The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign has provided an update on its £252,000 fundraiser for a judicial review, which is set to proceed on December 9 and 10 at the High Court. The campaigners are challenging the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decision not to compensate women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age.
The DWP recently announced it would withdraw its original decision, citing new evidence from a 2007 report on pension forecast letters. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden stated that the government will reconsider the decision, which had previously denied payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950 as recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
WASPI chair Angela Madden confirmed that most of the funds raised have been used for legal preparations, including case documents and lawyers' fees. The campaign secured a costs capping order to limit potential financial liability if they lose the case, which Madden described as vital to avoid having to call off the legal claim.
The judicial review will still go ahead despite the DWP's withdrawal, and Madden said they will seek clarity from the court and DWP lawyers on how this affects potential out-of-court settlements. The campaign represents women who claim they were not properly informed about the state pension age increase from 60 to 65 and then 66, disrupting their retirement plans.
