Around 5,000 women in Ceredigion born in the 1950s are struggling with the consequences of government policy which has delayed the state pensions they paid into by up to six years, representing a loss of up to £45,000 per person.

One of those is 60-year-old Ursula Safar from Blaenporth, who works as a gardener to supplement her tiny occupational pension.

“I was expecting to get my state pension on my 60th birthday until I saw the publicity in the papers from the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign,” said Ursula.

“I was horrified to read that I would have to wait a further six years to get my pension.

“Having had both hips replaced and an operation on my hands, there is no way I can carry on gardening for another six years. I am very, very worried about how I am going to survive.”

In 1995 the government introduced a gradual increase of the state pension age for women from 60 to 65, but did not write to inform them.

Another change in 2011 accelerated the rise to 65 and increased it to 66 for both men and women by 2020.

Although some women were written to in 2009 - 14 years after the first change - the letters stopped until 2012. Many women received no notice at all and those who did get letters had very little time to prepare for such a major change.

Self-employed Rose Barter from Rhydlewis, will get her state pension next year, five-and-a-half years after she expected it.

“Not only do I have to wait nearly six years for the pension I have been paying into all my working life, but I have to pay National Insurance contributions until I’m nearly 66 to make sure I eventually get the full amount. This adds insult to injury," she said.

“It’s no coincidence that what I still owe on my mortgage is almost exactly the amount of pension I’ve missed out on. We may even have to sell our home and move somewhere smaller to pay it off.”

Local advice sessions

Advice sessions for women affected by the pension changes are being held throughout the county.

If you need help, go along to one of the following:

• Thursday, 18 October, 3pm-5pm, Dysgu Bro, Canolfan Ceredigion, Llandysul (above the library).

• Wednesday, 31 October, 3pm-5pm, Aberaeron Library.

• Wednesday, 14 November, 3pm-5pm, Cardigan Library.

• Wednesday, 5 December, 3pm-5pm, Aberystwyth Library.

For more information, visit the WASPI website at www.waspicampaign2018.co.uk.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now