WOMEN who are being ‘punished for living longer’ have been urged to attend a meeting to discuss their financial futures.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts will be holding a meeting at her constituency office to discuss changes to the state pension age of women. The Plaid Cymru MP is encouraging local women affected by the changes to attend.

A representative from the WASPI campaign group (Women Against State Pension Inequality) will be present to discuss how to form a local WASPI group in Dwyfor Meirionnydd­.

Mrs Saville Roberts will also provide an update on the Pensions Bill, which has been presented on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women.

The meeting takes place at Mrs Saville Roberts’ Dolgellau constituency office on Friday, 3 November, at 6.30pm. All women born in the 1950s affected by the increase in state pension age are welcome to attend.

Mrs Saville Roberts said: “Many women were caught by surprise when the timetable for moving to a later retirement age was accelerated in 2011.

“Women born in the 1950s argue they have been hit particularly hard, with significant changes to their State Pension Age imposed with a lack of appropriate notification.

“The UK Government says that they are making these changes in response to the increase in life expectancy. As one woman who contacted me recently said: ‘That’s all right then – it’s our fault for living longer’.

“Women in Wales will be hit particularly hard by the changes. Life expectancy is generally lower in Wales than in England; there is a difference of up to 11 years.”

“I’m keen to hear from women in Dwyfor Meirionnydd affected by the changes and this initial meeting is designed to share ideas on how we can progress the campaign locally,” she added.

“I will also provide an update on the Pensions Bill.”