WASPI is set to challenge the DWP compensation decision in court before the end of the year.

14:40, 29 Aug 2025Updated 14:47, 29 Aug 2025

A senior High Court judge has confirmed a legal challenge brought about by the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign (WASPI) will be underway within weeks, as new research reveals the impact of changes to the State Pension age for women across the UK.

The WASPI team reports that the two-day showdown between campaigners and senior UK Government lawyers will begin on December 9, 2025. Representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will appear in the High Court to defend the UK Government’s response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) final report into State Pension age changes, published in March 2024.

An estimated 3.5 million 1950s-born women across the UK missed out on State Pension payments after increases to the official age of retirement by successive governments.

READ MORE: WASPI women urge UK Government to ‘get around the table’ to discuss State Pension age compensationREAD MORE: Older women urged to check for State Pension back payments worth around £8,300

Ministers responded to the landmark report in December 2024 and accepted wrongdoing but refused to pay any compensation to any of the affected women.

WASPI campaigners, backed by hundreds of MPs and senior trade union figures, argue the UK Government’s response to the report is flawed and have urged ministers to think again.

If successful, the High Court could force ministers back to the drawing board to reconsider the PHSO’s report, however, it’s important to be aware the court is unable to directly force the DWP to compensate WASPI women.

WASPI say that UK Government lawyers are now expected to serve hundreds – possibly thousands – of pages of material in support of its defence.

The confirmation of WASPI’s day in court comes as a poll of more than 5,000 WASPI women has found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of WASPI women said they worry about their finances.

With MPs set to return to Westminster on Monday, campaigners say they are more determined than ever to seek justice.

Angela Madden, Chair of Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) said: “With our day in court now on the horizon, we are more determined than ever to secure the fair compensation that WASPI women deserve.

“We are backed by hundreds of MPs across the political parties, dozens of trade unions and influential organisations, alongside an overwhelming majority of the public.

“Ministers should stop dithering and get around the table with WASPI women or face being forced to defend the indefensible in court in a matter of weeks.”

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