The WASPI campaign is consulting lawyers about a fresh judicial review after the Government refused compensation to 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes
The WASPI campaign (Women Against State Pension Inequality) has stepped up its calls for DWP compensation, despite the Government recently stating there would be no financial redress. Labour ministers addressed the Commons last week on January 29 to confirm that no compensation would be offered to the 1950s-born women represented by WASPI and similar campaign groups.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Parliament: “The evidence shows that the vast majority of 1950s-born women already knew the state pension age was increasing thanks to a wide range of public information, including through leaflets, education campaigns, information in GP surgeries, on TV, radio, cinema and online. To specifically compensate only those women who suffered injustice would require a scheme that could reliably verify the individual circumstances of millions of women.”
WASPI condemned the decision as a “disgraceful political choice” that showed “utter contempt” for the affected women. The campaign represents the generation of women who were impacted when the state pension age for women increased from 60 to 65 and later to 66.
They argue that the DWP failed to properly inform them of the changes, with many remaining oblivious until the last moment, upending their retirement plans when they discovered the news. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman had previously investigated the matter, finding there was ‘maladministration’ by the DWP, as they should have sent notification letters to the women far sooner.
The Ombudsman also recommended financial compensation for the affected women, ranging from £1,000 to £2,950. In December 2024, Labour announced they would not provide compensation, reports the Mirror.
The Government subsequently reversed this position, stating they would reassess the matter due to new evidence they needed to examine. However, in their most recent decision, the Government said once more there would be no financial settlements.
The WASPI campaign is now urging its members to contact their local MPs, pressing them to demand a Parliamentary vote on the issue. In the Ombudsman’s report, the watchdog called for Parliament to address the matter.
Numerous MPs individually support the WASPI cause, as well as some political parties including the Liberal Democrats and Green Party. WASPI had sought a judicial review of the earlier ruling, though this was resolved out of court after the Government pledged to revisit their decision.
Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign, said the organisation is consulting with lawyers regarding a potential fresh judicial review application. She said: “We would welcome it, if the lawyers think there is a different way to go, we would welcome that as well.”
She said they expect to receive guidance from their legal team shortly. If you want to file a judicial review of such a decision, it must be submitted within three months.
Ms Madden said: “The only people who can get this for us are Parliament. So we have to impress on Parliament that they simply must do it. The way the DWP has behaved is undemocratic. They are defending themselves, and the Ombudsman is so that we are protected from departments defending themselves.”
She said the campaigners feel “insulted”, particularly as the Government’s decision relied on a 2014 survey suggesting the women would not remember getting a letter or would not read it if they had received it, and so sending out letters sooner would have made little difference.