Charities for the elderly have launched a scathing attack on the government’s proposed changes to the state pension age for women.

Among them is Age UK who has vowed to take steps to stop the progress of the proposals to raise the women’s state pension age to 66.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said the charity would actively explore all options to stop what it labelled as ‘unfair and discriminatory’ proposed changes to the women’s state pension age.

She said, ‘There is plenty of time for MPs to make a small change to the Pensions Bill, which will make a huge difference to the 330,000 women who will be worse affected by the plans.

‘If the government returns to the coalition pledge of not starting to raise women's state pension age to 66 until 2020, they will still make savings of £20 billion compared to current legislation.

‘We urge MPs to support this ‘fairer' option and ensure that the changes they are introducing don't end up punishing thousands of hard-working women.’

However, members of the pensions industry have applauded the move by the government to raise the retirement age for women much sooner.

John Perks, retirement solutions director at LV= said the mutual organisation supported the changes and said it makes it ‘fair for as many people as possible.’