WASPI Campaigners Ramp Up Fight for DWP Compensation After Government Rejection

WASPI Campaigners Ramp Up Fight for DWP Compensation After Government Rejection

The long-running battle for compensation by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign has entered a new phase of intensity following the Government's definitive refusal to provide financial redress. Despite previous recommendations from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman suggesting payments of up to £2,950 for affected women, ministers have now firmly closed the door on compensation, sparking outrage among campaigners.

Government's Final Decision Sparks Outrage

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden addressed Parliament last week, delivering what campaigners have described as a "disgraceful political choice" that demonstrates "utter contempt" for the generation of women born in the 1950s. McFadden argued that creating a compensation scheme would require verifying individual circumstances for millions of women, presenting what he described as insurmountable practical challenges.

The Government's position rests on several key arguments:

• Extensive public information campaigns about state pension age changes
• Notification through multiple channels including leaflets, GP surgeries, and media
• A 2014 survey suggesting women might not remember receiving notification letters

Ombudsman's Findings and Campaign Response

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman had previously conducted a thorough investigation into the matter, concluding that the Department for Work and Pensions had committed "maladministration" by failing to provide adequate and timely notification about state pension age changes. The watchdog specifically recommended:

1. Financial redress ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 per affected woman
2. Parliamentary intervention to address the injustice
3. Proper recognition of the DWP's administrative failures

WASPI chair Angela Madden expressed the campaign's profound disappointment, stating that members feel "insulted" by the Government's reliance on what they consider flawed evidence. "The way the DWP has behaved is undemocratic," Madden asserted, highlighting what campaigners see as a department defending its own failures rather than addressing legitimate grievances.

Judicial Review Considerations and Political Support

The campaign is now exploring legal avenues, with Madden confirming that lawyers are being consulted about a potential fresh judicial review application. "We would welcome it if the lawyers think there is a different way to go," she stated, indicating the campaign's willingness to pursue multiple strategies simultaneously.

Political support for the WASPI cause remains significant, with:

• Individual MPs across parties backing the campaign
• The Liberal Democrats and Green Party offering formal support
• Growing pressure for a Parliamentary vote on the matter

Campaigners are now mobilising their members to contact local MPs, urging them to demand parliamentary action. The Ombudsman's report specifically called for Parliament to intervene, creating what campaigners see as a clear mandate for legislative action.

Historical Context and Campaign Evolution

The WASPI campaign represents women born in the 1950s who were affected by the gradual equalisation of state pension age from 60 to 65, and subsequently to 66. Campaigners argue that inadequate notification left many women with insufficient time to adjust their retirement plans, causing significant financial hardship and emotional distress.

The campaign's journey has seen several developments:

1. Initial Ombudsman investigation confirming maladministration
2. Previous judicial review action resolved out of court
3. Government's temporary reconsideration followed by final refusal
4. Current exploration of new legal and political strategies

With the three-month deadline for judicial review applications looming, the campaign faces crucial decisions about its next steps. Madden emphasised that "the only people who can get this for us are Parliament," underscoring the campaign's dual approach of pursuing both legal and political solutions.

As the battle enters this critical phase, thousands of women await resolution of what they consider one of the most significant pension injustices in recent British history, with campaigners vowing to continue their fight despite the Government's latest rejection.