East Lancashire women's fury at retirement age raise (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire women's fury at retirement age raise

2:30pm Wednesday 27th October 2010 in Knuzden By Jemma Humphreys, Deputy features editor

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Colette Holden

WOMEN look set to be forced to work six years longer than their own mothers did before receiving state pension. We asked the women of East Lancashire what they thought about raising the retirement age.

WE’RE living longer – it’s a fact – and now the average woman has a lot more to worry about in later life than which skin cream to use into her old age.

Until recently, women could start receiving their state pension – currently worth £97.65 a week – at the age of 60.

But earlier this year, under the previous Labour government, it was announced that the age of retirement would raise gradually from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020.

And with life expectancy increasing Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced proposals last week to up the age for both men and women to 66, with the changes looking set to come into full effect by 2020.

This means that women’s state pension age will increase more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.And from December 2018 the state pension age will start to increase to reach 66 by April 2020.

Colette Holden, 56, has worked full time since she was 16 when she began her first job at Albion Mill, Ewood, in 1970.

But her definitive retirement date hangs in the balance until the new proposals are passed through parliament.

The mum-of-two, of Dorset Drive, Knuzden, is the payroll manager at CGA Recruitment, Preston New Road, Blackburn, and until recently she expected to be retiring from the company in four years.

She said: “I am absolutely disgusted that the retirement age is to be raised.

“I have worked full time all my life and only had time off when my children were born.

“When I started work you stopped paying National Insurance at 60 and could look forward to retirement, now all of a sudden because the country is in such a mess the ordinary working class person will be penalised by paying up to an extra six years of contributions.

“Most women working full time go home after a day’s work only to start yet again on housework bringing the average ‘working’ day to 12 hours at least.

"Even at the age of 60 a woman can’t ‘retire’ so God help us at 66. We will be fit for nothing but the grave!”

Secretary Jill Little, 51, of Manchester Road, Haslingden added: “I’ll have to have worked 50 years, half a century no less, before I can retire now.

“And given the fact women finish work and then carry on working in the home I’m going to spend a lifetime working. It’s horrendous.”

Women born before April 6, 1953, and men born before December 6, 1953, will not be affected by these new proposals.

And for those it will impact, it’s not all bad news — further announcements this week include plans to increase state pension to £140 a week.

Financial adviser Liz Faye of Palm Financial Care, Nelson, urged women not to panic.

She said: “Many of our female clients expected changes although we were all unsure just how far reaching they would be.

“At least now we know, we can plan ahead.

“The most important thing is not to overreact. Get help in assessing exactly how these changes affect you.

"Once you know this, you can restructure your plans accordingly.”

Analysts say those born in the 1960s and later could be even worse hit because the coalition government is planning to raise the state pension age higher in the future.

No decision has been made yet, but Labour had planned for it to rise to 67 between 2034 and 2036, and 68 between 2044 and 2046.

Office worker Mary Sciambarella, 28, of Derby Close, Darwen, said: “I think the retirement age being the same as men is fine, I don’t want to be treated differently because of my gender.

“But the pension age is likely to reach 70 before I will be in a position to retire, which worries me.

"Is it feasible in some industries to work at that age? I want to retire when I still have the energy to enjoy life I think everyone deserves a happy retirement.”

Jane Caunce, 38, manager of Ellison Printing, Rishton, said: “I am going to do everything I can to try to ensure I don’t have to work into my late sixties, by investing my spare income.

"The sad fact is not everyone will be in a position to be able to do that and many women in this area will be working most of their lives.”

Liz Faye had some extra financial advice for younger women.

She said: “Forward planning and a good financial structure for younger women is paramount.

“One tip would be to cut back on your daily coffee fix and re-routing the £50 per month (based on a daily £2.50 takeaway coffee from large coffee house chain) into saving for the future.

"That way whatever the changes you are prepared and can look forward to a happy and financially healthy retirement.”