A massive campaign has secured a key debate on the WASPI issue – about if women impacted by changes to the state pension age should receive around £3,000 compensation. This afternoon waspia massive petition on the Parliament website was told that the debate will be held on 17 March 2025.
The petition, which can be viewed here, has now reached 155,949 signatures – and a debate is possible, but not certain, after it reaches 100,000. In the wake of the decision the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign (WASPI) urged people to contact their local MP to make sure they attend.
Taking to X, the campaign said: “We have secured a debate on our #WASPI petition on 17 March. This will not be binding on the government, but will be an opportunity for all MPs to show their support for compensation and upholding the PHSO’s recommendations. Please write to your MP and ask them to attend.”
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) final report, published on March 21, 2024 stated that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation equivalent to level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950.
However, on December 17, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs there would be “no scheme of financial compensation” for those affected by changes to the official age of retirement. However, in the statement to Parliament, Ms Kendall admitted there was maladministration by the DWP and apologised to all women impacted by changes to their retirement age on behalf of the UK Government.
The DWP boss went on to explain the reasoning behind the UK Government’s decision, which focused on research showing that the vast majority of women approaching State Pension age were aware of upcoming retirement changes. The announcement came as a huge blow to all women affected by the age changes who firmly believed a Labour Government would support their campaign for compensation.
Shortly after the announcement during Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that “ninety per cent of women were aware of the changes” to their State Pension age which campaigners have branded “misleading” and a distortion of the facts.
The Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign (WASPI) accused the Prime Minister of spreading “dangerous misinformation” in his defence of how the DWP communicated retirement age changes. After a six-year long investigation, the Ombudsman concluded in March 2024 that the UK Government’s failure to directly inform affected women was maladministration, resulting in financial hardship and emotional distress for millions.
The PHSO recommended compensation at level four of its banding scale – between £1,000 to £2,950 per person. Ms Kendall explained that this would cost between £3.5 billion and £10.5 billion.
The DWP said: “Given the great majority of women knew that the State Pension Age was increasing, the Government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women – at a cost of up to £10.5 billion – would be a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers’ money.”
Ms Madden added: “We are not giving up. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has asked Parliament to step in, and a cross-party group of MPs is meeting to demand a vote on the principle of compensation. Keir Starmer has not heard the last of this issue. The Labour Government must act now to address this injustice.”
Public support for compensation soared over the festive period as more than 152,000 people have signed an online petition created and posted by the WASPI campaign calling on the UK Government to “fairly compensate” those affected by changes to their retirement age.
