The Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign has been actively fighting for justice for women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the State Pension age. These changes were not properly communicated, leading to significant financial and emotional distress for millions of women. Recently, there has been a significant development in their campaign.
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WASPI Reveals New State Pension
The WASPI campaign announced that the new Pensions Minister, Emma Reynolds MP, will meet with them and representatives of the 1950s women campaign after the parliamentary summer break. MPs will return to the House of Commons on September 2. This meeting is seen as a crucial step in addressing the grievances of the affected women.
Collaboration for Justice
Although a specific date for the meeting hasn’t been set, the chair of the WASPI campaign, Angela Madden, expressed her happiness and eagerness to work together to ensure justice is delivered quickly to the affected women. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Pensions Minister to achieve their goals.
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Support from MPs
Angela Madden mentioned that the Pensions Minister’s agreement to meet with WASPI representatives is a positive step. She also noted the strong support from MPs across different political parties, showing a growing consensus for fair and fast compensation. This cross-party support is vital for the campaign’s success.
PHSO Report and Recommendations
In March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) released a report stating that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was guilty of poor administration. They failed to inform women that their State Pension age would increase from 60 to 65, and then to 66. The PHSO recommended compensation between £1,000 and £2,950. This report has been a significant milestone in the campaign for justice.
Public Support for Compensation
Before the election, a poll showed that 68% of the public believe that 3.6 million women, who received little or no notice about the changes to their State Pension age, should receive fair and fast compensation. This public support adds weight to the campaign’s demands and highlights the widespread recognition of the injustice faced by these women.
PHSO Annual Report
On July 18, the PHSO published its annual report for 2023/24, which mentioned complaints about the changes to the State Pension age. Rebecca Hilsenrath from the PHSO emphasized that Parliament needs to act quickly to establish a compensation scheme. The report highlighted the failings in how the DWP communicated information about the changes and the resulting stress and confusion caused to the affected women.
Early Day Motion
Wendy Chamberlain MP, the deputy leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, introduced an Early Day Motion (EDM) on July 17. It was signed by 84 MPs, mostly from the Liberal Democrats, urging the Government to follow the Ombudsman’s recommendations and compensate the affected women. The EDM reflects the urgency and importance of addressing this issue promptly.
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