FabSwingers.com forum: Pension

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Anyone know the reason why women were allowed to claim a pension 5 yrs before males? Ones born between 1950-1953. Surely if it was the other way around there would be uproar and back dated payments or is there actually a good reason?

By *ara JTV/TS
over a year ago

Bristol East

I think this dates from 1940 or so.

A man at the age of 65 could receive a state pension. He could only receive the married couple's state pension if his wife was also 65.

So it was reduced to 60 for women, so that more men would become eligible for the married couple's pension when he retired.

I guess it reflected the prevailing culture of the time - the man was the bread-winner and fewer women worked.

Otherwise, he would have to look after two people on a single person's allowance.