Wiltshire woman forced back to work by age increase to State Pension seeks compensation
Gilly Grout found herself having to work again after being retired for just 8 months
Women born in the 1950’s, who have been affected by the rise of the State Pension age, are seeking government compensation.
Women against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) are helping women who have been forced to return to work, with little notice to change their retirement plans.
Debbie de Spon from WASPI told us: “It has had a catastrophic effect on women’s retirement plans. Some women had about a year or two’s notice of a six year increase to their state pension age. Many of these women will have given up work to look after elderly parents or partners or to provide childcare.”
Debbie said it was “extremely difficult” to get back into the workforce at their age and that savings women had built up, were now gone.
Gilly Grout, from Wiltshire, took early retirement after two of her siblings passed away, and was forced to return to work eight months after retiring.
Gilly told us: “I suddenly thought, gosh, you know, I've just handed in my notice that 6-8 months ago from a senior position, I'm off the nurse register. What am I going to do? I can't last another three years with no money coming in. So, I had to go back to work as a carer.”
Gilly returned to the nurse register before also helping out through the COVID-19 pandemic, but now she and her husband, who has a life-limiting health issue, are being forced to sell their house.