Women affected by birth date lottery appeal to pensions minister to correct unfair anomaly
Around 700,000 women born between 1951 and 1953 will, from next April, be handed a smaller state pension than men of the same age
There are around 700,000 women born between 1951 and 1953 who, from next April, will be handed a smaller state pension than men of the same age. Because of a birth date lottery, they will miss out on eligibility for the new single-tier pension. It's an unfair anomaly that should be put right, but campaigners feel let down by the new pensions minister.
Campaigner Cathe Rikby contacted me this week to send a message to Ros Altmann: "Why are you unwilling to help, Ros, when you supported our claims before? Why are you willing for there to be inequality?"
It's a good question. The minister seems to believe that she can't overturn a long-ago made decision but if she can't ensure justice for all, who can?
s.read@independent.co.uk
twitter: @simonnread
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