Ministers are facing demands for a huge payout to so-called ‘WASPI’ women today after a watchdog found they were not told about changes to stage pension age.
Thousands of women born in the 1950s could be in line for compensation after the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman urged government to ‘do the right thing’.
The ombudsman has asked the Commons to intervene and ‘act swiftly’ to make sure a compensation scheme is established, suggesting sums could range from £1,000 to £2,950.
To date, the DWP has not acknowledged failings or put things right for those affected.
PHSO chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said: ‘The UK’s national ombudsman has made a finding of failings by DWP in this case, and has ruled that the women affected are owed compensation.
‘DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable. The department must do the right thing and it must be held to account for failure to do so.
‘Complainants should not have to wait and see whether DWP will take action to rectify its failings.
‘Given the significant concerns we have that it will fail to act on our findings, and given the need to make things right for the affected women as soon as possible, we have proactively asked Parliament to intervene and hold the department to account.
‘Parliament now needs to act swiftly, and make sure a compensation scheme is established. We think this will provide women with the quickest route to remedy.’
The 1995 Pensions Act and subsequent legislation raised the state pension age for women born on or after April 6 1950.
The ombudsman investigated complaints that, since 1995, DWP has failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about areas of state pension reform.
The ombudsman published stage one of its investigation in July 2021. It found failings in the way DWP communicated changes to women’s state pension age.
The DWP’s handling of the pension age changes meant some women lost opportunities to make informed decisions about their finances. It diminished their sense of personal autonomy and financial control, the ombudsman said.
In addition to paying compensation, the ombudsman made it clear that the DWP should acknowledge its failings and apologise for the impact it has had on complainants and others similarly affected.
It said it has received a series of complaints relating to how the DWP has communicated a variety of state pension reforms, and concerns about communication of changes to the state pension age constitute only one area of complaint.
Labour and Lib Dem MPs have been backing the campaign. Lib Dem frontbencher Wendy Chamberlain said: ‘After years of waiting, the Ombudsman has finally recommended compensation for WASPI women.
‘These courageous women, who have tirelessly campaigned for justice after being left out of pocket, deserve our admiration for their persistence.
‘Liberal Democrats have long supported WASPI in their campaign and it is now up to this Conservative Government to come forward with a plan to get these women the compensation they are owed.’
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James Tapsfield
