Why do women get this privilege?

13/07/2010

Since women live on average several years longer than men, what was the reasoning behind allowing women to receive their state pension five years earlier?

 

                                                            

R.H.Ashton, Blackwood, South Wales

 

 

 

A good question, Mr Ashton - and one that goes back in the mists of time to when the State pension was first set up. Of course it is all changing over the next 10 years as women's State Pension Age is edged up in stages to match that of men. But if any reader with the full story on why and how it ever was this way, we'd love to hear.

 

email editorial@maturetimes.co.uk

 

 

 

Your Views

 

 

Not only do women receive their pension at an earlier age than men, they can receive various discounts because of their earlier qualification. Our local authority in Cardiff has decided that only people in receipt of state pension can get reduced fees at education classes, thus favouring women over men.

Is this a form of indirect sexual discrimination?
 
R. Gentry
Cardiff