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The state pension age rise from 60 to 65, and subsequently 66 is estimated to have impacted some 3.8 million women. Many do not take issue with the rise, but argue they were not informed and have suffered financially and emotionally as a result.
Two WASPI women said they were affected in this way, and were part of hundreds who attended a Parliament Square rally this month to make their voices heard.
Express.co.uk spoke to Iris, who did not wish to share her surname, who was shocked when she discovered her state pension would no longer be paid at 60.
A year later, the WASPI woman had a serious health scare which upended her life.
She said: âI came to 60 and I was still working, but at 61, I had a stroke and so I had to leave work.
READ MORE: State pension hike will still fall short of 10.4% inflation
âSince then, Iâve lived off my savings, and now Iâve got my pension. But Iâm still here and fighting for everyone else who hasnât.
âMorally, itâs wrong, and they [Government] all know itâs wrong. No notice, no warning, they just did it.
âWeâre here to remind them that we havenât gone away.â
Jean McClaren, another WASPI woman, also discussed her shock at finding out her state pension age would also rise, as she claims she never received any correspondence to suggest this.
Ms McClaren said: âI worked in the health service all my working life and I could retire from the NHS at 55.
âBut when I was 58, I thought I could get my pension at 60 – only to find out I had to wait until 66.
âThe Government is trying to say we were all sent letters. Maybe some did, but I certainly didnât.â
The WASPI woman described herself as âluckyâ as she has an NHS pension, topped up by her state pension which is now paid as she has reached an eligible age.
However, she argued many women are not in this financial position, and are struggling as a result.
Ms McClaren continued: âSome of these women have health problems, some are retired and having to use their savings, some were made redundant and are using their savings.
âIâm one of the lucky ones. But weâve lost over ÂŁ50,000 in state pension, and this is what we are fighting for – compensation.â
The WASPI pair also touched upon the claim over 200,000 women have died during the time they’ve been waiting for this issue to be resolved, expressing their continued frustration at the ongoing matter.
Ms McClaren remarked: âA couple of my friends and a couple of Irisâ friends didnât even get any state pension before they died. Where does that money go?
âAll the governments have been guilty. But weâre here and weâre not going anywhere.â
A DWP spokesperson previously told Express.co.uk: âThe Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the state pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality.
âBoth the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, and the Supreme Court refused the claimants permission to appeal.”
