The pensions gender gap has widened, which could potentially leave more women without adequate retirement finance, according to new research.
More women could be left without big enough retirement pots after new research revealed that women were less likely to have adequate pensions, compared to men.
The gender gap has widened to 12 per cent, compared to nine per cent in 2008, according to Scottish Widows.
Ian Naismith, head of pensions market development at the firm, said: "For women, trying to save consistently for retirement it is often difficult as many take time out of working life to have a family, and they may put their families' needs over and above their own."
The findings also show that many women have been unable to get access to their pension savings because of restrictions on the age at which they can access them.
Currently pension funds cannot be accessed before the age of 50, but this is set to rise to 55 in 2010 which could result in more women needing to get credit when they are unable to access their pensions.
The news comes after recent research from The Key Retirement Solutions Equity Release Market Monitor revealed that there had been an increase in the number of over 60s seeking to repay debts.
