State Pension Age (Women) - Work and Pensions - 14/02/2011 - James Gray MP

Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Conservative): Although I welcome the equalisation of the pension ages, does the Minister agree that a small group of women born, like me, in the middle months of 1954 - a vintage year — will be affected disproportionately by the way in which it is being phased in? Will he look again to see what can be done to help that group of women?

The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Steve Webb): My hon. Friend is right that of the 2.6 million women who are affected, 33,000 were born in the vintage months that he describes. That group will have to delay for up to two years before they receive their state pension. One reassurance I can offer is that those women—and indeed he, should he find himself in that situation—will be eligible to apply for jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance, so they will not be left destitute.

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For more information about James Gray MP's work in Westminster and Wiltshire, please visit www.jamesgray.org (http://www.jamesgray.org)

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