Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) activists are taking their fight to the High Court today in the group's ongoing campaign against the Government's decision-making.
The group is urging Labour to reconsider its rejection of compensation for 1950s-born women affected by state pension age changes.
Specifically, Waspi is seeking judicial review after ministers refused to change its position despite the Parliamentary Ombudsman finding that women had suffered injustice.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) lawyers confirmed last week they would not be changing their stance, despite threats of legal action.
Waspi women are preparing to battle for compensation in court following Labour's decision
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Waspi campaigners are gathering in central London, marking three months since the Government revealed it would not provide compensation.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman's report found that 1950s-born women were not properly informed about State Pension age increases, resulting in "maladministration" in the DWP's handling of the communication.
As a result, Waspi has accused the Government of "10 years of DWP delays, evasion and excuse-mongering" throughout the dispute.
The campaign also claims the Government blocked publication of its reply to their pre-court action letter sent last month.
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Furthermore, campaigners have criticised Labour ministers for failing to engage in out-of-court negotiations in good faith.
Angela Madden, the chairwoman of the Waspi campaign is expected to call for an out-of-court settlement outside the High Court this afternoon. This would avoid a potentially lengthy court battle over the pension changes.
In December, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stunned MPs when she confirmed those affected by the pensions fiasco would not receive any compensation.
Despite issuing an apology to Waspi women and acknowledging maladministration, the Government rejected the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations for financial remedy.
WASPI chair Angela Madden is hitting back at Labour over their "betrayal" of the Waspi women GB News The compensation scheme would have cost between £3.5billion and £10.5billion according to estimates. Waspi lawyers argue Labour's reasons for rejecting the PHSO's analysis are not only wrong but also breach legal principles.
Senior judges will consider the campaign's case in the coming weeks, though a final judgment may take longer to reach.
Madded said: "We do not want to be taking legal action, but we have been forced to, due to the Government's total denial of justice and failure to engage. We cannot let their irrational and inconsistent decision go unchallenged.
"Ministers appear to think they can ride roughshod over justice for Waspi women, but we know we enjoy the overwhelming support of people up and down the country."
A Government spokesperson said: "We do not comment on live litigation. We accept the ombudsman's finding of maladministration and have apologised for there being a 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women."
They added that evidence showed "only one in four people remember reading and receiving letters that they weren't expecting" and that by 2006, 90 per cent of 1950s-born women knew about the state pension age changes.
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Many groups are arguing for the Government to grant compensation of at least £10,000 each to the affected Waspi womenGETTY"The Government cannot justify paying for a £10.5 billion compensation scheme at the expense of the taxpayer," the spokesperson concluded.
Campaigners have raised more than £150,000 in just two weeks to fund their High Court challenge.
Madden urged the Government to "get around the table and engage meaningfully with us" rather than continue legal proceedings.
"If they don't, they will have to continue to defend the indefensible, but this time in front of senior judges," she warned.
