Single male pensioners receive up to 26% more income than single female pensioners and the gender gap is widening, according to a report using data from the Office for National Statistics.

The report from digital wealth adviser Fintuity found that the gender pension gap was only 8% in 2014/15 but had risen to 18% in four years.

The average weekly income for men was £441 for those under 75, and £429 for those over 75 in 2018/19. For women the average weekly income for those under 75 was £333 and £315 for those over 75.

The report also said that a woman in her 20s would need to save approximately £1,300 extra per year to close the gender pensions gap. This increased to an additional £5,300 for a woman over the age of 50.

Ed Downpatrick, strategy director, Fintuity said: “Despite government initiatives to improve the pensions income for women, it’s clear that no amount of support programmes can make up for the occupational gender disparity in the UK. This problem needs to be tackled head-on, with correct support initiatives put in place to enable women to get a much fairer deal.”