WASPI compensation update over DWP ‘flat payment scheme’ | Personal Finance | Finance
The WASPI campaign is continuing to fight for DWP compensation (Image: Getty)
The WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners have renewed their battle for DWP compensation. Labour announced in January 2026 that there would be no payouts for the 1950s-born women represented by WASPI and other campaign groups.
WASPI has campaigned for over a decade to get compensation for the generation of women impacted by their state pension age moving up from 60 to 65 and then 66, to bring it in line with men. Their case is that they were not properly informed of the change ahead of time by the DWP.
They claim many women were unaware right up to the last minute, with their retirement plans ruined when they found out their state pension would not kick in for several more years. In announcing there would be no compensation, the Government made the case that most women did know of the change, and the sending out of letters to them sooner would have made little difference.
This was despite the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman investigating the matter, and finding there was ‘maladministration’ on the part of the Government. The watchdog recommended payouts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950.
New legal challenge
But WASPI has announced it is launching new legal action against the DWP’s decision not to compensate. They are applying to the High Court for a judicial review of the decision.
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Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign, said: “The Government has had every opportunity to do the right thing for WASPI women. Instead, they have made a political choice that risks alienating voters in hundreds of marginal seats across the country.
“Labour MPs have seen the electoral data. They know WASPI women have the numbers to unseat them. Yet ministers continue to ignore the independent Ombudsman, their own backbenchers, and millions of voters.”
A fair compensation amount
Hannah Martin, women’s pensions expert and founder of www.richretiree.com, supports the cause and thinks the WASPI women should get compensation. She said: “I believe they should be awarded compensation. But it’s difficult to ascertain what is a ‘fair’ amount, as the financial impact hasn’t been the same for every woman.
“A flat payment scheme would be much simpler to administer, however this could lead to some women still being left out of pocket, and others receiving more than they lost. Some kind of simplified graduated scheme would be fairer.”
Asked if the WASPI women have a good chance of finally winning compensation, she said: “That’s a tricky question to answer, given Keir Starmer‘s change of stance on the issue. In 2018 he rightly said WASPI was ‘a real injustice’ and that ‘we need to do something about it.’ And yet, when given the opportunity to act on these words as Prime Minister, he backed out, blaming lack of money.
“That said, I would never underestimate a determined, angry group of women. The WASPI women are undeterred in their campaign and they appear to have a considerable amount of support backing their legal challenge.”
Many individual MPs have previously pledged their support for the WASPI cause. Some political parties have also long supported compensation, including the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Green Party.
All three of these parties made significant gains in the recent local elections. Ms Martin said she hopes this will bolster support for the WASPI cause. She said: “It’s certainly an emotive issue that impacts and touches a significant number of people across the UK. But politicians have a habit of championing popular issues when campaigning, only to back away from action once they are in a position to actually make a change – as we have already seen with Keir Starmer.”
Ms Madden said: “After losing nearly 1,500 seats in the recent local elections, the [Labour] party now has a clear choice: listen to WASPI women and compensate them fairly, or face the consequences at the next General Election. We will not be ignored, and we will not give up this fight.”
