Women hit by state pension changes to get free bus travel

WOMEN born in the 1950s hit by changes to the state pension age are set to get free travel on public transport across the West Midlands.

It comes after a free bus pass scheme was introduced in Manchester.

Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said the plan would help women born in the 1950s, who have been told they will not get their pension when expected.

Cllr Ward said: “These sudden pension changes have caused massive stress, upset and disruption to hundreds of women in the West Midlands, women who are being forced to return to work with as little as a year’s notice.

“A concessionary pass for those affected will go some way to help- ing out those hit hardest by this unfair policy.”

The scheme is designed to help women hit by laws which equalised the pension age for men and women.

These laws ended the old system in which women returned at 60 and men at 65. It meant everyone now receives their pension at the age of 65, and this will rise to 66 by 2020.

But critics say many women born in the 1950s were not made aware of the changes in time to plan ahead, and now face years of retirement without their pension.

Campaigners calling themselves Women Against State Pension Inequality urged the Government to think again.

The proposals are backed by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

The board of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will this week be asked to approve the 2019/20 budget, which includes an allocation to help provide travel support for women who have been affected by changes to the state pension age.

Transport authority Transport for the West Midlands, which is part of the WMCA, will then work out the details of a travel pass scheme.

Subject to budget approval, those details are expected to be announced in the spring, with a scheme launching in the autumn.

Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “I have worked closely with councillor Ward and Labour colleagues to deliver this.

“The government have unfairly penalised these women and this is one way in which we can right that wrong.”