Purpose

The purpose of this Instruction is to correct the description of female pension age.

This Instruction replaces paragraphs 4 to 8 of Departmental Instruction (DI) B47/95 and replaces the age equalisation paragraphs in DIs B61/94, and C32/97.

Background

Pension age for females increases in six month increments, with each increment occurring over an 18 month span of dates of birth.

The combined effect of the increment in pension age and the increment in the date of birth is that pension age increases by six months once every two years.

In some documents, pension age for females has been incorrectly described for the six month period leading up to the date when the age increases every two years.

Correct description of equalisation of pension age

CLIK (Part 3, Chapter 4, Section 2) has been amended to provide the correct description of equalisation of pension age.

Repeal of paragraph 10 of DI B61/94

Paragraph 10 of DI B61/94 is repealed.  For the correct policy, see CLIK Part 3, Chapter 4, Section 2.

Amendment of DI B47/95

Paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of DI B47/95 are repealed.  For the correct policy, see CLIK Part 3, Chapter 4, Section 2.

Repeal of part of DI B32/97

The paragraph titled Female veterans under the heading Eligibility Criteria and Issues in Section C is amended by repealing the phrase “so that female pension age will equal male pension age by July 2013”, which appears in the Note to that paragraph.  For the correct policy, see CLIK Part 3, Chapter 4, Section 2.

Answering questions about female pension age

Female pension age should be described using the tables in CLIK Part 3, Chapter 4, Section 2, and must refer to the woman's date of birth to explain their eligibility based on age.

The following phrases should be used to describe female pension age:

• if you are a veteran born between 1 January 1948 and 30 June 1949, then your pension age is 58 years
• pension age for a non-veteran born on 17 August 1942 is 62 years and 6 months.

Age equalisation must always be mentioned when referring to pension age for females.

Contact officer

Any questions regarding this Instruction can be directed to Steve Weller, Income Support Policy, on 16590.