The UK government has issued a significant update to campaigners from the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) group, who are demanding justice and compensation for millions of women affected by changes to the state pension age.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman recently concluded that women born in the 1950s were not adequately notified of state pension age changes, leaving them unable to adjust their retirement plans.
The PHSO found that the Department for Work and Pensions failed to provide adequate notice, with some women missing out on at least 28 months of crucial preparation time.
It recommended compensation at level four, ranging between £1,000 and £2,950 for each affected individual.
This comes as a critical step in the WASPI campaign’s long-standing fight for acknowledgement and reparation.
The campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks, collecting over 130,000 signatures on a petition calling for compensation.
Having surpassed the 100,000 signature threshold, the petition could lead to a parliamentary debate, placing further pressure on the government.
In a statement, the DWP emphasised that the PHSO’s findings were not about the pension age changes themselves but focused on the communication of those changes.
The department said it is “carefully considering the report” and acknowledged the need for “serious consideration” of the issue.
The government is “listening respectfully” to affected women, according to the DWP, and is committed to “supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve.”
Emma Reynolds, the Pensions Minister, said that she was the first government representative in eight years to meet with WASPI campaigners.
She assured that the government is reviewing the Ombudsman’s report and pledged to outline its approach once this process is complete.
The WASPI campaign expressed frustration at the government’s response, which it described as lacking urgency.
Campaign representatives are demanding a clear timeline for implementing a compensation scheme.
In a statement, they said: “We need a firm date for implementation of proper compensation, not platitudes.”
