Q&A - Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI)

Mrsmopp the new pensions are paid to the individual so it makes no difference - for that - if you are married of not. There is no married man's pension.

One think that those getting the new pension should remember (not sure it will make you feel better) is that your basic state pension is £159.55 but the old basic state pension is £122.30.

I missed out on Home responsibilities credits as I had gone back to work in 1976 as youngest child started school. Changes like this are never retrospective, worse luck ☹️

Breda - When I reviewed mine, I was concerned that, although my first job started at age 15, they dont even count work done as a 15, 16 or 17 year old! They also had me missing some years when I was a stay home Mum with baby, but apparently the 'Home Responsibilities Credits' didn't come in until after 1976. I just wonder if some of your discrepancies are due to the same. I do have the required number of years to obtain the full pension when I am 66 though.

I have tried to use the government website to get them to update my records as I discovered that my NI records are incorrect but have failed miserably to manage to do so. Has anyone else had the same issue in sorting this issue out? I'm a '53 birth and have been told that my state pension is due to commence in July 2018, so I'm anxious to get the mistake rectified before then.

Just bumping this thread to highlight the new petition:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200088

I was born in the 1940s, so my pension was payable from age 60. However we needed 40 years contributions for a full pension and not many of us qualified for that due to gaps in working years because of childcare. There was little provision for childcare in the 60s, so most of us had a career break, causing a shortfall in number of qualifying years. I understand now that a NI record can be credited for those years so we have also missed out.
If a wife cannot claim a pension now till age 67, can her husband claim for her on his contributions, or has that been taken away also? Why aren't women MPs making more noise about this?

I finally received my state pension in June this year at age 64, having waited firstly an extra 3 years, then another 11 months for my state pension, July 1953 being my birthdate. Like others are saying a friend, born January 1953, seven months older than me, received her pension 20 months before me. It's been a torturous wait as I cut short my career 8 years ago to care for my sick daughter and was therefore unable to make arrangements to top-up my pension. I wholeheartedly support the Waspi campaign and have signed the petition.

That's the problem isn't it Maggie? They don't make any announcements do they? I only learnt that my retirement age had been put back again when a colleague mentioned that she'd checked on the government website and had seen that hers had been delayed. So I checked mine.

Phew, thank goodness for that, Chewbacca. I thought for a moment that I'd missed another announcement!

Sorry, that should have said I'll get my pension when I'm 65.5, not 66.5.

I've signed the petition. I was born March 1954 and have had my state retirement age put back to 66.5 years. Had I known, when I was 58, that I wouldn't be receiving my pension for another 8.5 years, I would have been able to set up a private pension which may not have yielded much when I retire, but it would have been more than I have now. As it is, my retirement age has been put back every 18 months or 2 years, leaving me with no way of forward planning. I feel well and truly crapped on.

Thanks for link to the petition, I've just signed it and so has hubby.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200088 Everybody needs to sign this, a new petition

I agree Dignity56. I hear the argument of "I've worked and paid NI for 40 years" or " I'm looking after grandchildren/parents" which isn't the point, many mean will be shouting "so have I!". The emphasis should be on the totally ludicrous timetable and the lack of notification. I say this as a staunch and active WASPI campaigner

Christine where you contributing to an occupational pension?

I can't get my head round this. My birthdate is Sept 1953 and I get my pension next month - just started the claim for it.

I'm a 1955 birth. Not only will I now not get my pension until I'm 66, I've just found out that, when I do, it won't be the full pension. Why? Because my employer opted out - I have no recollection of having been notified of this. Who was my employer? - The Government!! So, despite having 40 full qualifying years, I won't get what I thought I would get. Maybe I should have been more on the case but I was bringing up three children single handed and working full time - so not a lot of spare energy for checking such things.

So many 1950s women have researched the background of the baffling timetable and found statements by Ministers and advisory boards. Waspi Board members don't seem to use this information. Why not pass it along to coordinators and Bindmans ?

I've just checked on the Gov.UK site, susie22, and November 2016 is correct for a woman born in early June 1953. For someone born in mid July 1953 it was indeed 6 July 2017, so eight months later.

The graph Hm999 posted above shows the dates for some of the women born in your year.

susie22 this is what she told me. However, you are getting your SP 8 months before I do, despite being only 2 months older!

This inequality in the rise and the fact most of the 50's ladies were not informed in plenty of time is the campaign WASPI is fighting for.

NANNYJAN don't know how your lady received her pension in nov 2016 as I was born july 1953 and I have just rec'd my sp on 6th july 2017

I am one of the lucky ones who was born before the WASPI dates but I would like to support the campaign. Is there a legal challenge being made and if so is there anywhere I can contribute?

I was born Sept 1953. I found out around 2010 that my SP date would be March 2017! That is bad enough. Then 2011 this was increased to March 2018, with no notification , and only 6 years to go !

I am now about to send my 4th letter from the templates on the WASPI website. This is to the ICE (Independant Case Examiner).

I know a lady whose birthdate was only 3 months before mine, yet she received her SP November 2016, 16 months before I do! We need to keep the pressure on!

susie22 So far, for the legal case, all I can find is that the law firm engaged, Bindmans, sent a letter of complaint to the Damien Green in March this year. There are updates on the crowdfunding page.
www.crowdjustice.com/case/waspi/
The latest statement seems to focus on maladministration.

I am in the same position I was born in 54 and worked from age 16, I now feel that we are working longer and the youngsters are staying on at college till 18 then on to Uni in some cases until 23/25. I had done 10 years work and paid into the system but cannot get any help and unfortunately unemployed at present and due to age feel that I cannot get a job in office admin/reception work as they want younger people that are quicker at learning new things and my looks are not like a 25 year old. Feeling ready to retire and enjoy life while I still have energy, looking at my husband and how he is deteriorating rapidly through diabetes and other health problems is also wearing me down.