State Pension Age announcement

Campaigners have welcomed a UK Government announcement today about changes to the age at which women will be eligible to claim the State Pension. 

Responding to the news that Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has delayed plans to raise the State Pension Age for women to 66 by 2020 by six months, Age Cymru’s Rhea Stevens says:

“We welcome the changes that have been made and thousands women across Wales who stood to lose up to £10,000 each in State Pension payments will be better treated as a result.

“We would have liked the changes being made to have gone further.

“However, the UK Government has listened to some of our concerns and those of our sister charity Age UK and we appreciate that it is a significant financial commitment at a difficult time.

“This will give a much needed 6 month respite to the 2,700 women who would have had to wait an extra two years.

“Having faced uncertainty twice already these women must not be affected by any further changes to their State Pension Age again without sufficient notice.”

“Age Cymru would like to thank everyone who has helped us with this campaign.”