Latest research says that workers in Western Europe have to wait longer to claim their state pension then Eastern Europeans; the findings show that the average Eastern European worker can claim their state pension two-and-a-half-years earlier then workers in the West of Europe.

For women, the difference is even greater, at five years.

The study conducted by Mercer HR shows that in Eastern Europe, the average state pension age for women is 58 years and 11 months compared to 63 years and 11 months in Western Europe.

Meanwhile, Eastern European men are able to claim their state pension at 62 years and 3 months whereas those in the West must wait until they are at least 64 years and 10 months, on average.

Mercer’s Mark Sullivan said: “There have been many changes to statutory retirement ages in the past few years as countries aim to reform their social security systems. Though Eastern European countries generally have lower state pension ages for both men and women, they look set to increase gradually in the future.

“As many Eastern European countries have now joined the EU, there will be more pressure to bring statutory retirement ages into line with other member states. But they will have some catching up to do as retirement ages in Western Europe are continuing to creep upwards too.”