Inform the debate on the effect of the equalisation of the state pension age on women

jem16

UKParliament wrote: »

'What questions would you ask the Minister following their response to the debate?'

This was in reference to the Minister's response in the first debate. Here's the direct link to the response.

I have read many references to not having received personal notification of the changes, especially with regards to the 1995 Act. Could the Minister clarify these two points please;

1. Is there a specific rule which states that law changes must be notified to each individual by personal letter?

2. I have been able to find online copies of various booklets published by the DWP from 2001 explaining the change to state pension age and requesting women to get in touch for specific details. Are there also booklets available from before 2001 when the DWP was the DSS?

Daniel54

slightlymiffed wrote: »

You state that, in 2004, research by DWP showed 73% of people aged 45-54 were aware of changes to women’s state pension age. .

My post no 46 in this thread contains a link to the 2004 DWP report from which the minister drew his information..

Having read it through more than once,I can't see any reason to suppose the contents are inaccurate

JezR

jem16 wrote: »

2. I have been able to find online copies of various booklets published by the DWP from 2001 explaining the change to state pension age and requesting women to get in touch for specific details. Are there also booklets available from before 2001 when the DWP was the DSS?

Here's one from 1998, courtesy of the Wayback Machine:

PM6 - Pensions for Women

Women can get their state pension earlier than men, can’t they?

At the moment the state pension age is 60 for women and 65 for men. However, between 2010 and 2020, the state pension age for women will gradually change from 60 to 65. If you want to know more about changes to the state pension age, please see EQP1A Equality in state pension age.

EQP1A was published in July 1995.

The initial NAO report on the SERPS inheritance issue included the following statment (my bolding):

Government departments do not have a duty to provide information on changes in the law, but where they do issue such material, they have a legal responsibility to ensure that it is accurate and complete.

slightlymiffed

greenglide wrote: »

But the inherited SERPS was very different as DWP were sending out wrong information over this for a long period of time. I am not aware of the DWP informing people that their SPa was 60 when it had actually change to 60 - 65 - this is the equivalent.

The state pension age for women had been unchanged at 60 since 1940 (55 years - or the whole of my life thus far in 1995). The implications of a change to women's state pension age were fundamental and would have far reaching effects, especially for those of us close to retirement age who would have to ensure that we had planned our finances.

It was not even just as simple as a single new state pension age change for women in 1995 (i.e. say from 60 to 65 with effect from a particular date).

Women's state pension age was being phased in and so no woman could know her own particular revised state pension age until at least 2001 (when DWP finally included them in statements). This was 6 years after the 1995 Pensions Act legislation and 6 years of missed opportunity to plan - for us.

jem16

slightlymiffed wrote: »

The state pension age for women had been unchanged at 60 since 1940 (55 years - or the whole of my life thus far in 1995). The implications of a change to women's state pension age were fundamental and would have far reaching effects, especially for those of us close to retirement age who would have to ensure that we had planned our finances.

When did you receive your personal notification that your spa was 60?

Women's state pension age was being phased in and so no woman could know her own particular revised state pension age until at least 2001 (when DWP finally included them in statements). This was 6 years after the 1995 Pensions Act legislation and 6 years of missed opportunity to plan - for us.

Post 67 shows that booklets were available from 1995. The DWP wasn't in existence before 2001.

dunstonh

Women's state pension age was being phased in and so no woman could know her own particular revised state pension age until at least 2001 (when DWP finally included them in statements). This was 6 years after the 1995 Pensions Act legislation and 6 years of missed opportunity to plan - for us.

That is completely wrong. The 1995 changes were staggered based on date of birth and available in 1995. We used to have cards and flyers which we handed out which showed women their state pension age.

The state pension age for women had been unchanged at 60 since 1940 (55 years - or the whole of my life thus far in 1995). The implications of a change to women's state pension age were fundamental and would have far reaching effects, especially for those of us close to retirement age who would have to ensure that we had planned our finances.

So, you think that almost 20 years is not enough?

greenglide

My posting was to point out that with SERPS inheritance DWP had for a long time after the change in the law continued to explicitly inform people of the old rules, not the new ones.

I am not aware of DWP telling anyone that their SPa was 60 even though the 95 act changed it.

slightlymiffed

dunstonh wrote: »

That is completely wrong. The 1995 changes were staggered based on date of birth and available in 1995. We used to have cards and flyers which we handed out which showed women their state pension age.



So, you think that almost 20 years is not enough?

Sorry - 'Phased in', 'staggered' - semantics.

As an IFA, I would expect you to keep your clients abreast of current legislation.
For those women with neither occupational nor private pensions (of which there are many 1950's born women), where would they be 'handed out' these cards and flyers?

I do believe 20 years notice is enough - if we had been given it- we weren't. That is the whole point.

Dasa

I didn't know about the changes made in 1995 but that said I don't have an issue with it.My gripe is with the changes made in 2011 which I think are unfair.

Figgerty

patanne wrote: »

Patane wrote: »

This quote hasn't worked properly as Figgerty's quote is not showing properly, but as I have never yet quoted against anything that Jem has said I guess I will leave it there.

First sentence part of the debate - the rest - this is getting really repetitive!

The quote you are quoting in your signature is by the way a very important quote by Edmund Burke not some burke and should not be dismissed as abruptly as you obviously do. Why on earth do you quote him at all unless you wish it to be totally dismissed.

Your comment was about elderly and menopausal women and referred back to my comment in another thread, not the debate thread. I did not think it belonged in the debate thread. As to my signature, I knew perfectly well who the "Burke bloke" was, that bloke bit was an attempt at humour.