A generation of women were not encouraged to take out a private pension - your views

This is because the 66-year-old is one of the 1950s-born women who have been impacted by the government's decision to raise the state pension age to equalise it with men's. Having been born in 1954, she is one of the worst affected women because she was also involved in the acceleration of the state pension age changes, which means she and around 300,000 other women were made to wait an extra 18 months for retirement.

Diana eventually got her pension in 2019. Even though she does not get the full amount and still has to work to top it up, it has made a huge difference to her life.

She says her generation of women would have been more accepting of the state pension age changes had they been implemented over a longer period of time. She added: "We had no time to prepare. My generation was not encouraged to take out a private pension and many of us worked part-time, or not at all, when the children were growing up, hence the lack of National Insurance contributions."

Here's what you said about the situation:

David Roberts said: "For most women, the knowledge that they would retire at 60 helped them plan. Even those who took out a private pension expected this to be topped up by their State Pension at 60. Remember this is a generation of parents who were supporting their kids through uni, caring for elderly parents, and very often grandchildren free of charge. Known as the sandwich generation. Not stupid, not foolish, just cash strapped and misled. Were your private pension company to now tell you that you can’t have it until you are 73, would you complain? Sure you would. This generation of women were robbed. My late wife died aged 63. Still working, juggling caring for her mum and the grandkids. She died before she got time to enjoy her pension that she had paid in for. Three years of working instead of having more time for herself. Regardless of bringing retirement into line with men. She was robbed."

Vivien Stephenson agreed, saying: "We’ve all been taken to the cleaners, if we have to increase the pension , and I realise we do, then surely there is an easier, less damaging way.

Lynne Atkinson was Clappison said: "The only reason the age has gone up is to save money. If you think it’s because of equality you are seriously deluded."

However, other readers disagreed.

Paul Nutter said: "Nobody explained anything to me about pensions, yet I managed to set one up all by myself and I’m no genius."

Dave Hall said: "Women who did not take out a pension are in the same position as men who did not take out a pension, Everyone is now in the same situation regarding retirement age instead of the discriminatory 5 year difference there used to be - men had to suck it up for generations, Working a few years longer gives us all a chance to save up more for retirement."

More opinion: Readers react to Storm Ciara after Leeds was battered at the weekendJude Ashton added: "Planning is the key, no matter when the pension age. Get sick of the attitude that women, especially, were badly done to. The pension age for all has changed and these said changes were on the cards for years.

Christine Bowes said: "I am 72 and I knew to take out a second pension."

Julie Colley said: "I got notifications about it (NI payments) and was told to check my status etc. I don’t think many people took notice."