Many women reach retirement with less pension income than they expected – often because of time spent caring, raising families or working part-time. This may affect you, your partner, or the younger women in your family. The good news is that a few simple checks can make a real difference for you or the women in your life.
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
When we talk about pensions, it can be easy to think only in numbers: contribution rates, forecasts, tax allowances and retirement income. But behind every pension is a life. A career. A family. A set of choices made along the way – some planned, some unexpected, and many made for the benefit of other people.
That is why the gender pension gap matters.
For many women retirement income is lower not because they failed to plan, but because life unfolded differently. Time away from work to raise children, looking after older relatives, working part-time, going through divorce, earning less than a partner, or putting family needs first can all leave a mark on pension savings.
For clients approaching retirement now, this may feel very close to home. It may affect your own retirement plans, your spouse or partner’s income, or the way you think about financial security as a couple.
But it is also a conversation for the next generation. Your daughters, daughters-in-law, granddaughters and other family members may still have time to avoid the same pension shortfalls – especially if they understand the risks early and act at the right life stages.
Why women’s pensions are often lower
Pensions reward time. The longer money is paid in and invested, the more opportunity it has to grow. So, if contributions reduce or stop for a period, the effect can be felt much later, sometimes decades later.
This is one of the reasons career breaks and part-time work can have such a big impact. A few years out of the workplace or a period of reduced hours, can mean lower employee contributions, lower employer contributions, and less time for pension savings to grow.
Many women also take on unpaid caring responsibilities, whether for children, grandchildren, older parents or other family members. These responsibilities are deeply valuable, but they are not always reflected in pension savings.
The gap can also begin earlier than people realise. Recent research suggests that men and women often save at similar rates in their 20s, but differences begin to emerge around the late 20s and early 30s – often around the time people start families, buy homes or make decisions about childcare and work.
These choices are personal and there is rarely a perfect answer, but understanding the pension impact can help families make decisions with more confidence.
A retirement issue for couples, not just individuals
The gender pension gap is often described as a women’s issue, but it affects households and families.
If one partner has a smaller pension, it can shape the whole retirement plan. It may affect when a couple can afford to retire, how much income they can draw, how resilient they are if one person needs care, and what happens if one partner dies first.
This is not about creating worry. It is about helping couples look at the full picture together, so both people understand what later life could look like in different circumstances.
How families can help prevent the gap repeating
One of the most positive things about this topic is that families can use their own experience to help younger generations.
If you have daughters, granddaughters or younger female relatives building their careers, encourage them to understand their pensions early. That does not mean they need to have everything worked out in their 20s or 30s. It simply means knowing what they are paying in, what their employer contributes, and what could happen if they stop or reduce contributions.
There are also practical things to think about when someone takes parental leave, reduces working hours or becomes self-employed. For example:
- Will pension contributions continue during maternity or parental leave?
- Could contributions be maintained, even at a lower level?
- Is the person still building up National Insurance credits?
- Could a partner contribute to their pension during a period away from paid work?
- Are both partners involved in long-term financial planning decisions?
- Would each person have enough income if they later retired alone?
These are simple questions, but they can make a meaningful difference over time.
Practical checks to make now
If this topic feels relevant to you or your family, a good first step is to gather information.
- Check your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record
- Trace any old workplace pensions
- Review what you and your employer are paying in.
- Consider whether you can increase contributions, even slightly.
- Review retirement plans as a couple, looking at both people’s income and options.
- Encourage younger family members to check pension statements, join workplace schemes and keep contributions going where possible.
A conversation can bring clarity
Pensions can feel complicated, and many people put off looking at them because they are confused, worried or just don’t have time.
For some people, the priority may be making the most of the years before retirement. For others, it may be checking State Pension entitlement, reviewing older pensions, planning as a couple, or helping younger family members understand the importance of saving early.
Whatever stage of life you are at, the most important step is to know where you stand.
If you would like to review your own pension plans, talk through your partner’s position, or think about how to support younger members of your family, we can help you make a plan that feels right.
Examples of family conversations
You do not need to have a formal financial discussion, sometimes the most helpful conversations are simple, practical and happen naturally.
- With a partner: “Have we both checked what pension income we might have in our own names, not just as a household?”
- With an adult child taking parental leave: “Do you know what happens to your pension contributions while you are off work?”
- With a daughter or granddaughter starting a first job: “Have you joined your workplace pension, and do you know what your employer pays in?”
- With someone reducing their hours: “If your income changes, will your pension contributions and National Insurance record change too?”
- With a family member who has moved jobs several times: “Do you know where all your old pensions are?”
- With someone recently divorced or separated: “Have you reviewed what your retirement might look like on your own?”
FAQs
What is the gender pension gap?
The gender pension gap is the difference between the pension savings or retirement income of men and women. It is usually caused by a combination of factors, including lower earnings, career breaks, part-time work and unpaid caring responsibilities.
Why does this matter if I am already close to retirement?
If you are near retirement, the gap may affect your household income, your partner’s financial security, or the way your retirement plans are structured. It is still worth checking whether both partners have enough income and whether any pension or State Pension entitlements have been missed.
Why should younger women think about pensions early?
Because time makes a big difference. Contributions made earlier in life have longer to grow. Even small gaps in saving can have a bigger effect later, so understanding the impact of career breaks or reduced hours early can help younger women make better-informed choices.
Can a partner pay into someone else’s pension?
In many cases, yes. A spouse, partner or family member can usually contribute to someone else’s pension, subject to pension rules and tax limits. This can be helpful if someone is taking time away from paid work or earning less for a period.
Does maternity leave affect pension contributions?
It can. Pension contributions may continue during paid maternity leave, but the amount paid in can change if pay reduces. Employer rules vary, so it is worth checking how your workplace pension is treated before, during and after maternity or parental leave.
How do I check my State Pension?
You can check your State Pension forecast using the government’s online service. This shows what you may receive and whether there are any gaps in your National Insurance record.
Could someone in my family have been underpaid State Pension?
Possibly. Historic underpayments have affected some people, mainly women who reached State Pension age before April 2016. This can include some married women, widows, divorcees and people with missing National Insurance credits. If you think this could apply, it is worth checking.
Should I combine old pensions?
Combining pensions can make them easier to manage, but it is not always the right choice. Some older pensions may include valuable benefits, guarantees or charges that need to be checked carefully before any transfer is made.
When should I speak to an Dafferns Wealth financial adviser?
It may be helpful to speak to your Dafferns Wealth independent financial adviser if you are unsure whether you are on track, have several pensions, are approaching retirement, have taken career breaks, are planning as a couple, or want to support younger family members with long-term financial planning.
Sources and further reading
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gender-pensions-gap-in-private-pensions
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pension-scheme-reforms-to-tackle-gender-pension-gap
https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-08/GenderPensionsGapReport2025.pdf
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/married-women-missing-state-pension-boost/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pension-underpayments-progress-on-cases
https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension
Find pension contact details – GOV.UK
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/mind-the-gender-pensions-gap-why-women-face-a-poorer-retirement-aSmk47I6mkmf
Disclaimer: Information is based on publicly available data and government announcements at the time of writing (September 2026) and may be subject to change.
Risk warning: This content is for information only. It is not personal financial advice – please speak with us, or another qualified adviser, before making decisions about your pension. The value of your pension can go down as well as up, and you could get back less than has been paid in. You can usually only access money in a pension from age 55, rising to 57 from April 2028, unless your plan has a protected pension age. Your pension income could also be affected by the interest rates at the time you take your benefits. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.