Women over 55 falling out of love with Cameron

30 September 2011

Nearly half of women over 55 are dissatisfied with the way the Prime Minister, David Cameron, is doing his job – nearly double last year's figure (48% up from 27%) – according to a recent political poll from Ipos Mori. At the same time polling conducted by TNS for Age UK shows that one major area of concern for these women is unfair changes to the state pension age. Two thirds of the women affected are concerned about the proposed move to make women wait up to two years longer to receive their State Pension. The proposal is included in the Pensions Bill which faces its final parliamentary vote on the 18th October. The move goes against promises made in the Coalition Agreement by the Government that it would not start to increase state pension age for women until at least 2020.

“Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK says:

Polling commissioned for Age UK shows that unfairly increasing the state pension age is a big issue for many of the women affected. Many women in their late 50s are deeply worried to hear that they could have to wait a further two years for their pension than they had planned and angry that the goalposts have been moved in a way that has not given them enough time to prepare for retirement. Many of these women do not have safety nets like wealthy husbands or private pensions to fall back on. Some have been made redundant and are struggling to find another job while many are caring for older relatives

“At the moment there has been a lot of talk about concessions to the Pensions Bill which could smooth the transition. If this is true the Government should clarify what these changes will actually be. This is the last chance for the Government to do the right thing by the thousands of women up and down the country who are who feel they have been badly let down and stick to its original pledge.. These women have already had their state pension age raised once before and to do so again is unfair.

“We want the Government to stick to the coalition agreement and not increase the state pension age for women before 2020.”

The Age UK Poll by TNS showed that nearly half (46%) of those interviewed who were concerned about the changes said they were worried due to health problems, care responsibilities, unemployment or because they had already scaled down their hours in preparation for retirement. For many to work longer was difficult or impossible. –

Of those interviewed 15 per cent admitted they were counting on their state pension to give them more time to care for others, such as older parents, a sick or disabled partner or grandchildren.

All women born between 6th April 1953 and 5th April 1960 will be affected by the changes. State Pension Age will be increased for 2.6 million women but 330,000 women across the country will be hit hardest, having to wait between 18 months and two years longer for their state pension. The 33,000 women who will have to wait an extra two years will lose on average £10,000 of state pension income as a result. These women have already been asked to move their State Pension Age to 65 and this is the second time they will face having to retire later.

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