​Pensions changes unfair to women to be debated by MPs

The debate centres around the fact that some 2.6 million women had their state pension age delayed – in some cases twice, and by up to six years in total – without proper notice

SNP MP Mhairi Black is the youngest member of parliament in the House of Commons (Getty Images)

Next Thursday, 7 January, will be held an important debate in the House of Commons. It will directly affect millions of women, but will also be of interest to family and friends and, frankly, anyone who cares about fairness.

The debate centres around the fact that some 2.6 million women had their state pension age delayed – in some cases twice, and by up to six years in total – without proper notice. As a result, many will face financial hardship.

Typical is Jayne Mills, who says: "All my working life I believed and planned for retirement at 60, in 2017, but now find I am expected to keep going until 2022. I am in despair as I feel unable to work that long due to ill health and fear the loss of my home. I can't face that after a lifetime of working hard and raising my child single-handedly. I feel cheated and punished."

Leading the debate will be the SNP MP Mhairi Black, who when proposing the debate last month, said: "The pace of the changes in the pension age equalisation programme have placed an unfair burden on women … and we have a group of women who were not given fair notice of the changes that affected them."

Politicians have been criticised for discussing and acknowledging the issue before but not doing anything about it. Next Thursday they have the chance to change that and instigate some positive action to help women affected.

The retirement expert Alan Higham, of PensionsChamp, believes the Government must act. "The risk of doing nothing is a class action that could cost the taxpayer a small fortune to compensate all affected while prolonging huge suffering," he said.

If you feel strongly about the unfairness, contact your MP before next Thursday's debate to express your concerns. The more they are made aware of the rising anger about this, the more likely they will act.