Women reaching retirement age are now receiving almost the same state pension as men, with a new data set showing a significant reduction in the gender gap. The figures, obtained through a freedom of information request, reveal that recent female retirees are benefiting from an extra £4,236 per year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data, covering December 2023 to November 2024, highlights that women are now receiving 99.1% of the average state pension paid to men. This shift marks a striking improvement compared to past disparities and signals that long-standing inequalities are being addressed.
Women’s State Pension Rises as Gap Closes
According to data from the DWP, the average newly retired man currently receives £209.95 per week, while a newly retired woman is paid £208.15. This difference of just £1.80 per week is a stark contrast to 2018, when women received only £126.72 a week under the pre-2016 pension system.
The figures were published following a freedom of information request by former Liberal Democrat pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, now a partner at Lane Clark & Peacock (LCP). He said: “I am delighted to see that when it comes to the state pension, the battle against the gender pension gap is nearly won for those retiring today.”
The data also shows that women on the new state pension are now receiving over £18 more per week than those under the older system. For many, this equates to an extra £325 a month, providing a noticeable improvement in retirement income. According to the DWP, women on the pre-2016 pension still only receive around 86% of what men do, underlining that this progress applies mainly to new retirees.
Campaign for Older Pensioners Continues
While the narrowing gap is a major step forward, Sir Steve Webb has called for further action to address the situation of women who retired before the introduction of the new state pension in 2016.
“There are however far too many women who have already retired who are living on reduced pensions and I will continue to campaign for them to be treated fairly, including by rooting out all of the errors which have led to so many being underpaid for so long.” he said, adding that he would continue to press for corrections to underpayments affecting older pensioners.
The DWP has previously acknowledged errors in state pension payments, with thousands of women found to have been underpaid in recent years. Campaigners argue that resolving these mistakes is essential to ensure fairness across all age groups.
