State pension alert: Blow to Waspi women as Labour REJECTS compensation package

The Labour Government has confirmed women born in the 1950s will not be awarded compensation over inequalities resulting from state pension age changes in a blow for the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign.

Addressing the House of Commons, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister Pat McFadden provided an update to MPs over the payout package, confirming "the Government has came to the same conclusion" in rejecting compensation.

Waspi campaigners have lobbied consecutive Governments for redress following the state pension age equalisation between men and women, which impacted an estimated 3.8 million women.

Many women born in the 1950s argue they were not adequately informed of the changes, which saw the retirement age for women rise from 60 years to in line with men.

In 2024, the Parliament and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) determined that impacted women could qualify for a "Level 4" compensation payment from the Government, which comes to between £1,000 and £2,950.

However, the ombudsman noted it was the responsibility of MPs to determine and vote on an appropriate payout for women born in the 1950s.

Despite the PHSO's findings, the Government stated the £10.5billion compensation bill for Waspi women could not be justified despite agreeing with the ombudsman over the DWP's "maladministration".

However, in November, Mr McFadden said his DW would review the previously-announced policy not to compensate the women born in the 1950s.

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This came as court proceedings led to the rediscovery of a 2007 DWP evaluation which had led to officials stopping sending automatic pension forecast letters out.

Ahead of Mr McFadden's statement, Waspi chair Angela Madden said: "In recent weeks, hundreds of MPs have publicly reaffirmed their support for fair compensation, joining the millions of people across the country who back justice for 1950s-born women.

"After months of waiting for an update, the Government finally has an opportunity to put things right. If ministers fail to commit to fair compensation for all affected women, they should brace themselves for a humiliating tsunami of national outrage."

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