Waspi women are slamming the Government over its delayed action in responding to last week’s landmark state pension report which recommended compensation for thousands of Britons.
This comes after pension minister Mel Stride MP’s announcement that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) report will be “fully and properly” considered.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign took aim at politicians for failing to implement the ombudsman’s findings immediately.
Campaigners said: “Mel Stride now says this matter is so complex, he needs yet more months and years of head scratching to sort it out.
“The PHSO’s Waspi report is not complicated at all. It says that 1950s women should be compensated, and that Parliament should intervene to make a scheme happen.
“We saw a lackluster performance A holding statement and repeatedly dodging questions about when Govt will return with a plan as to how they will respond to the report. Waspi women deserve better.”
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Waspi women are speaking out against the Government's response to the PHSO's report
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The Waspi campaign has lobbied for compensation for 1950s women who were impacted financially by changes to the retirement age.
In the PHSO's initial report, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was found guilty of “maladministration”.
This was due to its handling of informing those affected by the equalization of the state pension age between men and women.
Many women were adversely affected due to leaving the workforce early or pursuing part-time employment while believing they had already secured their full pension entitlement.
During his speech yesterday, Mr Stride asserted the Government would provide a “further update” as to how the Government will respond to the PHSO report.
However, the also defended the DWP’s record when it comes to supporting pensioners and cited the Government’s commitment to the state pension triple lock.
The pensions minister said: “We continue to take the work of the ombudsman very seriously, and it is only right that we now fully and properly consider the findings and the details of what is a substantial document.
“The ombudsman has noted in his report the challenges and the complexities of this issue. In laying the report before Parliament the Ombudsman has brought matters to the attention of the House, and we will provide a further update to the House once we have considered the report's findings.”
In the ombudsman’s report, it was determined that thousands of Waspi women could be entitled to compensation of up to almost £3,000.
A level four level of pay out was suggested by the PHSO which comes to between £1,000 and £2,950 for those affected by the state pension age changes.
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Waspi women could be eligible for pay outs due to historic state pension age changes
GETTYWhile this is compensation in recognition of what Waspi women have gone through, this is significantly lower than what campaigners and politicians have proposed.
SNP MP Alan Brown and other policymakers have suggested a level six amount of compensation would be suitable for 1950s women.
This would be the equivalent of up to £10,000 but this level of pay out was not put forward in the PHSO’s report.
The Government has yet to give a deadline for when it will announce its response to the PHSO’s Waspi findings.
