WASPI campaigners (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are hoping for fresh support from a newly-formed committee in Parliament as they continue their calls for compensation. The Work and Pensions Committee, formed under the new Labour Government, will be chaired by Debbie Abrahams.
The previous committee came out in support of WASPI compensation when Ms Abrahams was also a member, urging for a payouts plans to be put forward. The WASPI campaigners are urging the Government to deliver compensation for the 1950s-born generation of women who were affected when the state pension age for women increased from 60 to 65.
Affected women were not properly advised of the change by the DWP, meaning many had their retirement plans thrown into chaos.
WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden said the campaign team met with Ms Abrahams on October 21. Ms Madden said: “She’s keen to continue the conversation with the department. They will be holding the minister to account.
“They will have a scrutiny session set up for before long so it’ll be very interesting to know when that is and pop along and see the outcome of it.”
Another top minister supporting the WASPI cause in the new Government is Sir Stephen Timms, who also sat on the previous Work and Pensions Committee.
He said previously: “The debate over the impact of the DWP’s failure to communicate increases in the women’s state pension age has dragged on for too long and it is time the Government took action to resolve the issue.
“There is no perfect solution, but there would seem to be broad support for a rules-based system of compensation with a degree of flexibility for cases where women have experienced direct financial loss.”
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published a report in March recommending payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950. But campaigners hope to get more with some MPs formerly backing the cause calling for payments of £10,000 or above.
Ms Madden has also warned that many WASPI pensioners will struggle to get by this winter. She said: “Things are more expensive now because they went up all year, not just one or two months at the end. So with the Winter Fuel Payment gone and the not very good increase to our state pensions, we will just about stand still.”
The eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment, worth £200 or £300 this year, recently changed so it is only available to pensioners who also receive a means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit.
