Fresh calls for WASPI compensation after ‘shameful’ DWP treatment | Personal Finance | Finance
A fresh voice has joined calls for WASPI women to get compensation after their retirement plans were thrown into disarray when the state pension age increased.
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) are calling for payouts for the 1950s-born women after they were not properly informed by the DWP that their state pension age would increase from 60 to 65, to equalise it with men.
Victoria Harris, co-founder of women’s finance community The Curve Platform, said she believes the WASPI women “absolutely” deserve compensation.
She said: “The way these women were treated was nothing short of shameful. They had their retirement plans upended, often with little time to make alternative arrangements.
“Many were forced to continue working, some fell into poverty, and others had to rely on family or benefits to get by.”
However, she said how much compensation they should get is a “tricky question”.
A landmark report looking at the issue came out from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in March this year, which said the women should get payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950.
Ms Harris commented: “While it’s impossible to fully make up for the years of lost pension and the stress these women endured, we need to start somewhere.
“Some WASPI campaigners are calling for upwards of £10,000 and closer to the full pension they feel they’ve missed out on. The Government needs to engage in serious discussions with these women to find a fair solution.”
WASPI campaigners recently met with pensions minister Emma Reynolds to raise their concerns, as ultimately the Government has to decide whether or not to grant compensation.
The campaign group said after the meeting: “We are grateful to the Pensions Minister for meeting with WASPI today and look forward to working collaboratively with her. It is a step forward to have ministers really listening and considering this properly.
“WASPI has always been a pragmatic campaign, and we remain determined to see a financial remedy that works for both affected women and the taxpayer, following the clear recommendations of both the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the Work and Pensions Select Committee.”
The previous Work and Pensions Committee when the Conservatives were in power recommended the women should get payouts.
Many individual MPs have also backed the cause and the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have said the women should get compensation.
