Pensions - Articles - Industry response to changes to state pension age for women

 Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director of Age UK said:

 "We welcome the changes that have been made, they have listened to our concerns and we appreciate that it is a significant financial commitment from the Government at a difficult time. This will give a much needed 6 month respite to all the women who would have had to work an extra two years.

 "We would have liked the changes being made to have gone further. Having faced uncertainty twice already these women must not be affected by any further changes to their state pension age again without sufficient notice."

 "All of us at Age UK would like to thank the thousands of women that have helped our campaign."

 Paul Green, Saga Head of Communication, said:

 "The equalisation of the state pension age is the right thing to do, as is giving people time to prepare and plan for retirement.

 We are pleased that the Government has listened to those who, like Saga's Dr Ros Altmann, spoke up for the unfairness faced by many women who were rightly angry that they would have little time to prepare for the change. The six month delay goes someway to put right this wrong and is a victory for fairness and common sense, our only regret is that this issue was not recognised and taken seriously sooner."