MPs have launched a fresh bid to deliver compensation for the 1950s-born generation of WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality) after Labour said it would not grant payouts.
The Government told Parliament last week there would be no compensation scheme despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously recommending payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950.
The women were affected when their state pension age was increased from 60 to 65 and then to 66, with the Ombudsman previously ruling there was ‘maladministration’ in the DWP‘s efforts to notify the women, with many left unaware of the change, ruining their retirement plans.
Several political parties have previously backed the campaign, including the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.
All five Plaid Cymru MPs have now signed an early day motion urging the Government to “reverse” its decision and finally deliver compensation.
The motion text, which could be debated in Parliament, notes that the supporters are “disappointed the 2019 promise that a Labour Government would create a system of recompense for affected 1950s women has been broken”.
The MPs are also calling on the Government “to reverse this decision, and finally deliver justice for the 3.6 million affected 1950s-born women”. You can read the early day motion in full here.
Hundreds of individual MPs have previously backed the campaign for compensation, including work and pensions minister, Sir Stephen Timms, and Debbie Abrahams, who heads up the Work and Pensions Committee.
There was a previous early day motion set up soon after the new Labour Government formed, calling for a “proper plan” to compensate the women.
This was signed by MPs from across the political spectrum, with support from eight Labour MPs as well as MPs from the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Democratic Unionist Party.
Critcising the Government’s decision not to compensate, accountant and writer David Kindness, from Best Money, said: “The Government’s choice not to compensate WASPI women is a slap in the face to those who built their retirement plans around promises that were broken without warning.
“Many of these women have faced years of financial stress and emotional turmoil because of changes to the pension age that weren’t communicated properly.”
Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, informed the Commons of the decision, arguing that in the vast majority of cases women knew about the change in their state pension age.
Despite the setback, WASPI campaigners are hoping the Liberal Democrats can force a vote in Parliament on the issue. The Lib Dems hold 72 seats on the Commons.
WASPI campaign chair, Angela Madden, said: “An overwhelming majority of MPs back WASPI’s calls for fair compensation and all options remain on the table.
“Parliament must now seek an alternative mechanism to force this issue on to the order paper so justice can be done.”
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