Pensions Minister Torsten Bell confirms DWP will issue fresh decision within 12 weeks after settling out of court with WASPI campaigners
The Government has provided an update on the ongoing WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) dispute. For over a decade, the WASPI campaign, along with other advocacy groups, has been battling for DWP compensation for women born in the 1950s who were affected by the increase in the state pension age from 60 to 65 and then 66.
They argue that these women were inadequately informed about the changes and should therefore receive payouts, as many were unaware until the last minute, causing their retirement plans to be ruined.
An inquiry by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman suggested compensation amounts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950, concluding that the DWP should have sent letters to the affected women earlier.
However, in December 2024, the Labour Government announced they would not provide any compensation, contending that most women were aware of the change. They also argued that sending out the letters earlier would have had minimal impact.
Despite this setback, WASPI successfully applied for a judicial review, scheduled for December 2025. However, at the eleventh hour, the DWP announced it would retract its decision not to award compensation, and that this decision would be reconsidered, reports the Express.
The WASPI cause is supported by numerous individual MPs and several political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, who currently have 72 MPs in Westminster. Lib Dem MP Luke Taylor posed two written questions to the Government in Parliament regarding the issue.
The initial question posed was whether there were any plans “to take steps to provide compensation” for the women, and the second query asked if the Government would act on the PHSO’s prior recommendations.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell responded to both questions in one fell swoop. He stated: “As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced in his oral statement on November 11, 2025, we have decided to retake the decision made last December as it relates to the communications on state pension age.
“The work is underway, and we will update the House on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached.”
Following the DWP’s announcement to revisit the decision, an out-of-court settlement was agreed with WASPI, thus avoiding a judicial review.
Under the terms of the agreement, the DWP will issue a new decision within 12 weeks of the settlement and contribute £180,000 towards WASPI’s legal costs. WASPI campaign chair Angela Madden previously warned: “The Government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court early in the new year if it yet again fails to do the right thing by accepting the reality of injustice caused by DWP maladministration and the compelling need to offer meaningful remedies to WASPI women.
“There must be no more delay and no more denials.”
