Pension poverty hits women hardest

WOMEN are bearing the brunt of the pensions crisis, according to official figures. The number working past retirement age since Labour came to power has soared by almost a third.

Working until they drop has now become a reality for those facing poverty because of inadequate savings and pensions.

More than 650,000 women over the State pension age of 60 are employed, said the Office of National Statistics - a rise of 30% in eight years.

Although some may choose to work, many have no choice because of financial hardship. The number of women coming up to what should be retirement and still in employment has also risen dramatically. There are 2.59m aged 50 to 59 in work, up nearly a quarter on 1997.

Women are nearly twice as likely as men to work past retirement age, mainly because they lack a private pension or full entitlement to a State pension.

According to the ONS figures compiled by the Liberal Democrats, nearly 10% of women past retirement age are in work. Almost 1.4m female pensioners are living in poverty.

Paul Holmes, the party 's spokesman on work, said: 'We must ask if this is being driven by the injustice suffered by women. The Government treats pensioners like second-class citizens and female pensioners like third-class citizens. What is needed is a citizen's pension that doesn't discriminate against women.'

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, said: 'Working in later life should always be a choice and not because older people feel forced to work to avoid poverty.' Many women take breaks to have children, losing out on crucial savings and pension rights.

Only 13% get a full basic state pension and only half get any basic state pension, compared with 90% of men.

Ministers are desperate to tackle the growing female pension crisis. They are said to be considering a citizenship pension which would not depend on contributions.

But the Government also wants to encourage more people to work beyond the State retirement age. The crisis is blamed on longer life expectancy, falling share prices, taxes and the plummeting value of the State pension.

Case study

MARGARET Chinchen, 64, is among the growing band of women working into retirement to earn extra money.

Her husband Andrew, 69, was made redundant at 55 and has no company pension. Her State pension was hit because she took 18 years out to raise the couple's five children.

Mrs Chinchen (above) of Swanage, Dorset, now works four days a week as an accounts clerk , earning £175. 'I had hoped to be able to enjoy my retirement,' she said.