The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been accused of “backing down” in the battle over compensation for women affected by the state pension age increase
WASPI campaigners have announced a step forward in their demand for compensation, following claims that the Government has settled a court confrontation.
Angela Madden, the group’s leader, stated that the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) had “backed down”. However, she warned ministers that the group is prepared to launch another legal challenge if their demands are not met.
The DWP, on the other hand, has accused the Women Against State Pension Inequality ( WASPI ) campaign of a “mischaracterisation”. A special hearing was scheduled for Wednesday to determine whether a judicial review trial set for December 9 and 10 should go ahead.
This development is the latest in an ongoing legal dispute over the DWP’s failure to adequately inform women born in the 1950s about the rising state pension age. Despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) advising it to do so, the Government stated last year that it would not establish a blanket compensation scheme, reports the Mirror.
Mrs Madden commented: “Yet again, WASPI has held its nerve and yet again, virtually at the steps of the court, the Government has backed down, this time accepting last year’s decision denying the huge injustice suffered by WASPI women simply does not withstand scrutiny.
“Today’s agreement on speedy and thorough reconsideration is welcome. But the Government should be in no doubt that WASPI stands ready to return to court if it yet again fails to do the right thing.
“Ministers have to front this up now and accept the reality of injustice meted out to 1950s-born women. Further delays and denials just will not do.”
She went on to declare: “The road to victory is long but we are determined as ever to win this fight.”
The court challenge emerged after the Government determined that compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for over three million women would not represent value for taxpayers’ money.
Yet the unearthing of a 2007 DWP assessment – which prompted officials to cease dispatching automatic pension forecast correspondence – has compelled the Government to reassess its position.
WASPI activists argue that women were left unable to adequately prepare for retirement, with the most severely impacted facing acute financial difficulties.
In response to the WASPI campaign’s remarks, a DWP spokesperson stated: “This is a mischaracterisation, the WASPI campaigners have agreed to withdraw their Judicial Review following our commitment last month to retake the decision. We will retake the decision as soon as possible.”
Government ministers have pledged to make “best endeavours” to reassess potential compensation within 12 weeks, or by February 24, and to cover more than half of WASPI’s legal expenses, the organisation confirmed.
