Pension changes will negatively affect an estimated 1,000 women in Stretford and Urmstom after governmental reform, Labour research has revealed.
The startling number concerns women born between April 4 1951 and April 4 1953 who will not be eligible for the single tier pension since they are due to retire in 2017 – before the state pension changes come into effect.
Kate Green, MP of the Urmston and Stretford constituency, has expressed concern.
“Ministers have been caught red-handed hiding the truth on pension reforms,” she said.
“This Tory-led Government’s pension changes have hit hardworking women across Trafford time and again, and these reforms are no different.
“A thousand women will be worse off compared to men, and this is completely unacceptable, but instead of being honest with the women that will lose out, this Government tried to bury the truth.”
The changes will affect 700,000 women nationally, who will receive £310 less each year than men of the same age – as men born during the same year will qualify.
The government’s pension reforms have been praised for their simplicity but Ms Green has called for more transparency.
She said: “Once again Ministers have been caught with their hands in pensioners’ pockets – it’s about time they had the decency to be honest about who will lose out under their plans.”
Pensions minister Steve Webb has defended the pension reforms, believing the new system will save hundreds of millions of pounds in the long term.
Image courtesy of _ricky, via Flickr, with thanks.
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