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An MP has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ensure “fair and fast” payment goes out to the WASPI generation of women if the ombudsman decides they are due compensation.
WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) campaigners represent some 3.8 million women born in the 1950s who were affected when the state pension age for women increased from 60 to 65 to bring it in line with men.
They claim they were not adequately notified and did not have enough time to prepare for the change.
A previous ruling from the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman found the DWP should have written individual letters to those affected 28 months before it did in fact send them out.
A second stage of the Ombudsman’s investigation has been completed which also found the DWP guilty of maladministration, but this concluded the department’s actions did not result in all the injustices claimed.
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Now the campaigners are awaiting the Ombudsman’s ruling about what should be done to rectify the situation.
Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions this past week.
She said: “Over 3.6 million women born in the 1950s had their pension age increased without their knowledge.
“Many, like my constituent, unknowingly gave up work at 60, only to realise they had no income, they could not pay their bills and some have even lost their homes.”
The representative then asked the Prime Minister: “Will he commit to the fair and fast payment of any compensation that is recommended by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to 1950s women for the injustice they have suffered due to maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions?”
Mr Sunak said in his response the issue has been “long discussed”. He added: “There is an ongoing process, which I cannot comment on, but rest assured that of course we will respond appropriately to any recommendations that come our way.”
The state pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is set to gradually increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and then to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
The Government has said a decision on any changes to the timetable for increasing the state pension age will be made after the general election.
A DWP spokesperson previously told Express.co.uk: “The Government decided over 25 years ago 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.”
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