It’s been one of the most controversial issues of this parliamentary term so far and this week MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Gerald Jones handed the UK government a petition from constituents asking the government to look again at transitional arrangements to changes to the Women’s state pension age.

Under the current UK government proposals thousands of hardworking Women across the country will lose out as the equalisation changes the terms to which women over 50 can access their State pension.

These changes mean that in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney alone, over 3000 women are directly affected by the 2011 Pensions Act according to the House of Commons Library. Whilst in the long term the changes aim to equalise the age of pension for men and Women in the UK and resulted in many women losing out as the goalposts are moved.

In co-ordination with The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign and Other MP’s across the country, Gerald hopes to put pressure on the government to think about the implications this will have on hardworking women looking to retire who may be forced back into work to make ends meet.

The WASPI campaign aims to influence the Government to introduce transitional arrangements for those women affected, some of whom were not notified about the changes, and took early retirement, leaving them without any income.

Speaking after delivering the petition, Gerald said:

“We want to get the best outcome for these women, many of whom have worked hard for decades.

I’ve spoken to many constituents who have either lost out or will do under these changes, and would have to go back to work for sometimes up to five years to make up the money they’ve lost.

“I would like to ask anyone who thinks they may be affected by these changes to contact my office on 01685 383739 to find out more.”