The UK government has again decided not to compensate millions of women born in the 1950s who claim they lost out due to changes in the state pension age. The ruling affects up to 3.6 million women, known as the 'Waspi' (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaigners, who have been fighting for justice since 2015.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announced that a flat-rate compensation scheme would cost up to £10.3 billion and would not be fair, as most women were aware of the pension changes. He also argued it would not be practical to set up a targeted scheme for those who suffered injustice.
The decision comes after a review prompted by a potential High Court challenge in December 2024, which was postponed to allow reconsideration. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman had ruled in March 2024 that affected women should be compensated, but the government initially rejected that in December 2024.
Campaigners argue that the Department for Work and Pensions plunged their retirement plans into chaos by increasing the state pension age from 60 to 65 and then to 66. Many women say they made financial plans expecting to receive their pension at 60.
Angela Madden, chair of Waspi, said the group is taking legal advice and will pursue all options in parliament and the courts. She accused ministers of demonstrating 'utter contempt' for 1950s-born women and called the decision a 'disgraceful political choice'.
