Pension changes are ‘catastrophic’, appeal court told

WELFARE: Campaign group challenges controversial ruling that affects income of millions of women born in the 1950s

Women have been left “disenfranchised” by the “catastrophic” changes to the state pension age, the Court of Appeal has heard.

Nearly four million women born in the 1950s have been affected by the changes, introduced by successive governments in an attempt to ensure “pension age equalisation”, which have raised the state pension age from 60 to 66.

Julie Delve, 62, and Karen Glynn, 63 – supported by campaign group Backto60 – lost a landmark High Court fight against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last year, but the pair have mounted a challenge at the Court of Appeal.

The women argue that raising their pension age unlawfully discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes.

Michael Mansfield QC, representing the women, said the impact of the state pension age change has been “dramatic”, adding: “This has been catastrophic for this group.”

Speaking at a virtual hearing, Mr Mansfield told three senior judges: “We have a group of economically and emotionally, disenfranchised women.

“So it is against that background that we do submit that there are grounds for discrimination.”

Mr Mansfield said that alongside the “economic, almost poverty line existence” that they have to face, there is also the “psychological mental stress placed upon them” which reduces many people unable to even do what they need to do to “make ends meet”.

He referred to “makeshift measures” that women may have to resort to in order to survive, such as selling their home or using up savings.

Mr Mansfield described the six-year wait that women have from 60 to 66 as a “considerable” period of time which translates to a “considerable” sum of money – around the £8,000 mark if it is a full pension, leading to losses that could run up to about £50,000.

Mr Mansfield said it is not uncommon for women in this age group to face “straitened circumstances”, particularly for single women in low-paid jobs.

He also said another common feature for women in this age group is for them to be responsible for their elderly or infirm parents.

Last October, Lord Justice Irwin and Mrs Justice Whipple dismissed the women’s claim “on all grounds”.

The appeal continues today and a ruling is expected at a later date.