Women are set to receive larger state pensions than men for the first time in history from next year

From the Newshound archive · first published 27 September 2026 · last updated 28 September 2026.

Women who retire early next year will, for the first time since the state pension launched in 1948, receive higher weekly payouts than men — ending more than 70 years of disparity. The 2016 overhaul, which Sir Steve Webb architected as pensions minister, has brought the gender gap to near zero. Women claiming this year get just 36p a week less than men, compared with a shortfall of £322 a year for those who retired five years ago.

Sir Steve Webb, who designed the new system, says he 'firmly expects women to overtake men for the first time in the coming months'.

The shift reflects narrowing salary differences and a 2010 rule change under which anyone spending a year at home caring for a child can count that as a full qualifying year toward their state pension.