Barbara Bates talks about her fears over pensions, explaining how David Cameron, once again, just doesn’t get it.
By Barbara Bates
It has been almost one year since I learnt about government plans to accelerate the increase in the state pension age. Now there’s just two weeks before these changes become law. I had already adapted to the equalisation of women’s state pension age with men’s, announced in 1995, and prepared to retire later.
But when I heard the news of the government’s newest ideas I was shell-shocked. The goalposts were moving again, and this time with just a few years to prepare.
For me, it means an extra 23 months at work. I have osteo-arthiritis and am worried about being able to carry on for that extra time working in a manual job. I have worked hard since I was 15, and contributed – either working or caring – throughout my life. The thought that I might not be able to carry on is really worrying for me.
That’s why I launched a petition about the changes. With backing from Unions Together, my trade union, USDAW and Rachel Reeves MP, I spread the word, and have been overwhelmed by the response. I delivered 10,000 names to Number 10 Downing Street, and the petition has since got longer and longer.
Over that time I’ve spoken to lots of women about it – when I came to Parliament for Age UK’s lobby, and through our online campaign. Like me, none of the women affected want hand outs, they want fairness and honesty. And I don’t think we’re getting either at the minute.
Women are seeing the biggest delays to their pension dates under these plans. No man has to wait more than a year under the government’s timetable, but 500,000 women will have to wait for more than 12 months. 330,000 will have to wait more than 18 months, and there are 33,000 women who will have to wait for exactly two years as well.
I’ve never had enough information or earned enough money to be able to save into a pension scheme. I’ve taken breaks from work to care for my husband, and been paid less than men I know. I haven’t got much saved up for my retirement and I know a lot of women are in the same boat.
The government know it is unfair. They promised that it wouldn’t change so quickly in their coalition agreement. Since then I’ve heard Iain Duncan Smith say that they will bring in ‘transitional arrangements’, but I don’t know anyone who knows what they are.
The deadline for this being decided is coming closer all the time, and so is my state pension age – I want an honest answer: what are these transitional arrangements and how will they protect me and women like me?
David Cameron says he is worried about losing women voters. But all the talk in the world won’t do anything to sort out my position. He shouldn’t be making plans which unfairly affect women, but it looks like that is exactly what he is doing.
Labour MPs voted against these changes in the House of Commons and have been excellent at keeping the issue alive in Parliament, we now need the government to listen – and to act.
The hill to retirement is a mountain that seems to get higher all the time – just when we start to see the peak, another one looms behind it. I want the government to be honest about what it is going to do to make sure we can see the full picture. I had hoped that Steve Webb would make the picture clearer at Lib Dem Conference, or that Iain Duncan Smith would tell the Tories what the plans were. But still I have heard nothing.
People who have signed the petition are writing again to their MPs, and to the government, to reverse these unfair changes. You can join them here.
See also:
• Don’t buy the right-wing spin: Public sector pension costs set to fall – Daniel Elton, September 15th 2011
• Public split on pensions reform – Shamik Das, June 20th 2011
• Women disproportionately affected by discriminatory Pensions Bill – Hilary Evans, June 21st 2011
• Moving the goalposts on pensions is unfair and unjust – Rachel Reeves MP, June 20th 2011
• Hutton’s pensions failure condemns millions to poverty in retirement – Naomi Cooke, March 10th 2011
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14 Responses to “Cameron’s talk won’t solve the pensions crisis”
pete brookes
Cameron’s talk won’t solve the pensions crisis, writes Barbara Bates: http://t.co/7P7MtJZ5 #ToryCon #CPC11 #pensions
Political Planet
Cameron’s talk won’t solve the pensions crisis: Barbara Bates talks about her fears over pensions, explaining ho… http://t.co/UfWhUdTJ
Rachel Reeves
RT @leftfootfwd: Barbara Bates says: Cameron’s talk won’t solve the pensions crisis http://t.co/Q3fR0QnV
Rosie
RT @leftfootfwd: Barbara Bates says: Cameron’s talk won’t solve the pensions crisis http://t.co/Q3fR0QnV
Anon E Mouse
So Labour now wants people in the private sector to work until they are 67 so public sector workers can retire earlier?
No wonder the only reason Ed Miliband is Labour leader is because of the union dinosaurs….