Women born in the 1950s who have been fighting for compensation after changes to the state pension age have been dealt a major blow. Despite recommendations from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), the UK government has decided it will not offer financial compensation to the affected women.
Why Were WASPI Women Expecting Compensation?
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign has been fighting for justice for years. Around 3.8 million women were impacted when the government raised the state pension age from 60 to 65, and later to 66. Many of them claim they were not properly informed about these changes, leaving them financially unprepared for retirement.
The PHSO found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was guilty of “maladministration”, meaning they failed to communicate the changes effectively. As a result, the ombudsman recommended that these women should receive compensation ranging from £1,000 to £2,950, depending on their circumstances.
Government’s Decision: No Compensation Will Be Paid
On December 17, 2024, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that the government will not be offering any compensation to WASPI women.
According to Kendall, most of the affected women were already aware of the pension age changes, and offering financial redress would not be a fair use of taxpayer money. She stated that 93% of women knew about the changes and claimed that even if the DWP had communicated them earlier, it would not have made much difference.
The government estimates that compensation would cost the country up to £10.5 billion, a figure they say is simply too high.
WASPI Women React: “A Day of Shame”
The decision has sparked outrage among the affected women and campaigners. Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI campaign, slammed the move as “bizarre and totally unjustified”, arguing that thousands of women suffered financially because of the lack of proper notice.
Opposition politicians have also criticized the government’s stance. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Steve Darling called it a “day of shame”, accusing ministers of turning their backs on the women who were wronged.
What Happens Next?
For now, there will be no payments to WASPI women. Despite the PHSO’s findings and recommendations, the government has made it clear that they are not willing to offer compensation. However, campaigners have vowed to keep fighting and pressure MPs to reconsider their decision.
As 2025 approaches, the debate over whether these women deserve financial redress is far from over. The question remains: Is this the end of the road for WASPI women, or will their fight for justice continue?
