Written evidence from Christine Bell (ESP0235)
In 2011 (only because I requested a pension forecast) I discovered my SPA was to be 64 years and 5 months. Shortly afterwards I saw in the press that this was to be changed to 65 years 11 months. I contacted my MP (Sheila Gilmore) and wrote to David Cameron, the Chancellor and the Work and Pensions Minister. On Monday I will post to you copies of my previous correspondence together with a copy of a new letter to the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Work and Pensions Minister.
The Times: Women's State Pension Age to Rise to 65 in 2020
The Times: State Pension age to be equalised at 65 between 2010 and 2020
The Independent: "The Common age of 65 will be phased in over 10 years from April 2010"
I did not see any of this. If I had I would have thought the first quote would not apply to me (expecting to retire in August 2014 on my 60th birthday). If I had seen the other two quotes, I would have thought "Phased in over 10 years? That must mean an increase of 6 months for each year of age" , i.e.
Born 1950 Retire on 60th birthday
Born 1951 Retire at 60 years 6 months
Born 1952 Retire on 61st birthday
Born 1953 Retire at 61 years 6 months
Born 1954 Retire on 62nd birthday
Born 1955 Retire at 62 years and 6 months
Born 1956 Retire on 63rd Birthday
Born 1957 Retire at 63 years and 6 months
Born 1958 Retire on 64th birthday
Born 1959 Retire at 64 and 6 months
Born 1960 Retire on 65th birthday
Six months per year of age is severe compared to other European countries who have opted for 4 months or less.
(Romania women born in January 1955 had the retirement age in January 2015 at age 60; those born in January 1958 will retire in January 2019 at age 61; those born in January 1961 will retire in January 2023 at age 62; those born in January 1967 will retire in January 2030 at age 63)
In Poland the retirement age is to be increased each quarter to reach 67 years for men in 2020 and to be equaled for women in 2040.
• Raising France's statutory retirement age, which at 60 is one of the EU's lowest, is the linchpin of a reform plan.
• The retirement age will rise gradually for people born after 1950 by four months a year to 62 in 2018. This measure will kick in from July 2011. It overturns a Socialist policy introduced by the late President Francois Mitterrand in 1983.
I think France are now trying to move to '65 but I predict a riot.
6 months per year of age might have seemed severe but the British Government didn't go for that, for those born in late '53 and '54 they have opted for 2 and a half years for each year of age. My good friends born in April '53 (the year before me) have a state pension age 3 years earlier than mine. They get to keep their life savings and I lose all of mine.
The 'phased in over 10 years' has vanished.
We've moved from SPA of 60 to 65 in 3 years 7 months
(Woman born 5 April '50 retires on 60th birthday, woman born 6 November '53 retires on 65th birthday)
Woman born in August '54 is told she will have to sacrifice her £24,000 life savings while friends born in '53 get to keep the same sum.
Reduced pension for life?
Have any of you heard there are some laws somewhere regarding age discrimination and human rights?
Christine Bell
April 2016