A new report has found how older people experiencing partner grief can face financial hardship. It can be difficult to juggle the costs of partners you once shared, and coping with it during grief can be quite a challenge, the Independent Age shared exclusively with Express.co.uk.
This was the case for Georgina, a 66-year-old woman who has lived alone since the tragic death of her husband four years ago.
When he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, Georgina took early retirement to spend as much time as she could with him.
This meant that he took his occupational pension at age 55, but was disappointed to learn that it was less than he expected.
Another blow came when she found out she would receive her state pension five years later than expected, due to changes in the state pension age that have affected women born in the 1950s.
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Britons facing these circumstances have been urged to seek support should they need it.
The report found that two in 10 older people surveyed had sought financial advice after the death of their partner.
This could be a suitable solution for those who feel overwhelmed by their situation.
A WASPI spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “The failure of the Department for Work and Pensions to target information effectively to women affected by increases in their state pension age, up to six years, has had a dramatic impact on his retirement.The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has determined that this was mismanagement and is now investigating what injustice was caused.
“It takes a lifetime to save for retirement and finding out at such a late stage that they would not retire at 60 has seriously impacted the mental and physical health of WASPI women, born in the 1950s. They report a loss of financial independence, anxiety and depression, and sometimes despair in addition to financial loss.
“We call on the government to make a fair and prompt payment of compensation to these women without further delay.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), requesting comment.
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