The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has criticised discrimination for women’s pension provision and is calling for a unisex annuity rate. The debate has been highlighted by the Pickering Review which suggested that the survivor’s benefit should not remain compulsory. If this were to be the case, far more women pensioners would end up in greater poverty.
Former Labour MP, Dr Oonagh MacDonald heads the powerful Retirement Income Reform Council has announced plans to petition the issue in the autumn. The current system needs radical review, added Julie Mellor who is chairwoman of the Equal Opportunities Commission. She also said that women form a higher proportion than men in the general retired population. This proposal would make matters worse for women who have not been able to build independent retirement funds.
Introducing a unisex annuity rate would mean that men would be paid at a lower rate than they are now.
See our section on Pensions for Women.
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