Waspi update: Calls for state pension compensation as 'debate has dragged on too long'
The Waspi campaign has received renewed support from MPs
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The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign has gained momentum as 90 MPs from across the political spectrum have backed an early day motion calling for a debate on a "proper plan" for compensation.
This development comes in the wake of a report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), which found significant "maladministration" by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in informing 1950s-born women about changes to their state pension age.
The campaign seeks redress for millions of women whose retirement plans were disrupted when their state pension age increased from 60 to 65.
Commons leader Lucy Powell has responded to calls for financial redress for Waspi women. She stated: "The Ombudsman has established that the DWP did not properly inform the Waspi generation women of the change.
"The group published a report in March saying the women should get payouts of between £1,000 and £2,950."
Powell added that the Government is taking time to review the Ombudsman's report due to its significance and complexity.
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WASPI are among the campaign groups set up in response to the way the state pension age changes for women were introduced GETTYShe indicated that once the Government outlines its approach, opportunities for parliamentary debate would be considered through the usual channels.
The PHSO report, published in March, recommended compensation amounts ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 for affected women.
It highlighted that the DWP failed to provide sufficient notice about the state pension age changes, with affected women losing at least 28 months of preparation time.
WASPI campaigners, however, are advocating for higher compensation of over £10,000, aligning with the PHSO's maximum recommended payout.
The early day motion has garnered support from MPs across four political parties, including the Liberal Democrats, SDLP, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party. Labour MPs, two SNP representatives, and Conservative MP Sir Julian Lewis have also backed the motion.
The campaign has made progress in Parliament under previous administrations. The Work and Pensions Committee, formerly chaired by Sir Stephen Timms (now a DWP minister), backed calls for the Government to establish compensation plans.
Sir Stephen previously stated: "The debate over the impact of the DWP's failure to communicate increases in the women's state pension age has dragged on for too long and it is time the Government took action to resolve the issue."
Former SNP MP Alan Brown also presented a bill to mandate Government compensation for affected women. These efforts have laid groundwork for the current push for resolution.
Angela Madden, the chair of the Waspi campaign, shared her reaction to the PHSO's findings.
"It's in the Ombudsman's report: we didn't get sufficient information, we weren't informed correctly of the impact of pensions changes on us," she said.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"Lost" pension pots are huting Britons' retirement GETTY "The Ombudsman has said we deserve compensation and an apology. That is quite clear."
The campaigners are not letting up in their efforts. They recently presented their case at the Labour Party conference and made appearances at Reform UK's conference.
WASPI activists are now gearing up for another major push on October 30, Budget Day.
They plan to stage a protest outside Parliament to further amplify their demands for compensation.