East Hampshire District Council to back pension equality campaign

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to get a fairer deal for women affected by “distressing” changes to the State Pension Age (SPA) have been given a boost by district councillors.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has urged the Government to provide fair financial assistance to women affected by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011.

The motion was made last Thursday following a presentation by co-ordinator of the Solent Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group Dr Carolyne Jacobs, uring a full council meeting in Penns Place.

WASPI is a national organisation which is lobbying the Government for compensation payments for 1950s-born women adversely affected by changes to the SPA.

In 1995 the Government decided to increase the SPA for women from 60 to 65, by 2020, so the State Pension Age would be the same for both sexes. But many women did not find out about the change of legislation until 2011 when the Government decided to accelerate the increase, bringing the SPA for both ages to 66 by 2020.

“The rise in the women’s SPA has been too rapid and without sufficient notice, leaving 1950s women with no time to make alternative financial arrangements,” said Dr Jacobs.

“It has caused great distress and hardship, particularly for those who have no occupational pension and are totally reliant on their state pension for their income.”

Census figures suggest that 116,482 women in Hampshire – including nearly 1,000 each in both Petersfield and Horndean – could miss out financially because of the changes.

Nearly 120 local authorities – including Portsmouth, Southampton and Havant – have supported WASPI’s campaign by writing to the Government supporting the notion of transitional payments for women born in the 1950s.

Now EHDC has joined that list as a motion proposed by EHDC leader Cllr Ferris Cowper was carried with strong support last Thursday.

He said: “The council urges the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ensure fair transitional state pension arrangements for women affected by changes in state pension law in 1995 and 2011.”