‘Act now’ on Waspi compensation as ‘next few weeks crucial’ | Politics | News
Campaigners have emphasised the importance of the coming weeks in the fight to secure compensation for millions of women affected by changes to the state pension age. Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) issued a rallying cry today, urging people to increase pressure on the Labour government.
This follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s announcement that Liz Kendall, Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, will soon make a statement on this matter. Waspi campaigners stated: “With the Prime Minister indicating a decision on #WASPI compensation is imminent, the next few weeks are crucial for the 3.6 million affected women. Please sign and share widely our petition calling on the Govt to act.” The petition can be found here.
Waspi has been advocating for women born in the 1950s who claim they were not adequately informed about changes to the state pension. A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) concluded that these women should have received at least 28 months’ more individual notice of the changes from the Department for Work and Pensions.
It also noted that those unaware of the changes lost the opportunity to adjust their retirement plans due to delay, reports Lancs Live.
The PHSO has suggested that compensation at level four, ranging between £1,000 and £2,950, could be appropriate for each of those affected. When questioned by journalists during his trip to the G20 summit in Brazil about why compensation was taking so long, the Prime Minister stated: “The DWP secretary will be making a statement on this in the not too distant future.He added: ” He added: “Obviously it’s a very serious report, and the response will be set out by the DWP Secretary.”
Earlier this year, in March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman published a report suggesting compensation amounts between £1,000 and £2,950.
Liberal Democrat MP Susan Murray, referencing the report, recently asked in the Commons if “compensation proposals will form part of a future fiscal event”.
In response, Pensions minister Emma Reynolds said: “I was the first Minister in eight years to meet the WASPI campaign group and listen to their concerns. We need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.”
“Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach.”
Another senior Labour minister, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, addressed the WASPI issue this week, assuring the Work and Pensions Committee that the Government would act on the compensation issue “as soon as possible”.
