A DWP minister has said he will be taking action on compensation for WASPI women, after many of the women affected have been contacting MPs to voice their concerns
A DWP minister has said he will be taking action on compensation for WASPI women(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
A DWP minister has pledged to address the issue of compensation for WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality). Despite the Government’s announcement last year that there would be no payouts for the women born in the 1950s represented by WASPI and other campaign groups, pressure continues for a change in stance from the DWP.
The upcoming judicial review in December of the decision not to grant payouts keeps the issue in the spotlight. Numerous MPs have expressed their support for compensation, with political parties such as the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the SNP also backing the cause.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed, representing Dewsbury and Batley, raised the issue in the House of Commons on Monday, October 27. He stated: “Last week, I attended a drop-in for the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign where I was informed that there are currently 4,320 women in Dewsbury and Batley affected by the WASPI scandal.”
He continued: “That number was previously higher, but many of the women have already passed away without justice. On 27 July, I wrote to the former Secretary of State regarding her support for the WASPI campaign after being contacted by more than 40 of my constituents, but I have yet to receive a response.”
He concluded his remarks by saying: “With the Government still refusing to engage in civil mediation to deliver justice to the WASPI women, will the new Secretary of State reconsider meeting campaigners to find a just way forward?”, reports the Express.
Pensions minister rose to deliver a reply. He stated: “The previous minister for pensions met representatives of the WASPI campaign in order to hear directly from them about their experiences. She was the first minister to do so in eight years. I will look into the details of the letter the honourable gentleman mentions.” Express.co.uk has approached Mr Mohamed to enquire whether he has received any response following his parliamentary question.
What lies behind the WASPI dispute?
WASPI represents one of numerous organisations demanding compensation for women born in the 1950s who were impacted by the state pension age rising from 60 to 65, bringing it in line with men’s retirement age. The group maintains that many affected women remained unaware of this alteration, devastating their retirement preparations, and argues the DWP ought to have notified them much earlier.
An earlier inquiry by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman discovered mistakes by the DWP, concluding they should have dispatched notification letters to the women at an earlier stage. The organisation also suggested compensation payments between £1,000 and £2,950.
However, the DWP declared at the close of last year that no compensation would be forthcoming. Government ministers contended that earlier correspondence would have made minimal impact, asserting that the majority of women were already aware of the pension age modifications.
A judicial review of this decision is scheduled for December 9 and 10.
Previously, a DWP spokesperson commented on the judicial review: “We do not comment on live litigation. We accept the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.
“However, we do not agree with the Ombudsman’s approach to injustice or remedy and that is why we have decided not to pay compensation.”