Thousands of women could be owed compensation after the DWP failed to adequately inform them the state pension age had changed, a landmark report has ruled, but it’s thousands of pounds less than hoped for.
Campaigners, including the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign, hoped for up to £10,000 in compensation to address the resulting injustices.
A long-awaited report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into the impact of how the retirement age for women was raised in line with men was published today.
The WASPI campaign and supporters had previously called for up to £10,000 in compensation. Rhee PHSO report on compensation recommended a Level 4 amount which is between £1,000 and £2,950.
PHSO Chief Executive Rebecca Hilsenrath, said; “The UK’s national Ombudsman has made a finding of failings by DWP in this case and has ruled that the women affected are owed compensation.
“DWP has clearly indicated that it will refuse to comply. This is unacceptable. The Department must do the right thing and it must be held to account for failure to do so. Complainants should not have to wait and see whether DWP will take action to rectify its failings.
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Campaigners have called for justice following historic pension injustices
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“Given the significant concerns we have that it will fail to act on our findings and given the need to make things right for the affected women as soon as possible, we have proactively asked Parliament to intervene and hold the Department to account.”
In its latest report, the ombudsman investigated what injustices were caused by state pension age equalisation between the sexes.
Prior to today’s announcement, WASPI women and supporters of their campaign in parliament had called for £10,000 in compensation to address the dire financial situation women were pushed into.
The All Party Parliamentary Group has previously said compensation should be at Level 6 on the PHSO scale. This comes would have came to a payout of £10,000 or more that would be awarded to each WASPI women who was affected by changes made by the DWP.
Chair of the WASPI campaign Angela Madden said: “The DWP’s refusal to accept the clear conclusions of this five year long investigation is simply unbelievable. One of the affected women is dying every 13 minutes, and we just cannot afford to wait any longer.
“Now that the PHSO findings have at last been published, all parties owe it to the women affected to make a clear and unambiguous commitment to compensation. The Ombudsman has put the ball firmly in Parliament’s court, and it is now for MPs to do justice to all the 3.6 million women affected."
"The report at least finds that Level 4 compensation is required, but politicians across party lines have previously supported Level 6 – which would far more clearly and reasonably recognises the injustice and loss of opportunities suffered.
“We are now looking to those who have supported us over the years to put their money with their mouth is and back us on a proper compensation package. All the parties are now in the spotlight with WASPI women watching and waiting to see how they should best use their votes in the coming general election.”
Peter Aldous MP, Vice-Chair State Pension Inequality for Women APPG, added: “These millions of women worked, cared for families, and supported communities all their lives. They deserve the dignity of fast compensation.
“In line with the report submitted by the State Pension Inequality for Women APPG to the PHSO in 2022, compensation in line with category 6 injustice must be agreed by Parliament. The campaign for justice for 1950s women goes on until Parliament reaches the right conclusion.”
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The DWP was found to have carried out by "maladministration" in its handling of pension changes PAReacting to the news, Labour MP John McDonnell tweeted: "The PHSO report on compensation for WASPI recommends a Level 4 amount which is between £1000 & £2950.
"Even though this is an acknowledgment of Government failures, I believe this will come as a bitter disappointment to many of these women, who will feel betrayed."
A DWP spokesperson previously told GB News: “The Government decided over 25 years ago that it was going to make the state pension age the same for men and women. Both the High Court and Court of Appeal have supported the actions of the DWP, under successive governments dating back to 1995, and the Supreme Court refused the claimants permission to appeal."
Reacting to the news, GB News readers reached out to share their experiences of the historic changes to the state pension age and how it impacted their retirement.
One said: "I had to wait another six years , I paid the highest rate of self employed contributions I’m around £55,000 down." Another added: "I was born February 1960 and I believed at that time I could claim my pension at 60."
A DWP spokesperson said: We will consider the Ombudsman’s report and respond in due course, having cooperated fully throughout this investigation. The Government has always been committed to supporting all pensioners in a sustainable way that gives them a dignified retirement whilst also being fair to them and taxpayers.
“The State Pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so as we deliver a further 8.5% rise in April which will increase the state pension for 12 million pensioners by £900.”