Asked by: Countess of Mar (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support disabled women who rely for income on permanent health insurance policies that cover them until the age of 60, the default retirement age at the time the policies were bought, and will now not receive a state pension until the age of 65 to 67.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The decision to equalise the State Pension age for men and women dates back to the Pensions Act 1995. The Government provides benefits to support those unable to work to State Pension age due to a health condition or disability. People in this position may be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance, which provides income replacement for people with a health condition or disability, and Personal Independence Payment, which helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term health or disability.