Millions of women could be forced to work longer if landmark state pension age court case is lost this week
ALMOST four million women could be forced to work longer or survive off smaller pensions if they lose a landmark court battle this week.
The Court of Appeal will today begin hearing evidence on whether it was fair for women born in the 1950's to have their state pension age increased without being given enough time to prepare for it.
Nearly 1.56million women born in the 1950s have been affected by the changes, according to House of Commons Library estimates, which has seen the state pension age for women jump from 60 to 66.
And altogether, the House of Commons Library estimates nearly 4million women have seen their state pension age rise from 60 - although for some it's been to less than age 66.
The shake-up was introduced by successive governments in 1995, 2007, and 2011 to bring women's state pension age in line with men and to account for the fact that people are both living and working for longer.
But women born in the 1950's claim the policy is discriminatory.
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IF you're wondering when you can retire, it's best to speak to your pension providers.
Firstly, use the to check your state pension age.
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For advice, you can contact for free online or on 0800 011 3797.
The case is being brought against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by two claimants - Julie Delve and Karen Glynn - alongside the support of campaign group BackTo60.
They last year lost their hearing at the High Court, but appealed the decision, which is why it's being heard today.
Campaigners are hoping for a final decision to be made tomorrow, although the court has yet to confirm when it will deliver its judgement.
They want to have their state pensions backdated to age 60; something campaign group Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) has also been calling for.
Decisions made at the Court of Appeal are binding on the High Court and county courts if further cases are brought.
But if they lose again, it'll likely mean these women will have to continue working or make cut backs to ensure they can live off smaller than expected pensions.
BackTo60 says this is something affected women have already had to do as many are now over 60.
Tom Selby, senior analyst at financial provider AJ Bell added that "..It cannot be doubted that many women have suffered serious hardship as a result of increases to the state pension age".
If they lose they could, however, appeal the decision again to take the case to the highest court in the UK; the Supreme Court.
Last time round, judges ruled the age change didn't discriminate against women, and that by bringing women's pension age in line with men's it was in fact correcting a historical discrimination against men.
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DON'T know where to start? Here are some tips from financial provider Aviva on how to get going.
- Understand where you start: Before you consider your plans for tomorrow, you'll need to understand where you stand today. Look into your current pension savings and research when you’ll be eligible for the state pension, and how much support you’ll receive.
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In a statement today, the BackTo60 campaign said: "There is no doubt that women have been discriminated against; not least because 4.6million men over a 35 year period - ending in 2018 - were awarded five years' national insurance contributions to enable them to retire five years early.
"While 3.8million #50sWomen were robbed and denied their right to retire at age 60, and pushed back to work for up to six years.
"There is no doubt in our minds that this is discrimination and we demand the return of our earned dues."
The Department for Work and Pensions declined to comment given litigation is ongoing.
Renny Biggins, head of retirement at savings body TISA, points out that women often struggle with smaller pensions as it is than men due to taking time off work to care for children or elderly parents.
He said: "It is undeniable that women are more likely to struggle when it comes to retirement income because of a number of factors which disproportionately impact their saving ability throughout life, such as taking breaks from work to care for children and elderly family members."
more on pensions
In future, state pension age will rise again to 68 for younger generations of both men and women.
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But some think tanks have suggested it should rise again to 70, and then again to 75 by 2035.
The state pension triple lock, which is used to calculate how much you should be paid, is also under threat.