The eighth Scottish Widows Women and Pensions Report found less than one in five (17%) of women trust their own savings to see them through retirement. This compares to nearly a third (30%) of men.

Lynn Graves, head of business development, corporate pensions at Scottish Widows said: “[Saving] a set amount each month, could mean the difference between a comfortable retirement and one full of financial difficulties.”

The majority (79%) of married women said they did not discuss retirement plans with their partner before marriage, and 78% didn’t know what they would gain from their partner’s pension if they divorced.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show one in three marriages end in divorce by the fifteenth anniversary, which could leave older women vulnerable in terms of retirement provision.

The number of women over 50 without a pension (28%) almost doubles that of men of the same age (15%) and almost one in ten (8%) are dependent on their partner’s savings.

And 15% of divorced women said pensions were not discussed as part of their settlement, although it is a legal requirement.

Graves added: “We know the pressure on household budgets and the challenge of managing childcare and wider family responsibilities while balancing work, can make it more difficult for women to save for retirement.

“For many older or divorced women, this can mean relying on a partner or other family members to provide support or additional income in later life. However, unforeseen events can have a stark impact on retirement plans, and it is important for women make sure they know what they are entitled to and how much they can expect to receive in retirement.”