YOU HAVE YOUR SAY
EVERY week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some regarding our article on the thousands of married women, widows and divorcees short-changed on their pensions:
Money Mail, December 30
I’D LOVE to know if my pension has been underpaid, but my letters to the relevant authorities have either gone unanswered or received fatuous replies.
D. A., Granada, Spain. THOSE who paid the married woman’s stamp are the most discriminated against. The years of contributions count for nothing. Elderly divorced women ended up on the breadline as a result.
B. B., Manchester. MY DAD was a prisoner of war and worked from 14 to 65, before dying at 79. My mother never got anything from his pension as they weren’t married. Partners who live together should be entitled to their other half’s pension.
S. P., Cheshire. I WAS pleased to read about those who have got some of their money back. My wife has been trying to claim a shortfall of several thousands of pounds since May. In November, she wrote to pensions minister Guy Opperman, but is yet to hear back from him.
D. H., by email. I WORKED at the Department for Work and Pensions. When a man claimed his pension at 65, we’d always check the pension entitlement of his wife if she was over 60. We would send two forms to the couple explaining how to claim. Many simply didn’t do it.
J. Y., by email. THIS is an example of why the good old days didn’t work. Women were expected to care for children and mind the old, while men put their career first. Women should stay in work longer and men should do more of the childcare.
T. N., Glasgow. I SYMPATHISE. I feel aggrieved that I may have paid full stamp for all those years for nothing.
J. E., Reading, Berks. ÷ WE LOVE hearing from our loyal readers, so ask that during this challenging time you write to us by email where possible, as we will not pick up letters sent to our postal address as regularly as usual. You can write to: asktony@dailymail.co.uk or, if you prefer, Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT — please include your daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.