MPs supporting the WASPI campaign have highlighted the campaign in Parliament, raising concerns about the ‘disturbing’ way the issue has been dealt with by ministers.
WASPI campaigners (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are continuing to call for compensation payouts for the 1950s-born generation of women. They claim they were not properly informed of their state pension age increasing from 60 to 65 and then to 66.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously investigated the case and recommended payouts up to £2,950, but Labour announced at the end of last year that no compensation would be paid.
When the Ombudsman recommended payouts in a report in March 2023, it urged Parliament to take up the issue, as it was concerned the DWP may not action its suggestions.
During a debate this week on the uprating for the state pension and other benefits, Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling voiced his frustration at the Government’s handling of the issue.
He said: “In evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee, the Ombudsman suggested that there is usually a bit of a conversation between the Ombudsman and the Government about what would be an acceptable system or compensation approach.
“Sadly that never happened as far as the WASPI women are concerned. One is disturbed to understand why that never happened, why was there the breakdown in communication between the ombudsman and the previous Conservative Government that appears to have happened? I am looking to explore that with the ombudsman in another way.”
The Lib Dems have consistently supported the WASPI women, and they now they have 72 seats in Parliament. Mr Darling also said: “The WASPI women have in effect been victims of a decision of this Government.
“It was really pleasing that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions welcomed the report, acknowledged it and apologised, but sadly she did not actually action the report. That gives me great displeasure, as well as many other people across the United Kingdom.”
Another political party that supports compensation for the WASPI women is the SNP. One of the group’s MPs, Seamus Logan, warned about how historically there has been an “outdated approach to social security” which saw people “unfairly treated” regarding their pensions entitlement.
He pointed to the WASPI case where “the PHSO again found that the DWP had committed maladministration in communicating those pension changes to WASPI women”.
MPs recently voted through a bill by SNP MP Stephen Flynn, to make the Government look at setting up a compensation scheme.
In announcing it would not compensate, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall argued that “the vast majority” of the WASPI generation of women knew of the change to their state pension.
She also said the costs of a payout scheme could not be justified for the taxpayer. A statement from the Government explained: “The Government does not agree with the Ombudsman’s approach to injustice and remedy, which has informed the conclusion that there should be no financial compensation to 1950s-born women.
“A blanket compensation scheme, which could cost taxpayers up to £10.5billion, cannot be justified when evidence shows 90% of women knew about state pension age changes and letters would not have made a significant difference for those who were not aware.”
