Millions of women who have given a lifetime of service to low-paid jobs in the public sector, often raising children at the same time, are now unable to live the retirement they dreamed about. After negotiating the sexual revolution and fighting for maternity leave, changes in the age they can receive the state pension means that women in their early 60s are suffering financially.

We had an overwhelming response to our request for women who were affected by changes in state pension age to get in touch. We heard from women who were having to work for several more years despite debilitating health problems, those who want to work but can’t get a job due to ageism, those who feel disempowered by having to rely on their husbands and those who believe this is just another example of women bearing the brunt of gender inequality.

Barbara Seymour, 60, personal assistant, London: I want to keep working but no one will give me a job

I have a degree in languages, a qualification in fundraising, can do shorthand in two languages, am fluent in Spanish. I have a consistent work history. However since hitting 50 it has become increasingly difficult to find work. After numerous applications without even an interview (nor in most cases an acknowledgement), I was fortunate to be offered a job by a friend. Different role and salary, but I am grateful to have something. If I had been able to draw my pension at 60, I would not be under such pressure. I am happy to work, but where are the open-minded employers willing to employ me at my age? I have worked in a role where there is clearly ageism. I apply for jobs where I have the matching qualifications and experience and I don’t even get an interview.

Bridget Merrett, 60, nurse, Bristol: I don’t want to rely on my husband

I come from the generation of nurses who lifted patients manually and I damaged my back. After having no prior warning of pension changes I had back surgery in 2012 and am not fit to work, but cannot claim benefits. My husband is due to retire next year, but will have to work past his retirement age as we have no other income. I feel my independence and dignity have been taken away as I am unable to pay my way, something I have been doing since my first Saturday job at age 13. My husband is not in the best of health and is finding work difficult now and has no retirement to look forward to in the near future.

Carol Hughes, 62, university administrator, Oldham: I have lost thousands

We are not on the breadline, but overall I have missed out on more that £40,000, which would have made a great deal of difference to our lifestyle and ability to help our children. Actually it’s not about the money as we have always cut our cloth according to our income. It’s about the sheer injustice – under the guise of equality. No man has suffered this mismanagement of expectations.

Carole Price, 63, holiday park cleaner, Great Yarmouth: I have to keep working despite health problems

I am suffering from regular outbreaks of body pain, fatigue and breathing problems. The cleaning agents I use do not help. My husband has had two types of cancer, a quadruple bypass, diabetes and severe sleep apnoea, but won’t retire because he feels guilty that I have to work still. I come home from work and am too tired to do anything, as is my husband.

I can’t afford to retire now as we couldn’t live on my husband’s pension; we rent privately and with all the other bills wouldn’t survive. I thought I would work for a few more years yet, but each year is getting harder and now I don’t think my husband and I will see a happy retirement. Working us longer like this will put extra strain on the NHS to look after us and put younger people out of work.

Sally Oldfield, 63, London: Women were at the back of the queue

I grew up in the 1950s/60s when careers for women were not regarded as important as marrying and although I always worked and enjoyed working, I witnessed throughout my life the various ways in which women are at the back of the queue. “Equal opportunities” is still self-evidently nowhere near true today, and yet, we must now be “equal” with men at pension age.

Elizabeth Anne Rice, 62, retail manager, Middlesborough: This has been a bombshell

I’m not struggling financially as my husband is the main breadwinner but I don’t see why I have to rely on my husband to support me, as I’m entitled to my pension in my own right. l was prepared to retire at 60 till they dropped this bombshell. I won’t be able to work longer as l have many health issues.

Angela Lait, 63, Colchester: We deserve compensation for a broken contract

Women of my generation were, in our earlier years, entirely at the mercy of policies that prioritised men: no right to return to work after having children, no occupational pension schemes, forced to work in part-time and/or low-paid jobs that facilitated childcare duties. Women were (and often still are) paid less than men for equivalent work and have had our careers strangled by geographical moves that benefited our partners’ prospects while we were prevented from building up personal savings.

Many of us find ourselves alone and both emotionally fragile and financially insecure after widowhood or divorce. Even more have current caring duties for elderly parents, sick friends or grandchildren. Is it too much to ask that women like this are compensated for a contract that has been unilaterally broken with insufficient notice?