Responding to the Institute for Fiscal Studies' report showing that
1.1 million women are worse off by £32 a week, Plaid Cymru's Work and Pensions
spokesperson, Hywel Williams MP
said:
“The problem is not that raising the state pension age for women is
unfair – most of us agree that the state pension age should be equal for both
men and women. The problem is the irresponsible and damaging way in which it is
being raised.
“Women born in the 1950s have faced significant changes to the age
at which they can receive the state pension without appropriate notification,
with very little notice and much faster than expected.
“These women will have planned their retirement based on
long-standing government policy which was changed at the last minute. As a
result, some of these women are suffering financial hardship. Finding work at
last minute, and at such proximity to retirement age is next to impossible and
some are forced to rely instead on Job Seekers’ Allowance.
“The government’s contempt and disregard for their plight was
betrayed in a recent debate in which I took part. When pressed the Minister
remarked that these women could always take advantage of the government’s
wonderful apprenticeship provision.
“While I’m sure the British Government is pleased that it has
delivered billions of pounds for them to spend elsewhere, they must recognise
the injustice of their actions and the financial hardship it is causing. Plaid
Cymru stands with the women affected by this irresponsible change and we will
continue to fight for justice.”
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