50’s Women:”Nobody will see their pension entitlement changed by more than 18 months” – Theresa May’s crass error

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There was an extraordinary error by the Prime Minister, Theresa May, when she was challenged by Ian Blackford, the Scottish Nationalist leader, at Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament today.

Mr Blackford used one of his two questions to raise the plight of the 3.8 million WASPI women who have been hit by the government’s  decision to raise the pension age from 60 to 65, then 66 and 67.

Mr Blackford asked: “Yesterday we celebrated the achievements of the suffragette movement, which was about democracy, equality and fairness for women.

“However, today in the United Kingdom, 3.8 million women are not receiving the pension to which they are entitled. A motion in this House last November, which received unanimous cross-party support—the vote was 288 to zero—called on the Government in London to do the right thing. Will the Prime Minister do her bit for gender equality and end the injustice faced by 1950s women.”

The Prime minister replied:

“As people are living longer, it is important that we equalise the pension age of men and women. We are doing that, and we are doing it faster. We have already acted to give more protection to the women involved. An extra £1 billion has been put in to ensure that nobody will see their pension entitlement changed by more than 18 months. That was a real response to the issue that was being addressed. If the right hon. Gentleman wants to talk about equality, he has to recognise the importance of the equality of the state pension age between men and women.”

What this showed is what 3.8 million women waiting up to SIX years for their delayed pension have yet to get the message across. Theresa May just thinks you have a little wait of 18 months. And this £1.1 billion  concession is just a future cost to the government over the next two years, no money has been paid out yet.

This ignorance – caused by her only taking into account the changes in 2011 affecting the rise in the pension  age from 65 to 66 for both men and women – shows how ignorant the Prime Minister is.  Considering she is in that age group herself – but guaranteed to get a large Parliamentary and Prime Ministerial pension in her right-plus a big payout for her wealthy hubby – shows the gulf between the Metropolitan elite and the ordinary person. Mo misery for her in her old age.

But it was good news that the SNP leadership were taking women pensioners plight seriously. About time Labour and Liberal Democrats did the same.

UPDATE:  Ian Blackford said today (Thurs) : ” The Prime Minister’s reply was outrageous. She was being economical with the truth. We are all know there have been some horrible cases as a result of this policy and something will have to be done.

“I am not just sympathetic I will not let this matter go.”

Later Guy Opperham, under secretary for works and pensions, made a statement in Parliament saying  the government were  not going to do anything and would fight any legal challenge by the 3.8 million people to change its mind. He was cagey about announcing the last date when people who were never told about the change until years afterwards could complain about maladministration.

Watch him and the short debate that followed here. 

Guy Opperman has a majority of 9,286 over Labour in his Hexham constituency in Northumberland. There are 6000 constituents who are 50s women and have suffered from a policy he has no intention of changing. If they all switched to his nearest challenger he could lose his seat. That is up to you.

78 thoughts on “50’s Women:”Nobody will see their pension entitlement changed by more than 18 months” – Theresa May’s crass error”

  1. It is disgusting someone reportedly classed as intelligent and in a position of power is so misinformed. Something radical needs to happen to make sure conservatives do not get back their seats in the next election. I always thought those elected were to serve the people clearly not . You have just lost a vote.

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    • She obviously hasn’t got the correct picture! At age 58 I was told my state pension was lost for 6 years! So only 2 year’s notice of such a dramatic change! What happens to all my contributions during 40 years of teaching??

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  4. Mrs May has consistently spun this line about 18 months. Guy Operman trots out the same line each time he is questioned. As you say David Hencke #waspi women and @waspi _campaign are going to have to rely on the other parties who have promised their support. We will see if this true..MALADMINISTRATION IS THE key for our campaign

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    • In recent years we seem to have joined the USA in having politicos who say and promise pretty much what they like irrespective of objectivity.
      It is now obvious, to all, that May is a speech-deliverer and nothing more.
      May, Fox and IDS seem to think that their misguided ‘belief’ system creates truth. We need to find a way to hold these egocentrics to account for their crass and often heartless actions before they do even more damage on behalf of their masters.

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  5. It’s disingenuous for May to only talk about the 2011 Act, although within that context what she says is perfectly correct.

    It is however equally disingenuous for Labour to never mention the 2007 Act, and claim that increases over age 66 are down to the tories rather than them.

    It’s also disingenuous for the SNP to ignore that their devolved benefit powers under the Scotland Act give them options to provide support for 1950s women in Scotland.

    There’s not a great deal of straight-talking honesty on any side of the debate.

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    • I think I speak for the majority of the 3.8 million women affected when I say we don’t care who caused it-we just want it fixed. The 1.1 Billion parroted by the Tories was also for men affected by the 2011 act so that figure is erroneous in the context of mitigation for 50s women and only applies to a small cohort. The reality is women are losing their homes, going to foodbanks or being made to rely on their husbands for money if married. Even more worrying future changes to Pension Credit in July, mean a couple will not receive them until they BOTH reach state pension age.

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    • Actually the Scottish government are already mitigating the vast majority of Tory cuts but unlike The Tories , the Scottish Government does not have a magic money tree . And, only 15%:of welfare has been devolved . Not exactly great powers is it ? Facts are a wonderful thing . Here’s a tip … you wont find these facts in newspapers or the state owned BBC

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      • The devolved powers relevant to 1950s women are sections 24, 26 and 28 of the 2016 Scotland Act. They can’t of course change pension provision as that is reserved, but they can introduce new benefits in non-reserved areas, make discretionary payments based on need, and top-up existing reserved benefits (women born upto September 1953 are eligible for state pension).

        It’s not a party political point, and I’m completely mystified by the references to newspapers and the BBC. The powers exist for the SNP to take positive action to help at least some 1950s women. Using these powers may or may not be feasible based on cost and priorities. However, the SNP are trying to claim that these powers do not exist, which is not being honest and upfront with the people they are claiming to be fighting for.

        “We don’t have the budget and have more important priorities” would be a reasonable line of argument, but that isn’t their narrative.

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      • I put the use of assistance Under the Scotland Act to Ian Blackford when I had a short conversation with him about their position.
        His points were (1) yes such powers do exist
        but
        (2) Both the rate of the pension and the use of the National Insurance Fund which the government relies to pay pensions are reserved powers for the UK government.
        Therefore he argued that it is not appropriate to use their powers to subsidise pensions.

        Interestingly and not from him, if they were used, would it lead to hundreds of thousands of people leaving England and Wales to claim residency in Scotland.

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  10. My letter to Tory MP

    Dear Caroline

    I’m sure you’re aware of the campaign for fairness regarding the sudden changes women in their fifties have encountered with respect to their pensions.

    I know that we were ill informed of changes and I would like to know how I can I raise a complaint about maladministration with respect to the information I was provided when my pension age was changed from 60 to 66 years? I consider that the very short amount of time I’ve had to prepare for this change is unjust.

    Equally, I would like to know why I haven’t been informed of the £1 billion pound pot to which Mrs May referred today in parliament, when she explained that no one would be affected by more than 18mths extension. How can we make a claim to this? It would be equivalent to approximately £31,500 for me, which certainly would make for a viable retirement.

    I await your response with anticipation.

    Kind regards

    Jan Cuerden

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  12. 6 years for me too
    I have worked part time when my family were young….no childcare around or I wasn’t paid enough to afford it.
    When I did work I had to work in a school part time term time only was all that was available to me as my husband worked away
    I didn’t earn enough to initially join the work pension scheme.
    So many years working and no credit for it.
    Now 63 I cannot physically do my job for another 3 years!!
    Time Mrs May woke up to the plight of WASPI WOMEN

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  14. Mrs. May your reliance on parroting your Party line – nobody has waited more than 18 months – does you no favours. My ex-MP and the DWP also spouted this lie. I was born in December 1953, worked and paid a full stamp all my life and expected to retire at 60. My estimated State Pension Age is 65 years 3 months and 21 days. Please explain how that amounts to eighteen months? As a Forces child and a country dweller it has been natural for me to vote conservative or liberal all my life. Never again. This is one vote you will do without.

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  15. i have worked since 4 years old i planed to live abroad at 60 when i got my pension advice by my GP if i wanted to live longer.i called dwp at 60 to get my pension what a shock to be told i have to work to 66 years old im now 63 years old and won’t make it to 66 so the government will be happy they got all my pension and my life was shortened because of someone making a decision about my life without asking me i once was proud of my country now i hate it.

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  16. 6 years for me too, plus until not very long ago contracted national insurance contributions were never even mentioned in my state pension forecast, I guess that is something they forgot about. State pension will be reduced because of that too! Effectively they are relying on some of us dying before it is even collectible. I agree we are living longer and some adjustment to the upcoming age groups needed to be done, however ours has been done by stealth no other age group has suffered this injustice, and it is a fact that most of us will have paid into the system for 40+ years can that really be said of the generations after us????

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    • We are living longer BUT we are the backbone to the countries savings. We look after our ill retired husbands and take on FREE child care for our grand children. HOW much more do they want out off us. AND we could get paid less than £160 a week for the pleasure!!!! LESS than minimum wage!!!! Cough up.

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  17. I went on the site the other day to see my pension forecast. I have 45 years national insurance contributions and by the time I get my pension in July 2019 ……5yrs 4mths after it was promised……I will have been done out of £40,020 ……which is probably just a small amount of what someone gets in benefits when they haven’t paid a penny into the country! To say I’m furious is beyond an understatement.
    Thankyou to all involved in heading up this fight.

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  18. my SPA has been delayed by 6 years; that’s 72 months
    4x May’s estimate/ supposed/alleged/prepostorous/
    fantastical/imaginary/lying
    18 months ‘maximum’
    possible delay.

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  19. I just want what I have put, if this was a bank or building society saying we could not have back what we had put in, there would be an outrage, so why should this be any different, it total fraud 😬

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  20. How dare Teresa May say no woman will wait longer than 18 months for her pension!!! I’m in the age bracket that has to wait 6 years. Six years for a pension I’ve paid in since 1970!! We don’t all have the privilege of government pension, Prime minister pay out and millionaire husband. She is so out of touch with reality, she should hang her head in shame. What a disgrace to her fellow women.

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  21. The rich get richer the poor poorer, it’s just da ja vue…. And always has been, torys always feather their own nests “don’t theyMrs May” she makes good speeches so did Mrs Thatcher but see how the mighty fell then!Your day is coming Mrs May, but then you’ve already made sure your retirement is going to be warm and comfortable, may I remind you it’s the hard work of the working people of this country you owe it to….. So I think we deserve our pensions too. The NHS is on its knees, or deliberately being run down and out by government, keep an eye on pensions this is the start of running that down and out too I believe?

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    • Born in 1954 , and having worked since I was 17yrs old for the NHS, I was very disappointed to learn that I would not get my pension untill I was 63 and 10 months . I accepted that there wasn’t enough money and we were being brought into line with men’s pensions. Then I received a letter saying I had to wait an extra 2 years, which because of the out cry was reduced to 18 months. My brother who also worked for the NHS was 65 last year and received his pension as he had always expected. He is only 1 year and 10 months older than me and I have to wait until I am 65 and 4 month’s for my pension, a total of 5 yrs and 4 months, how is that equality !

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  24. You are a disgrace Mrs . May You don’t care about your fellow 1950’s women! You have no idea
    how some of us are struggling! Especially those on their own! There is no full time work for those in our 60’s you have done nothing to help us! You are so out of touch it is digusting!
    If you were in our position perhaps you would feel as we do.

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  26. I was born in 1954 worked since I was 17 always paid class o n e contributions when I started working the retirement age was 60, but I was already aware of the change in my pension age to be altered to 63 years, then suddenly with no official documentation i have to be 65years and 4months, I am now 64 years and 1months and terminally ill, I needed my old age pension to b able to not work through my condition but to no avail i may not reach the age of retirement and i have been in severe financial difficulties please consider that I am owed my pension money
    I will be waiting 5years and 4months NOT the stated 18 months i have passed that time limit YOU OWE ME MONEY IF I OWED THE GOVERNMENT YOU MRS MAY
    WOULD JUST TAKE IT AUTOMATICALLY PAY UP MRS MAY I NOW HATE THIS TORY GOVERNMENT BUT I DO ALWAYS VOTE AND ENCOURAGE MY DONS AND DAUGHTER IN LAWS AND FAMILY SO FROM E YOU HAVE JUST LOST 20 VOTES ONLY LITTLE BIT OF WE ALL GET OUT FSMILIED TO VOTE AGAINST THEM LET’S JUST GET THEM OUT THRY HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT NORMAL PEOPLE AND THEIR STRUGGLES
    THANKS FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING MRS MAY AND YOUR TORY GOVERNMENT

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  28. How dare Teresa May say no woman will wait longer than 18 months for her pension!!! I’m in the age bracket that has to wait 6 years. Six years for a pension I’ve paid in since 1970!! We don’t all have the privilege of government pension, Prime minister pay out and millionaire husband. She is so out of touch with reality, she should hang her head in shame. What a disgrace to her fellow women.

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  29. Sick and tired of hearing the same excuse living longer its rubbish and not a good enough one to deny us of what we are entitled to and as for Teresa May saying nobody should haveTO work no more than 18 mths longer well ive worked 2 years longer already so where is my PENSION that i have paid into for 45 yrs its time to stop this EXCUSE and Pay us what we are entitled to our Money our PENSION!!

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  30. ‘About time Labour and the Social Democrats did the same’??
    Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly focussed on the plight of these women – he has delivered dozens of speeches on this – yet another thing that the MSM choose to disregard

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  32. I was born in 1955 and have worked from 16yrs of age to 61 I’ve paid into the system all that time, I’ve never had children and never been a burden on the tax payer and yet I have to wait till I’m 66 till I get my state pension !
    I’ve written to the retired minister Baroness Altmann and the DWP nobody really answers my question why does the scale of the jump go up 6 years for women born from 1954 to 1960 ? I wouldn’t mind waiting 3yrs but 6yrs is ridiculous !
    I was also told Gordon Brown spent all the pension pot which should have been for 1950’s born women ?

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  33. I worked and expected to receive my pension got no letter did not no I would not be receiving my pension now I’m living in hardship spent all my savings in widow and have got no one to support me feel as if I’ve being robbed Think there would have being enough money if greedy people stop giving themselves pay rises claiming for anything could House’s cars I don’t even own a bike

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  34. Pingback: Theresa May’s comment on pension entitlement is inaccurate by four and a half YEARS | Vox Political

  36. I had a letter to say I would receive my pension age 62 then nothing was heard I only found out via press release that I wouldn’t get it until age 64 -11 months , I was still employed at age 62 but was made redundant at age 63, joined job centre could not get a job went for several interviews, basically too old, the humiliation of being interviewed by young inexperienced people, I rely on my

    husband to support me, I am now 64 I have 10 months to go, my husband has cancer do I am caring for him , the pressure has been intolerable not having my income, born 1953 I worked all my life expecting to get my pension age 60 I feel robbed by this decision and some compensation should be given to the 50,s women, it has been mentioned that you should register for this by 31st March this year can anyone tell me with whom ??? And if this is correct, surely the government knows who they should be compensating, I might add that all the governments are to blame for the maladministration of this appalling decision

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    • Thanks for your comment on this. Yes I agree all governments have had a part to play in this. What I am afraid the minister announced on Friday was that even though WASPI are bringing a case for compensation the government is determined to resist it in the courts. He was being as unhelpful as possible and if Theresa May hadn’t made that gaffe on Wednesday the statement would have been hardly noticed by anybody. And the minister failed to announce details of the deadline to complain.

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  38. Six years for me as well. I should have retired last September but had a letter 18 months before the due date to say I had to work until I was 66. I think my math’s must be better than Mrs May’s, this is not 18 months. How can she not know what is happening in a country where she is suppose to be the Prime Minister. Also as she is a 1950 lady herself.

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  39. I was notified just after my 57th birthday that I would have to work an extra 9 years instead of 3. Reports have consistently shown that throughout the working lives of 50s women we have suffered unequal pay compared to men, so why has it been decided only to legislate gender parity in respect of retirement ages? This seems to me grossly unfair. Having worked over 40 years I am now struggling financially at a time when I thought I would at least be able to draw the state pension, and I am consequently suffering from depression. I have been lucky enough to get a part-time, low paid job and the pension would make a huge difference. Either give us our pensions (currently estimate that this is costing me over £47k in loss of pension) or compensate us for 40 years underpaid work.

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  40. Get that awful women out of no 10 there is something seriously wrong with her mathematics I’ve had to wait nearly 6 yrs for my pension. Only 2 to go if I make it. Another few votes lost for her in next election from my hard up hard working should be receiving pension friends.

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  41. I was never informed about the changes.
    I’ve worked paid my dues like all the 1950’s women, I’m not asking for handouts or benifits, just what I was rightfully entitled to.
    Women unprepared are forced to work longer, others experiencing hardship.
    There are 6,000 women in Halton CHESHIRE affected by this injustice.
    I would advice all women effected to contact their local WASPI women’s group, make your voice heard and demand what is rightfully yours.

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  42. 6 years for me. Not only am I not getting my pension, I am saving the government money. Because of me, my mother is not in a nursing home, and because I look after my grandchildren, 2 young mothers are back in the workplace.

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  43. Platitudes do not put right poverty, desperation and despair which is being experienced by thousands of women who have worked all their lives for a pension. It is not a “benefit” it us an earned right. Fobbing us off and lying in the process is not only shabby, it is downright robbery.

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  44. The editorial can’t even get it right! As a 50s woman, I WAS supposed to retire at 55 – at the moment, I will be 66 – that’s 11 years on my working life (which, incidentally, started at 14!)

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  45. Get May out, she has no idea of how to run the country. I have also got to work an extra 6 years. It’s disgusting when you have paid more that the amount of years NI and you are still having to contribute. NI contributions used to stop at 60 for women. Where are all my contributions going now??? I have recently been made redundant and have to go to the job centre to claim a fraction of what my pension should have been. Who is getting the rest of my money? To say I am angry is an understatement.

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  46. I also have to wait 6 years Mrs May.Having worked for more than 40 years was made redundant nearly 3 years ago at 59 years old.l have to rely on my husband to keep me as l have no income at all.l have another 4 years to wait.lt is not right and its not fair.

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  49. Please could you ask the question of Theresa May, where is she getting her information from regarding the debacle that is the 50’s Women pension. She keeps harping on about “no woman waiting more than 18 months for their pension. In the words of her song……..she’s a liar. Every one of us has had our pension delayed by FIVE YEARS yes FIVE YEARS!!! Please ask her the question where is she getting her information from.
    Thank you

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  50. We were an easy target for the increase in 2011, Osborne and Cameron said ‘We are all in this together’, everyone except them and their pals. We were nothing but ‘scapegoats ‘ to save them money in their ‘austerity measures’ by pushing through the extra year sooner and clobbering us with an extra year without pension on top of the 5 we already had!

    I hope that some of this lot get their comeuppance! But it’s ‘One rule for them, and one rule for the rest of us’.

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  51. Where does she come from? I’ve got to wait 6 years for mine. Didn’t know anything about until I got made redundant at 59, 3 months short of my 60th birthday. WHAT! NO PENSION for another 6 years?
    Afraid so 😭😭😭😭

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  52. If it’s about equality then why isn’t the pm’s pension at the same age. It is animal farm reenacted. Some are more equal than others.

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  53. Thank you, David Hencke, for being a person of honesty and integrity. I like many others have worked since 13, put myself through college, got a degree and professional qualifications, brought up a family, worked long hours, at one stage, employed 20 people, devoted mysrlf to Local Government work, that paid out at 60, but now forced to work until 66, to make ends meet. I have always championed the cause of taking personal responsibility to look after yourself and work hard but this illegal, discriminatory and unjust decision agsinst a group the govetnment thought would just roll over and accept, as older women do not usually have enough clout or a voice to be heard, is so blatantly disgusting, it’s unbelievable. Hopefully, the PM’s ignorance will be something any Judge will take into account. Thank God some of these strong advocates including Catherine Rayner and Michael Mansfield, think we are a cause worth fighting for and not just to be swept under the carpet, when many of us all our lives, worked full time and bring up families. No notice, our Rights taken away, disgusting and shameful. It’s illegal, stealing and discriminatory.

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  54. The 18 months comment applies to the additional hike in pension age after 2011 change . Born in May 1955 the initial raise in my pension age was from 60-62.5 years .In 2011 this was suddenly increased to 65 years then almost immediately to 66 .Technically an additional 12 months but morally 3.5 years .Iwas given no time to save or plan for this addition to my pension age and have suffered from the loss of £42,000 + in those 6 years .

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  55. I cannot believe they are unaware of the extra years women have to wait for their pension, also not recognising the money we have lost. Not all the 50s women were earning fantastic wages. As I was told by a careers officer “As a woman there is no way you can think of going to University or having a career. You will be leaving school soon, probably getting married and having children.”It was like dripping tap.

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  56. I am totally and utterly disgusted by the lack of knowledge and compassion of, not only our Prime Minister, but one of our local MPs too! What these People lack is any insight into how badly this change has affected most of we 50s women. I have worked hard all my life and paid over 40 yrs contributions. I was NEVER informed that I would have to wait 6.5 yrs for MY pension! I have had to sell my home to downsize and find a part time job to supplement my work pension. I am so, so angry about this. HOW DARE our government steal our hard earned pension. Even before I retired (brought on by Government cuts leading to redundancy) my wage had been frozen for years before, meaning the redundancy package was diminished. As a regular, hard working person, I have no savings or investments to draw upon. Try putting yourselves in my position, how would you feel? Oh but of course, you’d not understand…….you haven’t been cheated out of your pension have you????????

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  57. 62 riddled with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Husband is also riddled with arthritis but still
    has to carry on his job as a window cleaner. Both awaiting hip replacements. House up sale as we can’t see an end to our working days without cashing in. Our retirement income up in smoke. Both now been working over 46yrs.
    I’m apauled at a woman who is within the 50s born women doesn’t know the delay in payout is 6yrs.

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  58. It’s brutish what they have done people go to jail for less than what the government have done to the 50ish women of the united kindom I am 64 worked paid in 44 years brought children into the world no rights to pension or bloody bus pass in fact I could go on & on maybe we should be like the suffragettes tie ourselves to the railings.

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  59. I wish he had also asked Teresa May about using pension funds to help pay off the national debt, instead of giving it to the 3.8 million women who had paid extra NI contributions to pay towards their retirement at 60. Really pleased that someone has raised this issue.

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  60. £46000 is what I have lost from the government but they have made £64000 out of me in tax and NI contributions so who is the winner not me still 22 months to go. Ladies if you are still working do your sums disgusting never voted for them and neve will

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