In a significant development for millions of women, the long-running battle over state pension changes has taken a dramatic turn. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign claims the Department for Work and Pensions has effectively "backed down" ahead of a crucial court hearing, agreeing to a swift reconsideration of compensation.
A Last-Minute Courtroom Reprieve
The campaign group announced that a special hearing, scheduled for Wednesday 4th December 2025 to decide on a judicial review, was called off after an agreement was reached. The judicial review trial itself had been slated for December 9th and 10th. This legal action was launched after the government rejected a compensation scheme last year, despite a damning report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
WASPI Chair Angela Madden stated that the government had accepted that its previous decision "does not withstand scrutiny." The DWP has now committed to retaking its decision on potential payouts, which were estimated at between £1,000 and £2,950 for more than three million women born in the 1950s.
The Core of the Dispute: Failure to Inform
At the heart of this decades-long fight is the DWP's admitted failure to properly notify women about the rise in the state pension age from 60 to 66. Campaigners argue that this left many unable to plan for retirement, plunging some into severe financial hardship.
The case gained new momentum with the rediscovery of a 2007 DWP evaluation, which led officials to stop sending out automatic pension forecast letters. This evidence has forced the government to take a fresh look at the issue of redress.
Under the new agreement, ministers have pledged to use "best endeavours" to complete their reconsideration within 12 weeks, or by February 24, 2026. The DWP has also agreed to pay more than half of WASPI's legal costs.
Warnings of Further Action and Government Response
While welcoming the commitment to a "speedy and thorough reconsideration," Angela Madden issued a stern warning to the government. She emphasised that the campaign "stands ready to return to court" if it fails to do the right thing this time.
"Ministers have to front this up now and accept the reality of injustice meted out to 1950s-born women," Madden said. "Further delays and denials just will not do."
However, the DWP has pushed back against the campaign's characterisation of events. A department spokeswoman said: "This is a mischaracterisation, the WASPI campaigners have agreed to withdraw their Judicial Review following our commitment last month to retake the decision. We will retake the decision as soon as possible."
This latest twist sets the stage for a critical few months. The WASPI campaign, buoyed by this procedural victory, remains determined to secure compensation, while the government must now navigate a highly sensitive and politically charged decision that could cost billions of pounds.
