Women lose court of appeal challenge over pension changes

Back to 60 protestors in October 2019
Nearly four million women born in the 1950s have been affected by reforms introduced by successive governments to ensure "pension age equalisation" Credit: Nearly four million women born in the 1950s have been affected by reforms introduced by successive governments to ensure "pension age equalisation"

Two women have lost their Court of Appeal challenge against the Government over controversial changes to the state pension age.

Nearly four million women born in the 1950s have been affected by reforms introduced by successive governments to ensure "pension age equalisation", which have raised the state pension age for this group from 60 to 66.

Julie Delve, 62, from South Cumbria and Karen Glynn, 63 - supported by campaign group BackTo60 - brought a Court of Appeal challenge over the changes after losing a landmark High Court fight against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last year.

The women argued that raising their pension age unlawfully discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex, and that they were not given adequate notice of the changes.

But in a judgment published on Tuesday, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton, Lord Justice Underhill and Lady Justice Rose unanimously dismissed the women's claim.

They found that introducing the same state pension age for men and women did not amount to unlawful discrimination under EU or human rights laws.

As part of their ruling, the senior justices said that

They went on to say that They said that "in the light of the extensive evidence" put forward by the Government, they agreed with the High Court's assessment.

BackTo60 campaigners say the decision leaves them out of pocket Credit: PA

Reacting to today's ruling the Department for Work and Pensions said;

The Court ruled that the DWP had given adequate time and due notice to the women who would be impacted by the changes, adding that it was a move that had long been in the pipeline.