Men pick up nearly £30,000 extra from the state pension than women, according to new research.
Across a typical 20-years in retirement, women are paid an average £125.98 a week, compared to an average £153,86 for men.
Although the state pension payment gap adds up to a difference of £28,995.20 across the two decades.
But the study by Which? Money based on official Department of Work and Pension figures, did show the gap is slowly narrowing.
In August 2013, women received 77.7% of a man’s weekly pension, which rose to 79.7% in 2015 and 81.9% in 2017.
Pension gap revealed
The research revealed 12.9 million people are paid the state pension, but how much they receive depends on how many full years of national insurance contributions (NIC) they can muster.
More than 8 million men and women have their state pensionpayment set according to their NIC contributions – with men making 59% of the group and women the remaining 41%.
Although the average group payment is £142.22, payments vary, and women tend to have a lower pension as they have had time off work to raise a family.
The remaining 4.5 million state pensioners also subdivides into several groups who are mainly women receiving a lower than average payment.
The study also found people receiving the new flat rate state pension that started in April 2015 are likely to be better off than those paid the old state pension.
Expats paid the least
But British expats claiming the state pension from overseas have more to complain about than women at home.
Expats in Australia receive an average £44.78; while those in Canada are paid £41 and the payment in New Zealand averages £42.47.
In Europe, where countries have a social security agreement with the UK, payments are much more.
In Spain, 108,000 expats receive an average £107.76 and in France, the payment is an average £104.39.
Harry Rose, Which? Money editor, said: “Our evidence shows how variable people’s state pension payments still are. Many pensioners will be shocked by the differences in average pay outs to men and women and those qualifying under the old and new systems. Some pay gaps will close eventually, but not soon enough for some.
“There are steps people can take to put themselves in a stronger position, for instance by planning their retirement budgets in advance and taking advantage of the forthcoming pensions dashboard. But the DWP must also play its part by ensuring it provides accurate forecasts that are easily accessible.”
