Ombudsman's investigation - update 8th February 2023
In July 2021 the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman ruled that it was maladministration when 3.8 million women born in the 1950s were not given adequate notice that their state pension age had changed. The Ombudsman is now considering what action should be taken by the Department of Work & Pensions to remedy this injustice. He hopes to conclude his investigation by the end of March 2023.
The Ombudsman’s confidential provisional findings have been sent to ‘complainants’ - women whose cases reached the Ombudsman level of the complaints procedure - and their MPs, to give them the opportunity to comment on his provisional recommendations. If you are a complainant you will have been sent the draft report. Please send your comments to the Ombudsman and your MP as soon as possible.
You can read more about the Ombudsman’s investigation below.
WASPI 2018 will continue to campaign for fair and fast compensation.
Latest News
13th May - Meeting with All-Party Parliamentary Group
On 13 May WASPI 2018 National Chair Hilary Simpson and Judith Robertson, Co-ordinator of Salford and Eccles WASPI, attended a Zoom meeting with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to present our thoughts on the Ombudsman’s report and our proposals for how Government and Parliament should respond. Our section of the meeting was also attended by representatives from Women Against State Pension Inequality. There were three sessions scheduled in total during the afternoon involving a range of campaign groups, allowing us all to speak to MPs.
There were several MPs in attendance, plus some represented by their office staff, and the meeting was recorded. We were not surprised to find that our views were closely aligned with our sister campaigners from Women Against State Pension Inequality. We were pleased to be given an opportunity to set out our principles for any compensation scheme – i.e. a scheme which is simple, not subject to income tax, not means-tested and does not affect any means-tested benefits received. Both groups want a scheme based on a few basic facts such as date of birth/amount of notice given/length of additional wait for retirement age, plus a mechanism whereby women who could evidence financial loss would be able to apply for further compensation.
We reminded the MPs in attendance that we are now depending on them to set up a suitable, straightforward scheme of compensation which could be up and running as soon as possible and backed up by legislation. It was pointed out that, as yet, the two main parties had not responded to the Ombudsman’s report. Failure to do so would be unprecedented and would have huge effects on public perception of democracy. The APPG will consider this further at their meeting on Wednesday 15 May.
12th March - Cross-party support for WASPI women at Westminster Hall debate
We are very grateful to Jim Shannon, DUP MP for Strangford, for calling this debate on “State Pension Changes: Women” held on 12thMarch and to the large number of MPs from all parties who attended and spoke passionately in our support.
MPs were well aware of the financial hardship, emotional distress and health problems caused for 1950s women by the inadequate notice of the delay to their State Pensions.
It has been over two years since the Ombudsman’s ruling of maladministration in November 2021. The MPs united in calling for swift action by the Government and urgent compensation for the WASPI women. The DWP minister present said the Government would ‘very carefully consider’ the Ombudsman’s report when it was published.
Westminster Hall debates are intended to give MPs the opportunity to debate issues and receive a response from a government minister. They cannot make decisions.
Full text here State Pension Changes: Women - Hansard - UK Parliament
The communication of State Pension age increases for women born in the 1950s
The House of Commons Library has issued a new official briefing paper on the WASPI issue (dated 21 February 2024). It describes key events up to and including MP Alan Brown's Ten Minute Bill on compensation, which had its first reading recently, and summarises the position as it currently stands.
Rebecca Long-Bailey new Co-Chair of APPG on State Pension Inequality for Women
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women aims to represent women who have been treated unjustly by the short-notice changes to the State Pension age, and to campaign on related issues.
We welcome the appointment of Rebecca Long-Bailey, MP for Salford and Eccles and a long-standing supporter of the WASPI cause, as APPG Co-Chair, replacing Andrew Gwynne MP. We are grateful to Andrew for his contribution to our cause and to Co-Chair Peter Aldous MP for his continuing support.
"I'm thrilled to take over as Co-Chair,” said Rebecca. “This is a cause very near and dear to my heart and a longstanding injustice that needs rectifying. I am looking forward to the Ombudsman's final report, hopefully coming out soon, so that the APPG can consider the recommendations and work collectively to push for progress on this in Parliament for all those women affected and their families.”
See the full membership of the APPG at: https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/state-pension-inequality-for-women
NEWS FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY & HEALTH SERVICE OMBUDSMAN
NEWS FROM THE PARLIAMENTARY & HEALTH SERVICE OMBUDSMAN
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has sent his provisional views about injustice (stage 2) and remedy (stage 3) to the 500 “complainants” - ie those people whose complaints reached the Ombudsman - and their representatives, including their MPs. They have also sent copies of the evidence that was used in reaching these provisional views. The complainants and their representatives are invited to submit any further evidence to the PHSO by 21 December 2023, following which they will reach their final decisions.