Saga has called on the Government to think again around the staging of increases to the state pension age for women, following a narrow victory for the proposals in the House of Lords.

The Government is raising the state pension age to 66 in stages through to 2020. Plans had initially been announced to increase the state pension age from 2020, though it is now proposed to raise the age earlier and at a faster rate.

Saga labelled the move a “cruel blow” for women in their mid to late fifties. The group said half a million women will see their eligibility for the state pension delayed by over one year, and more than 300,000 will be delayed by over 18 months.

The group said the proposals are inequitable, as for many women eligibility will be delayed by up to two years, while the longest men will wait will be one year. Further, Saga said women are being given six years' notice of a two year change, while men are being given seven years' notice of a one year increase.

In an emailed statement Saga director general Ros Altmann said the group has been inundated with letters and emails from women “desperate and furious” about pension age increases.

“Many explain that they have already retired to care for relatives, or that they are very ill and cannot keep working,” Altmann said.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb has faced criticism from a variety of quarters on the timing of the increase. Webb has frequently defended the move, on the basis that pushing the age increase back will result in much higher costs.

However, Altmann said that as no money will be saved in this Parliament, the argument does not stand up to scrutiny. Further, although Saga acknowledges the need to put pensions on a more sustainable long-term footing, Altmann said that requirement does not justify the sudden increase.

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