Are women pensioners really hard done by?

IN HIS moan about women’s pensions (Letters), David Roll was selective with facts. Women have demanded equality for years, and the equalisation of the state pension age is evidence of success. The change to retirement ages was announced many years ago. It is people’s own fault if they did not pay attention. In 1950, female life expectancy was 71. A woman retiring at 60 would draw a pension for 11 years. Female life expectancy is now 83. Retiring at 67 means drawing a pension for 16 years. To retire before reaching pension age and have to spend your savings and sell your home shows a lack of common sense.

DAVID PARKER, Leyland, Lancs. MY PARTNER Maureen is in a similar position to Janice Roll. Our MP, Guy Opperman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the DWP, recommended women in their 60s bridge the gap to retirement by way of an apprenticeship. We will not forget this at the next election.

LYLE TALBOT, Hexham, Northumberland.

MY HUSBAND and I have had to downsize because of the change in state pension age. I expected to retire in 2014, but will not receive my pension until 2020. I estimate that I will have lost £48,000. The Government should take heed: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Mrs ELIZABETH PEERS,

Ellesmere, Shrops. The 1995 Pensions Act laid out the gradual change that would equalise pension ages. The title of the pressure group WASPI — Women Against State Pension Inequality — is puzzling. If they wish to keep the pension age for women at 60, surely they are against equality. If they are really against inequality then, when the pension ages for men and women are aligned, they will be able to have a great big party.

GRAHAM WHITLOCK, Spondon, Derbys.