When can women retire?

Following months of campaigns and protests, MPs have launched an inquiry into a proposal to ease the impact on women most affected by the state pension age rising to match the state pension age for men.

Following months of campaigns and protests, MPs have launched an inquiry into a proposal to ease the impact on women most affected by the state pension age rising to match the state pension age for men. The investigation, conducted by the Work and Pensions Select Committee, will analyse the long- and short-term economic impact of allowing certain women to draw their state pension early.

Last week the Committee published a report urging the government to look at allowing women affected by the state pension age changes to take early retirement on an "actuarially neutral basis". That sounds complicated but, in essence, it simply means that the women affected could choose to take their state pension early, in return for receiving lower weekly payments for the duration of their retirement. That would ensure that, on average, the government wouldn't find itself saddled with any extra pension costs.

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Natalie joined MoneyWeek in March 2015. Prior to that she worked as a reporter for The Lawyer, and a researcher/writer for legal careers publication the Chambers Student Guide. 

She has an undergraduate degree in Politics with Media from the University of East Anglia, and a Master’s degree in International Conflict Studies from King’s College, London.