The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign has launched a new online petition, urging the UK Government to “fairly compensate” women born in the 1950s who have been impacted by changes to their State Pension age. The petition also demands an “urgent response” from the government to the recommendations made in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) final report by March 21, 2015.
This date marks one year since the Ombudsman released the results of its six-year investigation into complaints lodged against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The report concluded that women born in the 1950s should have received at least 28 months’ more individual notice from the DWP about the alterations to their State Pension age.
The PHSO also stated that those women who were unaware of the changes lost the chance to adjust their retirement plans due to delay. The report urged “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and suggested compensation equivalent to Level four on its banding scale, ranging between £1,000 and £2,950.
Despite repeated calls from across the House and campaign groups, there has been no progress on a compensation plan.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kensall have both indicated that an update on the compensation proposal for WASPI women will be forthcoming “soon” or in the “near future” yet no specific dates have been confirmed. The e-petition, which has garnered thousands of signatures since its launch on the official UK Government website by WASPI campaign director Jane Cowley last Thursday evening, demands action, reports the Daily Record.
The petition titled ‘Introduce a compensation scheme for WASPI women’ reads: “We call on the Government to fairly compensate WASPI women affected by the increases to their State Pension age and the associated failings in DWP communications.”
It further insists: “We want the Government to urgently respond to PHSO report and set up a compensation scheme by 21 March 2025.”
Ms Cowley elaborated: “In March 2024, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said 1950s-born women were owed financial redress and an apology due to DWP maladministration.”
She added that the Ombudsman’s conclusions had support from the cross-party Work and Pensions Select Committee, numerous MPs, and according to polls, 68 per cent of the public. However, she stressed that only the Government can rectify this wrong.
The petition concludes with a grim reminder of the urgency, stating: “We have calculated that with one affected woman dying every 13 minutes, there is no time for further delay.”
Once the petition garners 10,000 signatures, it warrants a written response from the UK Government. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, the Pensions Committee will consider it for debate in Parliament.
The full petition can be viewed on the petitions-parliament website.
