Labour will help end the plight of the hundreds of thousands of women abandoned to live in poverty by Tory changes to their state pension age.
Under the plan, Pension Credit will be extended to those who were due to retire before the chaotic pension age increase of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government.
This would alleviate the worst of the impacts for the most vulnerable women, and restore some of the dignity many of them feel they have been robbed of. It would provide support worth up to £155 per week to half a million of the most vulnerable WASPI women.
The government’s changes have affected women who would normally have retired earlier under the 1995 Pensions Act. Labour plans to extend eligibility to pension credit to these women, ensuring that they are not forced into the Government’s punitive social security regime.
Councillor Stephen Morgan, Labour’s candidate for Portsmouth South, said:
“This unfair treatment is of real concern to me. For that reason I have already pledged to do something about it as Portsmouth South’s next MP.
I want to ensure women in our country and my home city are given some stability until their delayed state pension is available. The concession would operate for affected women up to 2022”.
Labour are also developing solutions for those affected who would not be entitled to means-tested Pension Credit under these proposals, helping to end the hardship faced by women who have worked all their lives, but find that they cannot retire as planned.
Cllr Morgan added:
“The Tories and Lib Dems have completely failed to act to address the plight of women affected. That’s why I welcome Labour committing to the extension of Pension Credit to support the vulnerable women affected by the last government’s chaotic approach to the state pension.
I want to address the concerns that are being raised by thousands of women up and down the country by implementing these sensible proposals. As your MP I will take action and act to minimise any further hardship.”
