Bob Seely MP has met with local Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) representatives in Parliament and pledged his continuing commitment to fight for a fair transitional State Pension arrangement for all WASPI women.
Shelagh Simmons and Sally Robinson were representing the Solent WASPI Supporters’ Group and on Wednesday (16th October) joined others taking part in the WASPI lobby of Parliament that saw over 20 of them gather to call on the Government and MPs to commit their support to helping find a solution for WASPI women.
As part of the event, Mr Seely pledged his support for a better deal for WASPI women. This calls for:
- Endorsement of a fair transitional State Pension arrangement for all WASPI women
- Bridging pension and compensation for those affected to cover the period between age 60 and the new State Pension age
- Parliamentary support and representation for local WASPI women
Speaking after the event in Parliament, Shelagh, the Solent WASPI Coordinator, said:
“I am delighted Mr Seely signed WASPI’s pledge to demonstrate his ongoing commitment to WASPI women.
“More than 10,000 women in the Isle of Wight constituency have been negatively impacted by these State Pension age changes as a result of the lack of notification by the Government. Some are suffering financial hardship. Others have poor physical and/or mental health. All have been treated unfairly.
“Bob Seely has spoken out on this issue in the past so Island WASPI women will be very pleased their MP is continuing to fight to ensure they get the deal they deserve.”
The lobby event in Parliament was convened by WASPI, a group campaigning for approximately 3.8 million women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to their State Pension age implemented in the 1995 and 2011 Pension Acts.
I don’t understand? Women want equality. And now they have it, and retire at the same age as men. Or is it the case they are not getting the same amount of money? They should get the same money. Please explain…
Pay back 6 years of your pension and then discuss equality! Where is the fairness to us women who worked hard all our.lives and have been robbed.
I totally agree with you !!! Once ok but twice it’s not on !!!! I have paid in to the pension since I was 15 and gone through Breast cancer and am still working !!! Go on you woman fight for what’s rightfully ours !!!!!!
I agree 1950s woman worked hard for that money I for one never got told I had to work another 6 yrs until I enquired myself your right we have been robbed of are money the government had no right just to take are money they all should hang there heads in shame how they have treated us but we will carry on fighting until we get justice we are no going away
Ok then. Why was the age not brought down for men? That’s equality. They would have gained not lost anything. Yet again Women are the losers.
Would have cost government too much money. The truth is they had no money to pay us.
Quite simple really those of us women that planned to retire at 60 and even did AVC did not have enough time or in my case see myself become a f/t carerer to my husband and have to live off his pension because the government moved the goalposts..I want and I need my own pension now I cant return to work I want my money that I have worked for now not 7 years from now I want was I am entitled too and is owed to me and all these women
I know how u feel I’m 61 years old worked all my life I care for my husband and was looking forward to relax at my age with my pension im ashamed for this government thy are quick enough to give other countries our money but dont look after there own people
We all agree with equality the unfairness comes from the fact that we were not given sufficient notice of the age change to increase pension payments or make other arrangements some ladies retired fully expecting to receive a pension
well fred try this. imagine you are say 2 years aeay from your expected pension time at 65 and you have planned for this. then they say no men now need to work 2 more years before pension is given. this is the case.
For women their expected pension age has increased without worning by 6-7 years until they recieve it. that is what is unfair.
men and women shoukd have both been increased by the same amount like 3 each!
However, there should be transitional finacial help for the fact we did not know this was happening.
As Woman born in the 50s there was not the same equality and child care was not available to most women so joining the workforce where a pension was included to most was non existant
It’s to do with the amount of notice they were given to make family decisions such as looking after elderly parents and grandchidren etc not realising that pension would not be there at 60. If they gave up their jobs Women are generally the ones in these roles six years is a huge gap to pick up your working life again with no income and reduced private pension in some cases.
Men seem to forget that most women give up five year’s of their lives to bring up children until they go to school while the husband goes out to work
The average male pension is 30 to 40% more than than women’s due to oast inequalities
same old, same old…
this was communicated in the pensions act of 1995 and communicated by governments on several occasions since.
These women are expected to work until the same age as men before getting pensions- that is equality right there.
There are plenty of men, who have no savings, no pension payments and are getting made redundant, who are 60 or more and have to get another job- why should a woman in the same situation get given state handouts in the form of a pension when the man isn’t – that is blatant discrimination based on gender – and illegal in this day and age.
why should the rest of us be expected to bust our arses until we are nearly 70 and watch you sit around from 60 onwards – that is ageist.
ignorance is no excuse – work like the men have to and stop whining. You are the very same women who whinged and complained about equality in the 70’s, 80’s onwards – you got your equality, now you get treated the same – you merely got what you asked for.
The right decision was made in the courts earlier this month – the change to the age is not discriminatory.
judges view…
Today judges disagreed, ruling that: “There was no direct discrimination on grounds of sex because this legislation does not treat women less favourably than men in law.
“Rather it equalises a historic asymmetry between men and women and thereby corrects historic direct discrimination against men.”
What a surprise you didn’t give your name!!!!! I was born in the 50 and was definitely not informed of the changes. The way we have been treated is absolutely appalling. Now at 63 still working in bad health. We should be enjoying our retirement which we have worked for. enjoying quality time with our grandchildren. Most of the the 50s women started work at ages 14/15 and stll working 50 years later. We didnt have the luxury of spending extra years in higher education we had to find jobs to help support the family/siblings. You have no idea and don’t know what you are talking about.
Well said!
@jean
neither did a lot of men born in the 50’s – they started work at 14/15 and are still working 50 years later – they didn’t have the luxury of spending extra years in higher education, they had to find jobs to help support family/siblings – you seem to forget that and yes I do know precisely what I am talking about.
Why should a man in exactly the same position be expected to work six more years than a woman -completed discrimination based on gender and that is why it was thrown out of court – this is the 21st century, women fought hard to be treated just like men, you have it, pension at 66 – stop whining you are being treated equally.
But women born in 50s never got equality Pay yes they do now so we have lost yet again think about it our age group should not be the ones to suffer AND NO WE DID NOT GET NOTICE OF THIS HAPPENING UNTIL 2014
@christine – yes you did – pensions act 1995 – communicated then, successive governments have published it, millions signed up to receive information – your problem if you have not researched your own position and ensured that you are prepared for what you can expect and when.
unless the government is going to reduce mens pension ages back to 60 for those born in the 1950’s then it won’t happen.
why should a man who has no pension, no savings and no job who was born in the 1950’s be expected to work and not get any pension until 65 or longer, when a woman in the same situation is expecting hers at 60- that is blatant discrimination based on gender and illegal today.
“None Given” You obviously don’t know the facts so don’t comment
@Not supplied – I do know the facts, have read the legislation, knew about the pension changes in 1995 and saw all subsequent announcements and i am nowhere near retirement age
perhaps if you had taken responsibility for yourself and your future, instead of expecting the state to pick up the tab and discriminate against men in the process, then you would be aware of these changes, instead of whining due to your own lack of research and planning.
We didn’t have equality in the workforce (1950s ladies) over the years. Our school subjects were Houercraft, Mothercare and and only 1 or 2 years of Sciences.There was no equal pay with men. We didn’t have works pensions or Mortgages for years. No Nurseries available so had to give up Careers and when finally returned to the workforce we took on low paid part time jobs.The sort of work the majority of women had was Caring work that was heavy. I ended up breaking 3 bones trying to work past 60 and not qualifying for Any Disablement Benefits because of being left money from my Mother (who I as a woman took care of
as well as working and looking after Grandchildren). Now I get Benefit but have Zero Retirement Savings. My Work Pension is the princely sum of £27 per week. 1950s some suffered so much I equality and then to add on 6 years in one go to my year (1954) is disgusti g, you can’t make a generally who were u equal suddenly equal it doesn’t work. I’m not complaining about increasing the Pension age but to force it all onto our generation is pure prejudice. It will work better with the next generation who weren’t forced to stay at Home and look after their Children or being shunned by society (even by us women on any Working
Mothers, I didn’t know Any till our children could be left!). That is Why we are Complaining!
@janice
the world has changed since then and now you will be treated in the same way as men are – there are plenty of men, who have had low paid jobs throughout their lives, not got any private pension, not got any savings and have had periods of unemployment and struggled.
Why should they have to wait until 66 to get their state pension, when women of the same age, seem to think they can sit at home doing eff all six years earlier at the expense of those men, who would be working and paying tax, just to pay those pensions.
Men always got more money for doing the same job as women. Men didn’t complain then
You call that equility,women have never had that, I would have welcomed the 12 months men got, and would have now been having my pension for the last 4yrs,small tiny private pension to have gone on holiday, instead of paying bills with it, no independence, no money, no dignity, after working all my life from the age of 15 to expect to retire with my husband who by the way is 13yrs older than me and now no longer able to travel, you call that equility
Yes we do need equality. We were told we could retire at 60 now we can’t. Nothing to do with equality it’s to do with the unfairness of the lies. If at the age of 20 I was expecting to retire ar 66 there would’ve been no arguement. But I was told 60 nd prepared for 60. Now have to work another 6 years that is what is unfair.
Some woman born in the 1950s had to stop their careers and have children therefore although woman want equality until men can have children equality will never completely happen. The government just jumped on the equality for all without thinking it out fairly.
@louie,
it was thought out fairly – women demand to be treated the same as men and have done for years – now you are being treated the same, don’t complain about the sting in the tail, such as increased working years to match those years worked by men.
I am so pleased to hear we are getting heard and we are getting supported
Thank you
I will only believe we are getting support when we actually get some money back what the government illegally took off us in the first place!!
I agree with you 100%
Our money was stolen give us it back
True it,s being stolem
It is disgraceful how we have been treated, and I lost my husband three years ago. I support all the ladies who are fighting our worthwhile cause. Well done girls.
It’s disgusting I am 65 next year I have I’ll heath cant work
Also if the pension is means tested I will not qualify as I am having to work as I did not get my pension. I agree with equality but the time scales were so short we did not know until a couple of years before we didn’t get the pension we were not getting it. It should have been fazed in miore gradually and over a longer period of time. This was purely a money saving means by the government at the time. This is a life changing event for most women. A friend of mine who is 61 is gagging to work 4 nights a week caring as she cannot afford to give up full time work.
I lost my husband two years ago. Looked after him for two years before that. Now lost my home as I cannot pay the mortgage. Im 64 and wont get pension nowctil Im 66. Suffering from anxiety and depression. Life is so difficult i pray that we WASPI women will get some justice and compensation soon!
I am all for equality but don’t forget that from next year the pension age for 1950’s women goes up again to 66 and will continue to go up after that but at least the next tranche of people to be affected will have more time to prepare.
On another note some of these women were blatantly discriminated against as they were working before the equal pay law was passed in 1970 which wasn’t adhered to until years later. During the 1970’s it was very much “a mans world” and in so many ways unfortunately still is.
I really thought my husband and me could have a few years enjoying our retirement together ,it’s now over three years since I should have retired by the time I finish I’ll be to tired & he will be to old to enjoy our time together.
Keep up the good fight and get us what we are due.
It has been a long hard struggle to find suitable work after realising I was not going together my pension at 60, as notification was given, I heard it on the radio!, for myself, luckily my husband is younger and still working otherwise I would of been on the street literally! Only part time hours minimum wage, and having to take jobs way below my capabilities because that is all there is, not able to acrue full stamps as many of companies I worked for went into receivership, as I work in retail sector, so consequently I have not earned enough stamps to receive full pension robbed again ! when I am 65 and 11 months old, one month before my 66 birthday!
We all paid in, where is the £40’000+ gone from each and everyone of us?
I am one of the fortunate people that have a partner, by even so it has been such a struggle to make ends meet, and demoralising too,
I am praying for justice for us all, and would like to thank all the ladies everywhere fighting our corner.
I cared for a sick husband for 20 years whilst bringing up two young children and was not in a position to put money away. My husband died when I was 59 and could I could not afford to keep the family home. A year later I sold up and now live with my son and care for two elderly relatives. I’m still not in a position to work and have another 3 years to wait for my pension. This is so unfair, I must have saved the NHS thousands over the years and still continue to do so!
I am 63 this week in the same position,! it’s outrageous that we have been put in this position through no fault of our own I have worked from the age of 15 paid in all my life only to have the goal posts moved !
If I had been told I wasn’t going to get my pension at 60! I would of taken out insurance that came out at 60!
Not every 60 year old has the energy to carry on working, jobs at 60 are hard to find,
If you are married you can’t claim benefits,
A lot of 60 year old women, never had children,they have never claimed family allowance, family tax credits,
A lot of 60 year olds has the right amount of years in the pot,as they have worked from the age of 16!!
If you have enough money in the pot,then the government should pay the pension out,
I know a lady who has cancer, she may not make 66,
Where is all her money going,?
when she dies,
You don’t pay the family her money
We paid IN now you should pay OUT
Get the DWP to have a full audit of the National insurance Fund from 1948 and find out the truth of how mush mis handling of the funds being go on, by all government’s.
Hello Fred
In answer to your”please explain”
If you wanted to – look at the WASPI website: waspi.co.uk
It explains that it agrees with men and women retiring at the same ages unlike the “Back to 60” Group which instigated the recent Judicial Review.. The WASPI women, born in the 1950s were PROMISED they would receive their State Pensions at the age of 60. Many women started work full time at the age of 15 and paid their full NI contributions. The main complaint is that the 3.9 million women that have not received their state pension were NOT informed about it either so were unable to make any other provision for the six year shortfall on pension income.
WASPI is asking for a transitional solution that would help out many women (and their families).
There is a wonderful new blog worth reading:
https://islandwaspiwoman.wordpress.com/blog-feed/
My husband is 9 years my senior, so has been drawing his state pension for the past 7 years. At the same time I was made redundant at the age of 55, went back to retrain in a new field, but have been unable to find employment, despite applying for many positions. I had to take out my vocational pension prematurely to help pay our outgoings and still this does not cover everything. We tried to sell our house to realise some equity, but in the current market, was unable to sell. It is quite a desperate situation for these women who are finding themselves in no man’s land, unable to find decent employment and at the same time, unable to pay into their pensions until they are able to retire at 66.
It all comes down to all party’s have let us down,they have stolen from our penshion pot So no party will really fight for us as all guilty and are not willing to own up.I’m sure if Tories/Labour Admitted what they have done and writed the wrong they would earn back some respect (AND A HELL OF A LOT OFF OUR VOTES )WASPI /54
I had all my qualifying years of contributions at the age of sixty ready for retirement however, I must work until I am 66. Your pension is not a benefit its something you have paid into all your working life, I am still paying contributions from my wage, where is that now going. They are continuing to rob us blind.
The transition was working fine until it was decided to speed up the transition. That made women born from 1953 to 1955 disadvantaged. That extra speed up should never have happened. My sister should have retired at 64 years and will now be 65 yes 11 months practically 2 years of state pension stolen from her. She was born in August 1954 and left school one month before being 15 years and went straight to work. When she married at 19 she only paid a married woman’s contribution. She has been living on her saving since her husband died. She was then 63 years and refuses to sign on Job Seekers. She doesn’t even get a windows pension. It’s a joke a farce a complete ‘comedy of errors’.
she refuses to sign on job seekers- then she has no one else to blame but herself. Men of the same age are expected to sign on and look for work – so can she.
I got in touch with Works and pensions when I turned 58 and was told I had enough years in to get myfull pension at 60 , now I don’t have enough to get a full pension when I turn 66 and will be £11 00 a week short of my full pension . I can’t work through I’ll health and don’t get benifits of any sort , I stI’ll have 3 years to go ,
I have worked since I was 15 and I think its disgusting how this government has treated women from the 50s .
Yes I’m in same boat don’t get mine till 66 yet other women born 1954 like me got theirs at 65 as we’re born at beginning of year.so unfair I have to wait over year for mine .it’s not done fairly at all.all this nonsense about having time off being up family!it’s the hardest job you will. Ever do.it would also open the way for younger people to get into work.the person that changed all of this retired early on a very large pension .
what about the men from the 50’s – who do not have savings, do not have private pensions and who are in poor health -why should they be expected to work until 66. Since when did it become ok, to allow females to sit on their arses, whilst men of the same age are expected to be working – no chance, blatant discrimination against men born in the 1950’s which has thankfully been cleared up.
Don’t protest – pollute
Every battery now goes in the river
Oil etc etc
Each time I can pollute I do!
@joan harcourt
I guess you need to see someone about your issues.