Pensions News
Growing inequalities in life expectancy show unfairness of higher pension age
Wednesday June 9, 2011
Commenting on new official statistics on longevity published today that show the gap between the life expectancies of people living in deprived and prosperous areas has increased sharply, British TUC General Secretary. Brendan Barber. said:
'This reveals the unfairness in the government's plans to speed up the increase in the state pension age, particularly for women.
'In just four years the difference between the life expectancy of women in Notting Hill and those in Glasgow has increased by two whole years. Women living in the poorest areas will lose significantly more of their retirement years than those living in wealthy Britain.
'It is no wonder that MPs of all parties are rebelling against the government's new timetable for women's pension age in the Pensions Act currently before Parliament, especially as the new timetable breaches last year's coalition agreement.'
The statistics reveal that the gap between the areas with the highest and lowest life expectancies at birth increased over the period from 9.8 to 11.3 years for males, and from 8.2 to 10.1 years for females. At age 65, the gap increased from 6.7 to 8.5 years for men and from 6.3 to 8.3 years for women.
