

Certainly when my mum retired at the age of 60 back in the late 1980s although she had gone out to work

part-time for years she only had her state pension. And she only had her state pension because, being a part-time worker,

she had not been allowed to join any occupational pension schemes.   

 

1 Agree
Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
11 Aug 2016 10:52

Lynne is correct and has identified the reasons why the changes are inherently unfair, particularly the speeding up of the process. The vast majority of women caught up in this either worked part time, or not at all for periods, whilst they brought up children so did not build up an occupational pension in the same way a man did, but there is no recognition of this by the government. 

1 Agree
DJ
DJ
11 Aug 2016 13:31

Oh thanks for the link to that table of birth dates and retirement age Lynne.  I've just check and I'm actually a year better off that I thought I was.  So it is 67 for me now, not 68.  But you are also quite right, Lynne that this might be changed again.  As it may well be for men too - after all their retirement age has also been pushed back beyond 65.  By the time I retire, men and women retiring at the same time will be normal.

Lynne
Lynne
12 Aug 2016 08:21

This link gives more information about local activity concerning this issue.

http://waspi.co.uk/devon/

If you scroll to the bottom of the page there is a contact email address.  

Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
12 Aug 2016 09:59

Thanks Lynne, have been researching WASPI and have now contacted them. 

Lynne
Lynne
11 Sep 2016 07:31
Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
11 Sep 2016 10:21

There is a WASPI day of action on Friday 16th Deptember. Devon WASPI are meeting in Plymouth at Noon and 3pm in Exeter, Princesshay near NEXT. Guest speakers have been invited. 

Lynne
Lynne
11 Sep 2016 10:38

An extract  from the link I posted earlier this morning:

 

'The coalition agreement promised that it would not do anything to change women's state pension age before 2020. That was a commitment in the coalition agreement, but within months, both Steve Webb and Iain Duncan Smith were proposing changing women's state pension age for 2016.'

Altmann says she explained to them in 2011 why older women have been disadvantaged in pensions throughout their life and don't have such good private pensions or state pensions, and therefore why such a move would be unfair.

'These women were often locked out of pension schemes when they started work, and forced to leave them if they had children or got married. Anyone who worked part-time was not necessarily included,' she explains.

'What made it worse was that all the ministers that I was dealing with were men. There were no women, and the men just didn't seem to appreciate the way these women's lives had gone.'

 

 

Lynne
Lynne
16 Sep 2016 08:20

Awareness raising/leafletting event - Thursday 29th September - 10am -2pm outside Morrison's supermarket, T'mouth

 

Please read this article  http://devonshiremagazine.co.uk/the-great-state-pension-robbery-waspi/

 

 

 

Lynne
Lynne
21 Sep 2016 21:15

This is the wording of a motion that will be debated by the full council meeting of TDC on Monday 26th September.

 

The following notice of motion has been submitted by Councillor Dewhirst and supported by Councillors Brodie, Connett, Nutley, Parker and Pilkington.

"This Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.   Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes.   Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.   Many women born in the 1950's are living in hardship.   Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences.   Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.   Women born in this decade are suffering financially.   These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60.   It is not the pension age itself that is in dispute - it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.   The issue is that the rise in the women's state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving women with no time to make alternative arrangements.
 

The Council calls upon the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born on or after 6th April 1951, so that women do not live in hardship due to pension changes they were not told about until it was too late to make alternative arrangements."  

Lynne
Lynne
22 Sep 2016 15:34
  • Minister: no money for women who lost out on state ...

    www.telegraph.co.uk/pensions-retirement/financial-planning/...

    In his first interview since his appointment at the Department for Work and Pensions,Richard Harrington ... The pension minister's other problems. Richard Harrington ...

  • Pensions minister rules out support for women hit by SPA ...

    citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/news/pensions-minister-rules-out...

    Pensions minister Richard Harrington has ruled out offering any extra support to women hit by state pension age (SPA) rises. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph ...

  • Waspi demands will not be met, Pensions Minister warns

  • www.pensionsage.com/pa/...will-not-be-met-Pensions-Minister-warns.php

    ... Pensions Minister Richard Harrington has said. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph,Harrington said the ... Changes were made to women’s state pension age in 1995 ...

Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
22 Sep 2016 20:28

Let's hope he has to eat his words! WASPI is growing rapidly and now has a huge membership. If you are a woman born in the 50s and don't already belong then please join us now. Log into the WASPI website to find out what is going on and future plans. 

Lynne
Lynne
24 Sep 2016 09:00

I have just e-mailed all 5 Dawlish councillors on TDC asking them to support the motion.

As I also understand that the motion is likely to be an agenda item at Devon County Council in the very near future I have also e-mailed our county councillor asking him for his support.

If anyone fancies doing similar emails here are the councillors e-mail addresses.

 

Teignbridge District councillors representing Dawlish

Humphrey.Clemens@teignbridge.gov.uk

Edward.Hockin@teignbridge.gov.uk

Graham.Price@teignbridge.gov.uk

Rosalind.Prowse@teignbridge.gov.uk

Lisa.Mayne@teignbridge.gov.uk

 

Devon County Councillor for Dawlish

John.clatworthy@devon.gov.uk

 

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/south-devon-will-suffer-if-unfair-pension-delays-are-not-changed-women-warn/story-29725181-detail/story.html

1 Agree
Lynne
Lynne
26 Sep 2016 15:04

The motion was passed with no absentions and no votes against.

For some reason it kept being referred to as a non-political issue (please don't ask me, I am as flummoxed about that terminology as I suspect some of you might be.)

It was agreed that  a letter be sent to the all party group of MPs who are pursuing this matter in parliament.

The letter to be copied to our MP.

I shall now be writing to her to ask her to lend her support (if she isn't already) to getting this mess rectified.

Our MP's email address is: annemarie@annemariemorris.co.uk

or why not pay her a visit at her next surgery in Dawlish being held on

7th October 2016 11:00 -12;00

Manor House, Old Town Street, Dawlish  

Surgery @ Dawlish Manor House

 
 
 

 

 

 

Lynne
Lynne
27 Sep 2016 10:06

and from the official WASPI website there is this suggestion.

 

HOW BIG IS THE PRIME MINISTER'S MANTELPIECE?

Theresa May hits 60 on 1st October... Let's all send her a card!

Address it to:
Rt Hon Theresa May MP
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA

We should address her as “Mrs May”

We considered a Moon Pig card type approach but reckon that choosing your own card will give variety and an opportunity for you to include some of your own information.

Here are some suggestions:
 
  • when you found out about your pension age rise
  • by how many years your state pension age has risen 
  • how much you stand to lose as a result of the 1995 and 2011 act
  • a short summary of your situation

This is another way for us to communicate directly and tell the PM our reality.
BEE9
BEE9
27 Sep 2016 11:59

I believe when a u.k. prime minister leaves office they also get an immediate pensions pay out - currently around 64K, nice.

If politicians had to experience the fall out of many of their ill thought out decisions that affect the common person they would certainly be more careful. They don't so they  wont, that's why many, but not all become politicians I expect.

2 Agrees
Lynne
Lynne
29 Sep 2016 09:15

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/unanimous-backing-from-teignbridge-council-for-the-campaign-for-state-pension-equality-for-women/story-29751933-detail/story.html

 

this is a comment that has been posted at the bottom of the article;

"Equal pay legislation is about men and women being paid the same amount for the same job and has nothing to do with the gender pay gap which, even now, is at 33% for working mothers. Women born in the 1950s did not make "lifestyle choices"; many had no choice but to work, despite the paucity of childcare available when their children were small. Couples - women seldom decided unilaterally to work - made the sensible decision for the lower-earning partner to work part-time or to stay home, thus perpetuating the disadvantage that women experienced. Given the opportunity, many women would have liked to build up a decent pension pot; however, for decades, women - widows - have been condemned to live on pensions far lower than men's. I don't think many of them would feel that that's a great advantage. Unfortunately, under the guise of pension reform, successive Conservative and Coalition Governments have been doing their best to ensure that this situation continues. Even under the much-trumpeted new state pension - which the Government says will be so much better for women - far fewer women than men will qualify for the full amount, a state of affairs that is projected to continue until at least 2050."
 

 

Lynne
Lynne
29 Sep 2016 09:29

In other words, by putting the horse (legislating for equal state pension ages for both men and women) before the cart (ensuring that both men and women had/have equal opportunity to build up a pension pot) means that lack of gender equality when it comes to pension provision has been exacerbated.

1 Agree
Lynne
Lynne
01 Oct 2016 20:49

I meant, of course, cart before the horse.

 

Happy 60th Birthday Prime Minister. 

Lynne
Lynne
11 Oct 2016 18:49

This issue was featured in this morning's edition of Rip Off Britain (9.15 am Tuesday 11th October. BBC)

It starts about 5 mins into the programme.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07z7hrn/rip-off-britain-2016-live-episode-2

 

Lynne
Lynne
14 Oct 2016 11:51

Legal action now being undertaken.

http://www.waspi.co.uk/legal-action

Lynne
Lynne
19 Oct 2016 09:16

And click on this link if you would like to donate towards the legal costs

https://www.crowdjustice.org/case/waspi/

 

and watch this podcast from Conservative MP Tim Loughton if you want to know why you should support the campaign

https://www.timloughton.com/news/update-waspi-campaign

Lynne
Lynne
01 Nov 2016 13:23

Update about the fund raising:

 

With 16 days still to run, the Fair State Pensions for WASPI women CrowdJustice appeal has reached a staggering £88,000, or 117% of its stretch target of £75,000. 

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd want to thank each and every one of you who has donated and continue to donate to the fund.  It’s inspiring to know that we have such a huge level of support and a real validation of our decision to pursue a legal case.

The money you have donated is now being cleared by the CrowdJustice team and paid directly to our lawyers, Bindmans, who have received the first tranche of the funds this week. 

When we saw that we were easily going to reach our stretch target and that it looked as though we might even surpass it, we approached Bindmans for advice on continuing to crowdfund for our legal challenge.  Their view was it would be appropriate to seek further funding in respect of subsequent costs of managing the Ombudsman complaint process, which will almost inevitably be incurred and that this could properly justify an increase in the limit to £100,000.

This means that your generosity in continuing to donate has put us in a much better position with regards to funding ongoing legal work with the maladministration complaints. 

However, it’s important to be clear right from the beginning, and just as we said in our original statement on CrowdJustice, that even with the exceptional response we have had to this CrowdJustice appeal, there is likely to be a need for further fundraising in the future to pursue a case to its conclusion if we cannot resolve matters with the DWP before then.

Bindmans have started work on our case and as soon as there is information that can be shared with you, we will let you know.  Meanwhile, thank you once again for your overwhelmingly generous support for our fight for fair state pension arrangements for 1950s women.

 

 

1 Agree
Lynne
Lynne
02 Nov 2016 18:08

THE TELEGRAPH ARE WANTING OUR WASPI STORIES !

Has the State pension age change affected you? Please email Olivia.rudgard@telegraph.co.uk with your story

 

Lynne
Lynne
06 Nov 2016 07:13

Today (6th November 2016) women born 6th May 1953 - 5th June 1953 will reach their state pension age.

Compare that to the case of women born but only twelve months later, between 6th May 1954 and 5th June 1954, who will not become eligible for their state pension until 6th January 2020.

1 Agree
Lynne
Lynne
07 Nov 2016 18:52
Update on Fair State Pensions for WASPI women
 

Dear Supporter,

In what must be one of the fastest growing CrowdJustice appeals ever, the Official WASPI Campaign has raised £100,000 for its legal action against the Government.  Thank you so much for your help in raising this fantastic sum so quickly. It's inspiring to know that we have such a huge level of support and a real validation of our decision to pursue a legal case.

Our first target of £50,000 was reached within 24 hours and, with 10 days of fundraising still to run, WASPI has now asked CrowdJustice to close the appeal at £100,000 as our lawyers have indicated that this will be sufficient for this stage of the legal process.

We shall now use the funding to pursue one or more legal challenges to the government. As stated earlier, our lawyers, Bindmans, have identified two potential means of legal redress for women affected by the changes to the State Pension Age:

  • a judicial review challenge (or challenges) to the legality of the changes themselves; and
  • maladministration complaints regarding the wholly inadequate engagement undertaken by the Department of Work and Pensions regarding these changes.

The lawyers have now started work and we will bring you regular updates on their progress.

Alongside our legal campaign, we continue to engage with politicians from all parties. Our leaders recently met with MPs from the Scottish National Party and discussed with Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Ministers how the Labour Party could support the WASPI cause.

Our many local groups are making themselves heard in Tory marginal seats up and down the country and there is a growing awareness that 2.6 million 1950s women's votes could make a big difference at the next election.

With two former Pensions Ministers, Steve Webb and Baroness Altmann now publicly pledging their support, with over 47,500 people following the Official WASPI Facebook page and with this £100,000 fighting fund raised in less than three weeks, WASPI is a force to be reckoned with. 

Thank you all so much for your support for our campaign.

Jane Cowley

Fundraising Director

Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd.

 
 

 

1 Agree
Lynne
Lynne
30 Nov 2016 09:28

DAWLISH POSTER PARTY PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE - 2ND DECEMBER 2016

 
Dawlish Town Centre – 2pm to 4pm
 
WASPI's will be hitting the centre of Dawlish on the 2nd December between 2pm and 4pm. Keep an eye open for us and stop us to chat, grab a few posters for your workplace and check out what's happening in WASPI world.
Lynne
Lynne
07 Dec 2016 10:38

check out page 2 of today's Dawlish Gazette

Lynne
Lynne
14 Dec 2016 13:06

see Viewpoint in today's Dawlish Gazette.

Lynne
Lynne
21 Dec 2016 08:44

I think the lesson to be learnt from this sorry saga is that people (especially those, say, presently aged 40+) need to keep an eye on what is happening NOW re their FUTURE state pension age.  

I've picked on age 40 as I was 41 when the government of the time first raised my state pension age from 60 to 63 years and 10 months. It then raised it again to age 65 and three months when I was aged 58. So, roughly 6 years before I was due to reach my state pension age (1995 state pension act) I had another 18 months added on (courtesy of the 2011 pensions act.)

Remember that the government did not start to issue letters to the women affected by the 1995 Pensions Act until 2009!

So if they didn't tell those affected by the changes back in 1995 when the legislation was passed, why should they notify younger people who have been affected by subsequent changes or who will be affected by subsequent changes?  

 

I have written the above because there was another pensions act passed in 2014. Amongst other things it legislated for was a regular review of the state pension age. The first review is due to take place in 2017.  

 
Note this; The Pensions Act 2014 provides for a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every five years. The review will be based around the idea that people should be able to spend a certain proportion of their adult life drawing a State Pension. The first review must by completed by May 2017. As well as life expectancy, it will take into account a range of factors relevant to setting the pension age. After the review has reported, the Government may then choose to bring forward changes to the State Pension age. Any proposals to do so would, like now, have to go through Parliament before becoming law
 
So my advice is: Keep your eyes peeled at all times for any and all changes to your state pension age!!!!!! 
 
 
 
 

 

 

  

flo
flo
21 Dec 2016 09:55

I think a lot of people aged 40 and below simply assume there will not be a state pension if or when they retire.  I know that's what I believe.

2 Agrees
Gary Taylor
Gary Taylor
24 Dec 2016 10:15

Thank you Lynne for helping raise awareness of this very important issue.

 

As you point out, women born after 5th April 1950 will be affected by the changes to their Government Pension age, due to the impact of the 1995 Pensions Act, in which a schedule to increase the retirement age for women from 60 to 65 was enacted.

 

Those women born after 6th April 1953 however, are (and will be) feeling the effect of the changes more acutely as they are also affected by the more recent changes in the 2011 Pensions Act. This act condensed the timeframe for which retirement age had been due to rise from 63 to 65 years of age in the 1995 act; from a period of 24 months, to one of just 8 months.

 

At the same time, the 2011 act set a timeframe for an increase in the pension age from 65 to 66 years of age for women and men.

 

According to the gov.uk website, the Government is not planning to revise further the timetables for the equalisation of State Pension age to 65, or the rise in the State Pension age to 66 or 67 (per the 2014 Pensions Act). However as you point out, the timetable for the increase in the State Pension age from 67 to 68 could change as a result of a future review.

 

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/310231/spa-timetable.pdf

 

For ready reference and for context, below is a condensed extract from the gov.uk data, covering the period to the State Pension age of 67:

 

Table 1: Women’s State Pension age under the Pensions Act 1995

Date of birth

Pension age reached

Up to 5 May 1950

60 years

From 6 May 1950

60 years (+) from 6 May 2010

From 6 March 1951

61 years (+) from 6 March 2012

From 6 March 1952

62 years (+) from 6 March 2014

From 6 March 1953 (to 5 April 1953)

63 years (+) from 6 March 2016

 

Table 2: Women’s State Pension age under the Pensions Act 2011

Date of birth

Date State Pension age reached

6 April 1953 – 5 May 1953

6 July 2016

6 May 1953 – 5 June 1953

6 November 2016

6 June 1953 – 5 July 1953

6 March 2017

6 July 1953 – 5 August 1953

6 July 2017 (64 years)

6 August 1953 – 5 September 1953

6 November 2017

6 September 1953 – 5 October 1953

6 March 2018

6 October 1953 – 5 November 1953

6 July 2018

6 November 1953 – 5 December 1953

6 November 2018 (65 years)

 

Table 3: Increase in State Pension age from 65 to 66 under the Pensions Act 2011, for men and women

Date of birth

Date State Pension age reached

6 December 1953 – 5 January 1954

6 March 2019

6 January 1954 – 5 February 1954

6 May 2019

6 February 1954 – 5 March 1954

6 July 2019

6 March 1954 – 5 April 1954

6 September 2019

6 April 1954 – 5 May 1954

6 November 2019

6 May 1954 – 5 June 1954

6 January 2020

6 June 1954 – 5 July 1954

6 March 2020

6 July 1954 – 5 August 1954

6 May 2020

6 August 1954 – 5 September 1954

6 July 2020

6 September 1954 – 5 October 1954

6 September 2020

6 October 1954 – 5 April 1960

66th birthday

 

Table 4: Increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, under the Pensions Acts 2007 / 2014, for men and women

Date of birth Date State

Pension age reached

6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960

66 years and 1 month

6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960

66 years and 2 months

6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960

66 years and 3 months

6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960

66 years and 4 months

6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960

66 years and 5 months

6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960

66 years and 6 months

6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960

66 years and 7 months

6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960

66 years and 8 months

6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961

66 years and 9 months

6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961

66 years and 10 months

6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961

66 years and 11 months

6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977*

67

 

More on a following posting...

 

Gary Taylor
Gary Taylor
24 Dec 2016 12:26

So the writing is on the wall: we will all now have to work longer to pay for a government pension in retirement, which (on the law of averages) will be longer than our forebears.

 

Bearing that in mind, I would recommend to everyone who has yet to receive the govenment pension to double-check their date of retirement and what to expect from the new State Pension using the website below (click through 'More' under 'State Pension', then 'Check your State Pension', then 'Start Now' to take you to the sign in options field):

 

www.gov.uk/eligbility

 

Commonly referred to as the 'flat rate' pension, as many  who have checked up on their eligibility will know, this is a unfortunate misnomer. 

 

Changes in pension rules in 2014, the years of contracting out of State Earnings Related Pension (SERPs) and the yo-yoing of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) qualification, will all have had a bearing on any projected final sum. The good news for some is that there may be time to close the gap between a current projected government pension and a potentially larger pension (up to the 'full level' of  £155.65) by making further NICs.

 

A salutary tale: In my own case, even though I had been paying SERPs and/or NICs for nearly 40 years, I found when I checked that I could not achieve the full state pension. I could however, over the three years before my government pension date, add a standard £4.45 to the weekly amount available for every full tax  year of NICs paid. My record also showed I had a couple of incomplete years of NICs payments. OK, I thought, I'll top those up first (to cover the unexpected) and dug out the dog-eared paperwork. But before I wrote a cheque for the suggested shortfall to HMRC, I thought it sensible to call to discuss. Turned out a good move; having got through almost straight away on the Gov.UK Helpline provided (0345 608 0126 - N.B. call charges apply) I was told that topping up previous years would count for nothing - and that I would need to pay NICs going forward to qualify.

 

So avoiding getting your NICs in a twist from this point in time could mean on current projections an extra £4.45 a week per full tax year paid, which (given the usual caveats about death, taxes and the value of investments etc) might prove a good return. Hope it works for you and yours.

 

Happy Christmas, all.

 

 
Lynne
Lynne
24 Dec 2016 13:24

Some links concerning the new state pension which came into effect for those reaching their state pension age on or after 6.4.16

 

 

  • What the new State Pension means for you | Age UK

    www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/pensions/what-the-new-state-pension...

    If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, ... age may not be aware that they could receive more or less than the full rate due to contributions made ...

  • New 'flat-rate' state pension: how much will you get ...

    www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/11067567/New...

    New 'flat-rate' state pension: ... The new pension will take effect on April 6 2016, ... Less than half of workers will get full 'flat rate' state pension.

  • The flat rate state pension: FAQ | money.co.uk

    www.money.co.uk/guides/the-flat-rate-state-pension-faq.htm

    Plans for the new flat rate state pension have now been set ... The flat rate state pension: FAQ; ... The new flat rate pension will rise in line with average ...

  • How much state pension will I get? - Which?

    www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/guides/...

    How much state pension will I get if I qualified on or after 6 April 2016? If you reach state pension age ... state pension before the flat-rate pension started ...

  • Flat-rate state pension: check whether you ... - This is Money

    www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-2360205

    ... The government's flat-rate pension reforms will see ... The second part of the reforms will scrap the state second pension from 2016. ... This is Money is ...

  • Why millions WON'T get the £155 new state pension they're ...

    www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-2634215

    ... Why millions WON'T get the £155 new state pension ... on the full flat-rate state pensionof £155 ... in April 2016. Just like the current pension, ...

  • State pension: 'Only 45%' to get full new payout - BBC News

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30777166

    ... flat-rate state pension in the first five years of the system, government figures show. ... This only applies to new retirees from April 2016, ...

  • Less than half of workers will get full 'flat ratestate ...

    www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/11338434/Less...

    Less than half of workers will get full 'flat rate' state pension ... Fewer than half the people who retire under the new state pension due in 2016 will ...

Lynne
Lynne
05 Jan 2017 08:25

Oh and just to add salt to the wound, the person who was pensions minister during the coalition government when the extra time was added onto the state pension age of women born 1953/1954, and the same person who introduced the flat rate pension (which isn't flat rate at all - see above) was awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.

Arise Sir Steve Webb - ex Lib Dem MP and Pensions Minister 2010-2015.

 

  

Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
06 Jan 2017 16:57

Why am I anot surprised! Lib Dems.................!! 

Lynne
Lynne
09 Jan 2017 08:18

And this is what our Conservative MP thinks (about the raising of the state pension age)

https://www.annemariemorris.co.uk/womens-state-pensions

Margaret Swift
Margaret Swift
10 Jan 2017 00:14

I could add the same comment as above! She fails to mention the thousands of women who will NOT get a state pension because of the changes to NI contributions. But, as all MPs get a gold plated pension for just being an MP, even for a short time, they are not bothered as it does not and never will affect them. The state pension will be a tiny bit of pin money on top of their gold plated MP pension! 

Lynne
Lynne
22 May 2017 09:05

There is no mention of the plight of WASPI women in the 2017 Conservative Party manifesto and I can't find anything in the Lib Dem manifesto either. 

The Green Party talks of redressing pension injustice but does not elaborate what is meant by that.

Lynne
Lynne
22 May 2017 17:52

But the Labour Party manifesto does address the issue (from page 54)

 

Over 2.5 million women born in
the 1950s have had their state
pension age changed without fair
notification. These women deserve
both recognition for the injustice
they have suffered and some kind
of compensation for their losses.
Alongside our commitment to
extend Pension Credit to hundreds
of thousands of the most vulnerable
women, Labour is exploring options
for further transitional protections,
to ensure that all these women have
security and dignity in older age.
This must never happen again.
Labour will legislate so that accrued
rights to the basic state pension
cannot be changed, but future
benefits can.

 

Lynne
Lynne
17 Jun 2017 10:42

Women born 6th July 1953- 5th August 1953 will become eligible for their state pension next month on 6th July.

This means that wef July the state pension age for women will be 64 years.

But this age will rise again wef 6th November 2017.  

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