CAMPAIGNERS demanding justice for women who lost their state pension entitlements say Covid-19 has caused a "worrying setback" for gender equality.

On International Women's Day, members of Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) groups across Sussex would normally be out campaigning at events.

The national organisation aims to achieve fair transitional state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s, who were affected by changes to the law which increased the State Pension age for women to 65, the same as men. In 2007 the age for both sexes was increased to 66.

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Waspi agrees with equalisation but says the changes were implemented unfairly as women were not properly informed, leaving many retirement plans "shattered".

Gill Campbell, coordinator at Brighton and Hove Waspi, said there is "deeply concerning" evidence coronavirus has rolled back gains made by women of the WASPI generation.

She said: "Some have suggested it is a return to the 1950s, particularly when it comes to a disproportionate share of caring responsibilities.

"Many Waspi women have been forced to work longer than they planned, or expected, by State Pension age changes appallingly mismanaged by the Department for Work and Pensions.

"Record numbers of older women have lost their jobs during the pandemic, with record numbers of those over 65 also becoming insolvent or bankrupt.

"In a job market still rife with ageism, they have little chance of finding other work.

The Argus: Gill Campbell, right, with Peter Kyle MP and Christine Lutley from the Brighton and Hove Waspi groupGill Campbell, right, with Peter Kyle MP and Christine Lutley from the Brighton and Hove Waspi group

"Waspi has submitted compelling evidence to a number of influential parliamentary committees, including the Women and Equalities Select Committee - yet our age group was inexplicably absent from that Committee’s recent report on the impact of Covid-19 for women.

"What is it about older women that makes us invisible, seemingly even to those who are meant to be looking out for our interests? "

In June 2017, Janet Blackman from Seaford, a member of Lewes WASPI, lodged her complaint with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the lack of notice she had received of changes to her State Pension age.

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After 18 months passing through the stages of the DWP’s internal complaints procedure, her complaint was sent to the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman by Lewes MP Maria Caulfield in November 2018 - but Ms Blackman is still awaiting a decision.

She said: “Over 6,000 women in Lewes alone lost up to six years of the pensions they had paid into.

“They were given little or no notice of this major change to their financial situation.

"Many now have to work until they reach 66, often in frontline services at risk of Covid-19.

"Others are struggling on much lower incomes than they had expected, with many having to rely on support from family members.

"In all cases their retirement plans have been shattered.”