1.5 million widows in the UK aged 55 and over say they have lost out on pension income in later life following the death of their partner, according to new research from equity release lender more2life and Cebr.
Just 16% of widowers say they have experienced the same thing, in stark comparison to the 59% of widows which demonstrates the disparity between men and women when it comes to later life income.
The research also reveals the impact of divorce on women’s pension income, with 39% of women saying they had lost out on the retirement income they receive or expect to receive as a result of splitting from their partner. This is compared to the 21% of men who believe their retirement income had been negatively affected by divorce.
Divorced households are also the most likely to see higher outgoings than income every month, with 23% of these households saying their expenditure exceeds their income on an occasional or regular basis, highlighting how divorce can affect the affordability of having a comfortable standard of living in later life.
The data also shows that only 35% of women reported having independent pension wealth, while 17% said they jointly own this with their spouse or partner. Furthermore, 40% of women reported no pension wealth whatsoever.
When considering the different sources of pension income, nearly half of men (47%) aged 55 and over said they would rely on a defined benefit or final salary pension, compared to just 30% of women. A quarter of men (25%) also said they would rely on personal investments as a source of income in retirement, whereas only 13% of women said the same.
Yet, more women (27%) than men (21%) own property wealth, which more2life says highlights the importance of using alternative retirement income sources, such as property wealth, in a holistic financial plan to boost income in later life.
Aside from private and workplace pensions, and cash savings, the overwhelming majority (75%) of over-55s rely or expect to rely on their state pension in later life as a source of retirement income, and this is similarly felt between men and women.
Dave Harris, CEO at more2life, said: “Today’s research is further evidence that the later life income discrepancy between men and women is a serious issue that we need to comprehensively address. A lack of independent pension wealth or relying on a partner’s income isn’t something that can be fixed overnight, so we need to raise awareness of the alternative options available for women in later life to boost their income in retirement.
“With more than a quarter of women owning property wealth in later life, it’s vital that they know how unlocking the value in their homes can be the difference between just making ends meet and living comfortably in retirement. Solutions such as equity release are popular amongst older homeowners looking to use their housing wealth to help fund their retirement. We need to make sure the over-55s, and women in particular, are supported as they make choices around how they use their assets to achieve the retirement they deserve.”