Waspi Campaigners Threaten Legal Action Over State Pension Compensation
Women Against State Pension Inequality demand reconsideration of compensation decision as government faces legal pressure.
Campaigners from Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) have issued a warning to the UK government, threatening legal action unless it revisits its decision to reject a proposed £10 billion compensation package for women born in the 1950s impacted by changes to the state pension age.
Last March, the parliamentary and health service ombudsman recommended that compensation should be granted due to insufficient communication regarding the gradual increase in the pensionable age for these women.
In December, the government announced that it would not allocate funds for compensation.
Responding to concerns from parliamentarians, Labour leader Keir Starmer noted that a majority of the affected individuals were likely aware of the changes, arguing that the taxpayer could not bear the financial burden of such significant compensation.
Waspi representatives have communicated their intent to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), emphasizing the possibility of high court proceedings if their demands are not met.
Chair of the group, Angela Madden, expressed strong discontent with the government’s stance, emphasizing their view that 1950s-born women have been wronged by maladministration.
Madden contended that acknowledgment of maladministration should lead to compensation, alleging that the government has failed to recognize the injustices faced by these women.
Historically, approximately 3.6 million women in the UK have been affected by the phased changes to align their state pension age with men, with initial announcements made in 1995 and acceleration of changes enacted by the coalition government in 2011. The campaign has highlighted that many women have faced financial strain and have been forced to adjust their retirement plans as a result of these changes.
Brian Leishman, among the 10 Labour MPs who have publicly supported an SNP bill calling for government measures to address the ombudsman’s findings, expressed concerns about the potential political implications should Labour fail to act on these issues.
A government spokesperson stated that while they accept the ombudsman’s findings of maladministration and have issued an apology for a notable delay in communication with 1950s-born women, they argued that a substantial portion of those affected were aware of the changes by 2006.
The spokesperson reiterated that, due to these factors, the government believes that a £10.5 billion compensation scheme is not justifiable at the expense of taxpayers.
Last March, the parliamentary and health service ombudsman recommended that compensation should be granted due to insufficient communication regarding the gradual increase in the pensionable age for these women.
In December, the government announced that it would not allocate funds for compensation.
Responding to concerns from parliamentarians, Labour leader Keir Starmer noted that a majority of the affected individuals were likely aware of the changes, arguing that the taxpayer could not bear the financial burden of such significant compensation.
Waspi representatives have communicated their intent to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), emphasizing the possibility of high court proceedings if their demands are not met.
Chair of the group, Angela Madden, expressed strong discontent with the government’s stance, emphasizing their view that 1950s-born women have been wronged by maladministration.
Madden contended that acknowledgment of maladministration should lead to compensation, alleging that the government has failed to recognize the injustices faced by these women.
Historically, approximately 3.6 million women in the UK have been affected by the phased changes to align their state pension age with men, with initial announcements made in 1995 and acceleration of changes enacted by the coalition government in 2011. The campaign has highlighted that many women have faced financial strain and have been forced to adjust their retirement plans as a result of these changes.
Brian Leishman, among the 10 Labour MPs who have publicly supported an SNP bill calling for government measures to address the ombudsman’s findings, expressed concerns about the potential political implications should Labour fail to act on these issues.
A government spokesperson stated that while they accept the ombudsman’s findings of maladministration and have issued an apology for a notable delay in communication with 1950s-born women, they argued that a substantial portion of those affected were aware of the changes by 2006.
The spokesperson reiterated that, due to these factors, the government believes that a £10.5 billion compensation scheme is not justifiable at the expense of taxpayers.
