WASPI one-day warning over major Parliament meeting this week | Personal Finance | Finance
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign group is heading to Parliament to promote their cause again with MPs. They are continuing to fight for DWP compensation for the 1950s-born generation of women affected when their state pension age rose from 60 to 65 and then 66.
They argue that the DWP did not properly inform the women of the change, with many unaware right up to the last minute, ruining their retirement plans. In a 2023 report, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said there was ‘maladministration’ in the DWP‘s efforts to tell the women, as they should have sent out letters sooner.
The Ombudsman also recommended payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950. But the Government announced at the end of last year there would be no compensation for the women. Ministers made the case that sending out letters sooner would have made little difference and that it would be an unwise use of taxpayer funds to provide payouts.
Despite this setback, the WASPI campaign and other campaign groups are continuing to call for compensation. They have the support of many individual MPs, and they will be meeting with their supporters at a drop-in event in Parliament this week.
The event will take place on Tuesday, October 21. Campaign chair Angela Madden said: We’ve had some good responses so far. We’re expecting at least 40 MPs to turn up.
“There will be more than that, as several have it in their diaries but haven’t confirmed yet.” The campaigners will set up an interactive map, showing the support for the WASPI cause in different areas of the country.
‘Please email your MP’
Ahead of the event, WASPI sent out a message over social media urging people to write to their MPs. The group said: “We expect a good turn-out for our MPs drop-in on Tuesday 21st October. Every MP has been invited.
“Please email yours to ask if they’re attending. Every reminder we send makes sure they understand how important putting right the WASPI issue is to their constituents.”
Some political parties have also consistently backed the campaign, including the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party. WASPI has also launched a legal challenge of the DWP‘s decision not to grant compensation.
A judicial review of the decision will take place in December at the high court. A fundraising campaign for WASPI’s legal costs recently reached more than £250,000.
The campaigners have secured a costs capping order for the judicial review, meaning the losing side is limited in how much of the other side’s costs it has to cover.
