WASPI campaigners have voiced their disatisfaction with a Government response to a petition calling for them to get compensation, which has reached over 130,000 signatures.
The petition on the Parliament website urged for ministers to act to “fairly compensate” the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) women, which has garnered over 133,000 signatures at the time of writing.
The 1950s-born women are waiting to see if they will get compensation from the DWP, as they were not properly informed their state pension age would increase from 60 to 65 or 66, leaving many struggling financially as their retirement plans were thrown into disarray.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman released a report in March this year recommending payments of between £1,000 and £2,950.
In its response to the petition, the DWP said it is “reviewing” this report and once it has completed this, it will “be in a position to outline its approach”.
The Government also said it is “listening respectfully” to the WASPI campaigners, with pensions minister Emma Reynolds recently meeting with the campaign group.
But WASPI campaign chair, Angela Madden, was unimpressed with the DWP reply. She said: “Respect is not shown just by ‘listening’ to WASPI women as ministers have indicated.
“It is shown by acting swiftly on the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s clear instructions to compensate those affected.”
She pointed out that the petition reached 100,000 signatures in a matter of days, showing “the overwhelming support across the country for fair compensation”.
She added: “Only the Government has the power to deliver it. With one WASPI woman dying every 13 minutes, ministers would be wise to bring their compensation proposals to Parliament without any further delay.”
Many individual MPs back the campaign with the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party backing the cause.
Several leading politicians signed a cross-party letter calling for a response from the Government, with the missive signed byy SNP leader Stephen Flynn, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and Green co-leader Carla Denyer.
The letter stated: “We urge you to update Parliament on your progress in responding to the PHSO’s report before the Christmas recess, setting out the likely scope of any compensation scheme and when it will commence.”
MPs backing the cause have previously suggested the women should get payouts of £10,000 or more, the top tier of payouts in accordance with the Ombudsman’s guidelines.
Big names in the Labour Government who support the women include Debbie Abrahams, who chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, and work and pensions minster Sir Stephen Timms. You can read the DWP response to the petition in full here.
