AS many as 6,000 women in the Forest of Dean could be adversely affected by pension changes, claim campaigners.

Members of WASPI – Women Against State Pension Inequality – took their message to the streets of Coleford last Friday (May 26) as part of a national day of action.

WASPI claims that women born in the 1950s are being hit hard by changes in rises in the age at which they qualify for the state pension which is now 66.

Although the timetable to equalise the ages at which men and women could draw up their state pensions was drawn up under the 1995 Pensions Act and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) says letters were sent to those affected, it is claimed many women were unaware of the changes until a few years ago.

Local campaigner Julia Stevens said: “Unfortunately I was born in 1954 which has meant instead of getting my state pension at 60, as I expected, I am not going to get it until I am 66.

“Fortunately  I’m married and my husband is supporting me, but if I wasn’t I would be in great difficulties because of transport issues – I would not have the transport to get me to work.”

Laura Liddell, of Ruardean, said women were also being hit by the increase in the amount of National Insurance contributions needed to qualify for the full state pension.

She said: “You now need 35 years’ worth of contributions rather than 30 to get the full pension.

“There was a contract – we paid into National Insurance and that contract has been broken without notification.”

Among those who signed the WASPI pledge of support last week was Coleford town councillor Heather Lusty.

She said: “I was born in 1955 but I only knew about the pension age going up to 66 two years ago – I never received a letter from the DWP about it.”

Chair of WASPI Gloucestershire and Cotswolds, Maud Lom-berg, said: “We want fair, transitional arrangements to help the women who have been affected by these changes.

“There are about 6,000 women in the Forest who could be affected and we want to get the message out to them.

“We have a template letter they can send to the DWP if they were not informed of the changes.”

For more information visit www.waspi.co.uk/gloucestershire-cotswolds or call 07708 105937.