Pension minister has 'sympathy' but no solution for female retirees

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Pensions Minister Baroness Altmann has said she looked into helping women affected by having the start date of their state pension put back twice, but could not find a way to do so.

Some 500,000 women in their late 50s were affected by the decision of the coalition government that added up to 18 months onto the start date of their state pension. The decision has left women trying to bridge the gap at an age where re-entering the labour market is very difficult. Altmann told the BBC: "I have been looking at ways in which we might be able to help. I have been looking at it but I can't see any way of doing it," she said. Her job was to implement the past government's policy, she said. "I have so much sympathy for people whose pension age was increased at relat...

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