A GROUP of women are calling on MP Andy Burnham to stand up for them against the rise in the state pension age.

They say a change in the law means that women born in the 1950s will be faced with severe financial hardship.

Originally the age was due to rise to 65 – in line with men’s pension age – by 2020.

But, in 2011, the coalition government decided that the rise should be accelerated so that both men’s and women’s state pension age reached 66 by 2020.

Pat Morgan, from Leigh, had expected to receive her pension in April of this year but will now have to wait another six years.

Mrs Morgan, aged 60, from Pennington in Leigh said: “Women are being disadvantaged just because of their date of birth.

“I don’t understand how it is fair when I have worked the same amount of time.

“My job included a lot of travelling across the country and I had to go to London every week- I can’t keep doing that as I get older.

“They could have given my job to someone younger.

“The issue isn't that the age has been raised to become equal with men at all and we all accept people are living longer, it's the lack of notice and twice changing the goalposts which has led to us being left in this very unfair situation.

“We have not had time to change our working or retirement plans and many of us now find ourselves unable to work yet unable to claim the pension we have worked for all our working lives, in mine and most of my group, this amounts to over 40 years.

MP Andy Burnham said: “A pension is not a benefit it is an entitlement. 

“I would be happy to meet with the group and look at the issue and see if i could give my help and support.

“I understand how strongly people feel about it and I would be happy to sit down with them to discuss.”

Women affected by the rise in the state pension are invited to join Mrs Morgan and her group who meet monthly at various venues in the Wigan Borough.

Those interested can email patmorgan@btinternet.com

There is also a Facebook group called WASPI - Women Against State Pension Inequality that those affected are encourage to join.