The Department for Work and Pensions has issued an update on the process to reconsider compensation for 3.5 million women born in the 1950s
An estimated 3.5 million women have been affected by changes to the official age of retirement (Image: Getty)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that the “process to retake the decision” regarding State Pension compensation for women born during the 1950s is currently “underway”. Approximately 3.5 million so-called WASPI women have been impacted by changes to the statutory retirement age under consecutive UK Governments.
As reported by the Daily Record, Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has also indicated that the DWP will “update the House on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached”.
His remarks followed a written inquiry from Independent MP Alex Easton, who questioned ‘what the UK Government’s policy is on establishing a compensation scheme for that cohort and what assessment has been made of the implications for Government policy of recent legal challenges regarding the basis on which compensation was declined’.
In his Monday response, Mr Bell stated: “The Secretary of State (Pat McFadden) announced in his Oral Statement of 11 November that we will retake the decision made last December as it relates to the communications on state pension age.
“Information that was not considered at the time of the original decision has come to light. In retaking the decision, we will review the evidence alongside evidence previously considered.
The DWP confirmed that the process to retake the decision’ is ‘underway’ (Image: Getty)
“The process to retake the decision is underway and we will update the House on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached.”
Earlier this month, the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign (WASPI) announced that the UK Government has agreed to a “speedy and thorough” reassessment regarding potential compensation, following the cancellation of a planned court hearing on the matter.
A special hearing was scheduled to address the concerns raised by the WASPI campaign, which would determine whether a judicial review trial set for December 9 and 10 should go ahead. However, these court dates were cancelled in light of Pat McFadden’s announcement of a review.
The WASPI Campaign stated that DWP ministers have pledged to make their “best endeavours” to reconsider possible compensation within 12 weeks, or by February 24, and to cover more than half of WASPI’s legal expenses.
Last year, a report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) suggested that compensation amounts between £1,000 and £2,950 could be suitable for each individual affected.
However, in December 2024, the UK Government stated that while it acknowledged the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and apologised for the delay in contacting women born in the 1950s, a blanket compensation scheme, potentially costing taxpayers up to £10.5 billion, could not be justified.
Recent court proceedings led to the unearthing of a 2007 DWP evaluation, which resulted in officials ceasing to send automatic pension forecast letters.
WASPI has contended that due to inadequate information, women have been left in a predicament where they’ve had to extend their working years or face financial difficulties, as they based their financial planning on incorrect assumptions.
They stated that the judicial review will be put on hold whilst the UK Government re-evaluates its decision on compensation, but there is potential for the process to be resumed at a future date.
