MEMBERS from West Devon Borough Council have called on the Government to help women who have been affected by pension changes.

These changes have seen an increase in the state pension age for women and this has affected many women born in the 1950s. At a council meeting, members voted to approve a motion which calls on the Government to consider transitional funding arrangements for women born around this time. 

Campaigners from the group WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) Devon appealed to the council to show support for their cause. 

Group co-ordinator Sandra Broadbent, from WASPI Devon, explains the reason behind the movement: ‘The campaign is asking for fair, transitional financial arrangements for 1950’s women as they have had the biggest change and the least notice and some women had no notice at all. With West Devon’s support, all councils in Devon now back the motion. Thank you to elected members across Devon for supporting our campaign.’

Cllr Philip Sanders, leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: ‘The changes to the pension age has adversely affected many women across West Devon.

‘Significant pension changes have been imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little to no personal notification of these changes. Some women had only two year’s notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age and this is not reasonable. The council has therefore voted in favour of the motion which will see correspondence sent to the appropriate Secretary of State.’

If you think you could be affected by the pension changes, please visit the WASPI website www.waspi.co.uk or email [email protected]