WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners have warned thousands of pensioners will again struggle to get by this winter as the state pension increase didn’t meet their demands.
Angela Madden, campaign chair of the group fighting for justice for women pensioners, warned: “Things are more expensive now because they went up all year, not just one or two months at the end.
“So with the Winter Fuel Payment gone and the not very good increase to our state pensions, we will just about stand still.”
She pointed to a survey of WASPI women last winter that found one in three of the women found the cost of living too high, saying this will probably stay the same as they have had little real-terms increase to their payments.
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign are calling for compensation payments for 1950s-born women who were affected when the state pension age increased from 60 to 65.
The women were not properly notified of the changes, and it is up to the Government and the DWP to now decide if there should be compensation payouts.
The campaigners were outside Parliament last week to give voice to their cause as Rachel Reeves unveiled her Budget, confirming a 4.1 percent increase to the state pension next April, but with no news on WASPI compensation.
Ms Madden said it “wasn’t a very good Budget” for old people, particularly given the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment worth £200 or £300 for people ineligible for Pension Credit and some other benefits. The eligibility for the payment is changing so rather than being a universal payment for people of state pension age, you also have to be on certain means-tested benefits.
Ms Madden said the new Labour Government may have a skewed view of the reality for pensioners when they make their financial decisions.
She stated: “They use the excuse of rich pensioners. I actually don’t know any rich pensioners, I’m sure there are some.
“There certainly are some in Parliament. Their judgment is perhaps coloured by their work colleagues being rich pensioners, but in society there are so many struggling to get by.”
But she said the reality is many older Britons are struggling to afford the basics on their current income. She warned: “Many women operate just above the level for Pension Credit.
“Women who are single and living in their own or rented accommodation, they’ve only got one small pension income coming into the house.
“The state pension even at £220 a week is half the minimum wage. If that’s all people have got, then they’re in trouble. Even people on minimum wage struggle to pay all their bills.”
The full new state pension is currently £221.20 a week while the full basic state pension pays £169.50 a week. With the 4.1 percent increase next April, these will go up to £230.30 and £176.45 respectively.
